The Rio Grande Valley trip is a four-day, whirlwind tour of many of the terrific spots for birds in South Texas. We leave around dawn on Thursday and drive to Harlingen, where we will hotel for the duration of the trip. Then we head out to Laguna Atascosa NWR for afternoon birding, before calling it a day.
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The next morning we will visit Estero Grande State Park with great wetlands and interesting lands birds. After lunch we will visit several smaller places for rarities. The third morning we will walk the trails of Sable Palm Sanctuary, and later Santa Anna NWR for typical and unusual South Texas birds. Again, the afternoon will be spent visiting other birding sites.
Sunday morning will be very special. We will head west and bird the Falcon Dam area, plus take our cameras to famed De Wind’s feeders, where unbelievable numbers of birds come in to eat. All three South Texas orioles head the list, with both South Texas woodpeckers, both thrashers, Green Jay, White-tipped Dove, and many more neat species.
On the adjacent Rio Grande River, all three kingfishers may be seen, plus many other Rio Grande Valley birds. Nearby Falcon Dam and the State Park top off the morning with Pyrrhuloxia, roadrunner, and all kinds of grassland birds. Late morning, it’s time to head north, to be home 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.