We often run a spring break trip in mid-March to several places in West Texas, with the top destination being Big Bend National Park. On Thursday, however, we leave the Galveston/Houston area very early, arriving midafternoon in Balmorhea. We visit the Lake and the State Park for birds like roadrunner and Vermilion Flycatcher, then move on to the highway that heads south toward Big Bend National Park. However, we stop for a visit at Davis Mountain State Park, where feeders bring many neat bird species close.
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Overnighting near the Park, we enter Big Bend early the next morning and quickly drive to the western edge of the park, along the Rio Grande River. Red birds are everywhere, with cardinals, Summer Tanagers, and Vermilion Flycatchers joining many other neat species along the River. From there we drive into the dry country for Crissal Thrasher and loads of Bell’s Vireo.
The next day we drive down to the eastern portion of the Park, into Rio Grande Village, where various walks produce loads of different kind of birds. We also visit some isolated forests in the desert, plus spending the afternoon up in the mountains, where we look for Black-chinned Sparrow, Canyon Wren, Bushtit and many more.
The last day, on Sunday, we bird part of the morning before heading up to the Interstate and back home. We usually get home right around dark.
Adorn your walls with bird pictures of familiar Texas native species by ornithologist and bird photographer Jim Stevenson. For ordering information email Jim.