Photos of Quinta Mazatlan-World Birding Center

Quinta Mazatlan-World Birding Center is the McAllen wing of the Lower Rio Grande Valley World Birding Center's nine sites. Located on Sunset St. off S.10th St., across from the McAllen-Miller International Airport and next door to the McAllen Country Club, this WBC gem is a very special place on the edge of the Rio Grande Valley's largest city.

Upon entering the Quinta Mazatlan-WBC parking lot, one of the first things that you will notice is that even the parking lot has numerous native plants, so its a good idea to start your birding, here.

Both butterflies and birds can be found in and around the parking lot. Don't forget to check the huge field on the south side of the parking lot for Long-billed Curlews and, occasionally, other shorebirds.

On the east end of the parking lot as you start to enter Quinta, check the rows of tall Guamuchils-Pithecellobium dulce. These legumes are the caterpillar host plants for the Red-bordered Pixie, McAllen's mascot butterfly. Often hundreds of Pixies can be found around the trees, but you must come early as they hide from the hot sun.

The entrance to Quinta Mazatlan-WBC. Walk in slowly, checking the leaf litter on your left for resting/nesting Common Paraque and the tall palm trees for Green Parakeets that nest here and the Red-crowned Parrots that are found here.

In your short walk to the mansion, you probably have seen so many Lower Rio Grande Valley specialty birds that its hard to stop birding and force yourself to go in and register and pay the nominal fee. Just wait until you get inside!

The west side of Quinta Mazatlan. Be sure to bird all the shrubs and trees on all sides of Quinta. Quinta Mazatlan is absolutely the best place to see Clay-colored Robins in the entire Lower Rio Grande Valley.

The east side of Quinta Mazatlan. Sitting at the picnic tables will ALWAYS get you a Buff-bellied Hummingbird.

The old well on the south side of the huge, brick-paved Courtyard.

Looking north across the Courtyard to the annex building and its meeting rooms, restrooms, library, kitchen and storage area.

Looking west across the Courtyard towards the large lawn. While walking aroung the Courtyard, the calls of White-tipped, Inca, and White-wing Doves will be heard. Since the entire WBC site is buffered by dense plantings, the sounds of the city are just about silenced; even the nearby airport is not a problem in letting you enjoy the sounds of the birds.

The entrance into Quinta Mazatlan. Be sure to notice the architecture, the doors, windows, tiles, and rafters as you enter.

West end Parlor area. The City of McAllen has spent millions of dollars refurbishing Quinta Mazatlan (built in the 1930's) and its many, many fabulous antiques.

Part of the Art Gallery sitting area, and more antiques.

More of the Art Gallery and its antiques. The Gallery showings are constantly changing, making this room a must stop each time you visit Quinta Mazatlan.

Just off the Art Gallery is the huge, former bathroom, now used as a bride's changing area. Quinta Mazatlan-WBC is a favorite place in the Valley to have a wedding.

The huge, deep Roman tub. Like all the rooms in Quinta Mazatlan, this part of the bride's changing area is filled with antiques.

More of the Gift Shop. Notice the tiled walls, antiques, and large restored windows. Wonderful chandeliers are found throughout Quinta Mazatlan.

Just across from the registration desk is an exhibit of some of the Valley's birds, all carved in life size. Also, a large-screen television is available to watch programs about the wildlife of Quinta Mazatlan.

The beautiful chandeliers, located throughout Quinta Mazatlan, should not be overlooked.

Just one of many, metal, wildlife sculptures that will be taken outside to the soon to be established Sculpture Nature Trail.

There are many, many special architectural landscape features dispursed throughout Quinta Mazatlan-WBC. The massive Amphitheater is used for presentations to students and groups in a quiet, outdoor setting.

Two of several, huge, interpretive stone slabs, carved with descriptions of the birds. These slabs are found throughout the meadow and its bordering trail.

The diverse landscaping and interpretive features found at Quinta Mazatlan help make your visit to this World Birding Center site to be a special one.

A twenty-foot tall, metal Century Plant water feature that is very much used by the birds on the edge of the Meadow.

The bubbling sounds of the small streams are a nice addition to the songs and calls of the birds.

The water features are set back, slightly, along the trails to allow birders to watch the bathing Chachalacas, Clay-colored Thrushes and other birds. Many of the water feature sites have feeding stations to help attract the birds, and benches so birders can sit, rest, and observe.

Another unique water feature and feeding station. On the right side of the photo, the suspended limb with all the nails on it is used to feed citrus fruit to the Altamira Orioles found throughout Quinta Mazatlan-WBC.

Another great place to watch the Valley resident hummingbird, the Buff-bellied. Buff-bellied Hummingbirds are always here. Other species, many of which are quite rare to the U.S., are found at Quinta, also.

Feeders and feeding stations of all types are located throughout Quinta Mazatlan. Except during the summer months, these feeders have to be filled on a daily basis.

The majority of the year in the Lower Rio Grande Valley is warm if not quite hot. These small, shady rest areas are spaced throughout Quinta Mazatlan's nature trails, and they are often a welcomed sight.

The huge lawn on the west side of Quinta Mazatlan. Be sure to check the large trees for Neotropical migrants.

The Great Field on the south side of the parking area, as seen from the back side of the nature trail, is often an excellent place to look for Long-billed Curlews and Sprague Pipits.

You will come to several feeding stations, water features and a formal butterfly garden as you meander along from the west towards the north and east.

Be sure to watch for the special lizards we have in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. If you are lucky, you might get to see a harmless, snake-eating, Texas Indigo Snake, a U.S. Endangered Species.

The east entrance to the northside nature trail. Clay-colored Thrushes, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, and Long-billed and Curve-billed Thrashers are almost always found here. While you are in the northwest area of Quinta Mazatlan, be sure to listen for the several Tropical Kingbirds that are often seen and heard around the McAllen Country Club and its golf course. Among the 9 WBC sites in the LRGV, Quinta Mazatlan is your best chance for seeing Tropical Kingbirds.

The west entrance to the southside and Meadow nature trails.

Numerous species of birds and butterflies will be seen on the southside and Meadow nature trails.

Several shaded benches and feeding stations will be found. Lots of hummingbird feeders are hanging all along the lenghth of these trails.

Towards the back, southwest corner of the southside nature trail. This is a much drier area than you have seen on any of the other trails, so it offers the opportunity to see different flora and fauna than you have already experienced.

Back to the west entrance of the southside trail. Several wooden bridges help you across the drainage ditch that runs north to south along the west border of Quinta Mazatlan.

We guarantee you that upon your finishing your visit to Quinta Mazatlan-World Birding Center, one word will pop into you mind---CLASSY!