In Veracruz the species is recorded as a winter visitant and transient (Loetscher, 1952:22; Amadon and Eckelberry, 1955:68). Coffey (1960:289) reports the following observations for Veracruz and Tamaulipas: a flock of 52 between Tlacotalpan and Alvarado, May 29, 1951; 80 near Cacaliloa, April 20, 1958; 180 birds north of Alvarado, April 24, 1958; four at Altamira, May 28, 1955; flocks of three, 13, and 37 "south" of Matamoros, May 20, 1951; 72 at Lomas del Real, November 20, 1956.
Pelecanus occidentalis Gmelin: Brown Pelican.—Three individuals flew north over the surf near Camp 1 on July 7, and a lone bird was seen diving into the Gulf a short distance beyond the surf near Camp 2 on July 9. Birds seen by us probably were of the population named P. o. carolinensis, which is resident along the Gulf coast (Mexican Check-list, 1950:21).
Phalacrocorax sp.: Cormorant.—From 80 to 100 adult and juvenal cormorants were on the laguna at Camp 2 on July 8 and 9. Probably they were Common Cormorants (P. olivaceus), but, because specimens were not taken, we cannot eliminate the possibility that some (or all) were Double-crested Cormorants (P. auritus). The former breeds in coastal lowlands of eastern México, whereas the latter is known in eastern México only as a winter visitant and has not been recorded in Tamaulipas (Mexican Check-list, 1950:24).
Fregata magnificens Mathews: Magnificent Man-o'-war Bird.—An observation of a lone bird circling high over the laguna at Camp 2 on July 9 seemingly constitutes the third record of this species in Tamaulipas. Previous records were reported by Robins, Martin, and Heed (1951:336), who found "large numbers" in the Barra Trinidad region (8 miles north of Morón) on April 27 to 29, 1949, and mentioned an immature male taken at Tampico on April 23, 1923; this specimen has been identified by P. Brodkorb as F. m. rothschildi.
Ardea herodias Linnaeus: Great Blue Heron.—Our records of this heron are limited to the following observations: four individuals on the beach and seven in the laguna at Camp 1, July 7; one on the beach 52 miles south of Washington Beach, July 8; one 74 miles south of Washington Beach, July 8; two at Third Pass, July 8; 41 standing on mud-flats at the edge of the laguna near Camp 2, July 9; nine on the beach 56 to 73 miles south of Washington Beach, July 10; one on the beach 42 miles south of Washington Beach, July 10.
The status of the Great Blue Heron in coastal Tamaulipas remains to be determined. The subspecies A. h. wardi (considered a synonym of A. h. occidentalis by Hellmayr and Conover, 1948) is resident and breeds on the Gulf coast of Texas and is to be expected as a resident in Tamaulipas (Mexican Check-list, 1950:27). The species may breed south to Veracruz, where Loetscher (1955:22) reports it is "regular at nearly all seasons, chiefly on the coastal plain"; he records an observation near Tamós on July 1. The subspecies A. h. herodias and A. h. treganzai winter through much of México and have been recorded in Tamaulipas (Mexican Check-list, 1950:27).
Florida caerulea (Linnaeus): Little Blue Heron.—We saw a white (immature) individual feeding with Reddish Egrets along an inlet at Camp 2 on July 8.
Dichromanassa rufescens rufescens (Gmelin): Reddish Egret.—This egret was recorded only about the inlet at Camp 2, where 15 individuals were feeding, either singly or in small groups, on July 8 and 9. We noted frequent use of the "Open Wing" method of foraging, as described by Meyerriecks (1960:108).
Specimen: ♀ juv., 38899, ovary inactive, 587 gm., Camp 2, July 8. This specimen is referable to the nominate subspecies, which is resident along the Gulf coast. Our record seems to be the first for the species in Tamaulipas.
Leucophoyx thula (Molina): Snowy Egret.—Ten individuals of this species were feeding in association with Reddish Egrets in the inlet at Camp 2 on July 9.