Texas
Big Bend and the hill country

Friday 15 - Saturday 30 April 2011 (16 days)

We've combined two of Peg Abbott's Texas tours to provide a superb spring fortnight of classic USA birdwatching!

April in the Hill Country of Texas brings a magical time to experience incredible birding, and abundant wildflowers. Two key species attract people to the Hill Country and Edwards Plateau: the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo. We have several places to find them, as well as Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Green Kingfisher, Zone-tailed Hawk, and other regional specialties.

The Hill Country exhibits a fascinating convergence of ecosystems, a blend of eastern and western plants and animals. Its limestone geology generates some of the clearest running streams and most beautiful rivers you will ever see. April often provides a good wildflower display. Our guide, Bob Behrstock, has as keen an eye for butterflies and dragonflies in addition to the region's birds. Sharing his expertise and sense of humor is a real treat.

Our five days' exploration is based out of just one hotel, the delightful, family-owned Neal's Lodge, which offers fabulous birding, good home-cooking and beautiful scenery. Residents invite us to watch birds at their feeders, and we hike and bird in several inspiring state parks. A local biologist joins us to interpret the evening viewing of a 'river' of bats.

We then move on to Big Bend, an area large enough to encompass an entire mountain range: the spectacularly eroded Chisos Mountains, home to the elusive Colima Warbler. This is a bold landscape with constantly changing views - a playground of light, rugged mountains, rolling desert hills, deep river canyons, and endless intrigue.

Our journey in this wonderfully isolated region features time for birding and wildlife observation while interpreting the region's significance and ecological complexity. We also have time for fun: dining in west Texas restaurants, learning the history, and discovering a fine sense of place.

We have an entire week to hike the trails, find lush hidden oases, watch desert sunsets, and experience the rhythm of spring bird migration.

Price: £ 4,895
Single supp.*: £ 695
Deposit: £ 400 per person

The price is per person and includes scheduled flights London-San Antonio, San Antonio-El Paso and El Paso-London, airport taxes, minibus transportation, accommodation, all meals, admissions, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes some meals (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 6 dinners) ,travel insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.

Leaders: Bob Behrstock (Hill Country) & Narca Moore Craig (Big Bend)


Texas map

Accommodation will be as described with all rooms en suite.

Walking The Big Bend part of the trip is best experienced by those fit enough to do some hiking, as the route to see the famed Colima Warbler is a 9-mile loop hike with a gain of almost 2000ft. elevation. Our other walks average 2-4 miles at a leisurely pace over uneven terrain, so you may forego the 'big' climb but should be able to do the others for full participation. Days at lower elevation can be HOT (90o plus) on occasion. Birding is incredible always and in some years we also have a burst of spring wildflowers. Expect full field days with evenings to relax.

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Outline Itinerary
Day 1 We fly London-San Antonio Texas arriving later the same day or early the next day. Overnight San Antonio
Days
2-6		 We drive to Concan - a distance of about an hour and forty-five minutes. Neal's Lodges, built along the scenic Frio River, will be our home for the next five nights. As well as birdwatching in this superb area, we'll visit the Rio Frio Bat Cave on a ranch near Neal's. Each evening, approximately 10 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats exit this maternity cave to feed over the surrounding countryside. Five nights Neal's Lodges, Concan
Day 7 This morning we load the vans, with Blue Jays watching the action, and drive a little over an hour to the bustle of the city and its airport, with a connecting flight to El Paso late morning. Lunch will be on your own at the airport. Your guide will be there at the airport to greet you. We then drive east about two hours to Van Horn and our lodgings in a recently restored historic hotel. Overnight Van Horn
Days
8-9		 Our route from Van Horn over to the Davis Mountains is a scenic one as we pass several mountain ranges that rise from the desert, giving us glimpses of some of the oldest rocks in west Texas. Two nights Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis
Days
10-13		 This morning we visit Davis Mountains State Park, where in some years Montezuma Quail come into feeders along with Green-tailed Towhees. It will be hard to tear you away from this idyllic sit-down birding! Dinners and breakfasts at Chisos Mountain Lodge are excluded from the cost. Four nights Chisos Mountain Lodge
Day 14 This morning explore Blue Creek Canyon, taking a leisurely route along a dry stream that allows for wonderful views, grand geology, and consistently excellent birding. Overnight Gage Hotel, Marathon
Day 15 We have a four-hour drive, to El Paso for an afternoon flight back to London, arriving on Day 16.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary