Texas has a deserved reputation as one of the best birding regions in America while, with over 40 specialties, South Texas represents the northern-most stronghold of an essentially tropical bird community. Texas is also a major stopping-off point for birds migrating north and south and we will see many Raptors, Waders and Warblers moving through. We will explore the lower Rio Grande valley and the Edwards Plateau at a peak time of the birding year.
There are many special species such as Hook-billed Kite, Plain Chachalaca, Red-billed Pigeon, White tipped Dove, Common Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher, Great Kiskadee, Couch’s Kingbird, Green Jay, Tamaulipas Crow, Clay-coloured Robin, Long-billed Thrasher, Olive Sparrow and Altamira Oriole most of which are mainly confined to South Texas within the USA. The Hill Country of central South Texas also boasts the largest populations of two other Texas exclusives: the skulking Black-capped Vireo and the stunning Golden-cheeked Warbler.
We will visit many of the regions top birding hotspots such as the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge (an important wetland area), Bentsen State Park (including its own raptor watch point), Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary (there are feeders here where close quarter views can be had of birds such as Green Jay, Plain Chachalaca & Buff-bellied Hummingbird), South Padre Island (in the Gulf of Mexico where we will see a wide variety of seabirds but which is also a key migration spot) and the famous parrot roosts in McAllen. Moving west, we’ll visit the transition zone leading into the Chihuahuan Desert with the trip concluding in the renowned Texas Hill Country. Here we will see Cave Swallows spiralling out of the same crevices that shelter over 10 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats (an unbelievable spectacle as they leave the cave en-masse at dusk) and it is easy to understand the birding potential of the Hill Country.
This will be a trip for beginners as well as experienced birders and for photographers- the landscapes are varied and beautiful, the birds will be numerous and exciting and we will have two guides whose proficiency will ensure we experience the optimum potential of this great region.