Texas
Spring birds and southern comfort!
Saturday 4 - Thursday 16 April 2009 (11 days)
Join Rebecca Nason and Phil Harris on an unforgettable spring birdwatching trip in the Lower Rio Grande Valley area of Southern Texas, the most productive birding area in America! And all based at the same superb 'ranch'.
© Zach Smith/Nature Portfolio
Marbled Godwit
Situated near the Mexican border, almost as far south as it is possible to go in the USA, we have found a delightful small ranch-style hotel. In fact, when the leaders went out to 'recce' the tour, they liked it so much that they decided to base the whole tour there!
Within a short travelling distance are a superb range of birdwatching habitats - and this is probably the very best time of year to visit. We will be overwhelmed not only by large numbers of raptors, waders and warblers moving back north in full breeding plumage, but will also enjoy the stunning neo-tropical delights which can be seen this far south. A decidedly relaxed tour, we will keep driving to a minimum where possible, enabling more time out in the numerous National State Parks that the McAllen and Mission areas of Texas have to offer with ample opportunity to enjoy the best of American birds and stunning photographic opportunities throughout.
Feeding stations and park gardens drip with the cream of American wood warblers, wetlands teem with terns and shorebirds and raptor-watch platforms provide excellent opportunities for viewing active migration, all in blissful southern heat and distinct 'Southern Texas' atmosphere. Whether you are a beginner to birding in America or to birding this far south, there is no doubt this will be a trip to remember.
Price: £ 2,295
Single supp. £ 275 per room
Deposit: £ 400 per person
The price is per person and includes return scheduled flights London/McAllen, airport taxes, minibus transportation, accommodation, all meals, admissions, local taxes, incidental tips, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.
Leaders: Rebecca Nason & Phil Harris
Itinerary
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London to Houston and connect with our short flight to McAllen, Texas where we will be based throughout the trip. A short drive in our comfortable minibus will find us at our spacious Bed and Breakfast Ranch where we will be based for our stay. An evening walk around the grounds of our friendly hosts' 20 hectare-garden may yield our first Great Horned Owls, Great Kiskadee, Rufous-bellied Hummingbirds and noisy Boat-tailed Grackles before we relax for supper.
Overnight McAllen
Day 2 - 9
Our relaxed itinerary will see us visit several of the Texas's best National Parks, including our favourite Bentsen State Park which we will visit on several occasions including trips to enjoy the Hawk Watch Platform and an evening Owl and mammal hunt and a butterfly and dragonfly walk with an experienced local guide! Bentsen and the famous Santa Ana Reserve, an extensive wetland Park, are excellent locations to look out for the beautiful sleek 'Bobcat' as well as a large number of birds including Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Altamira Orioles, Plain Chacalacas, Curve-billed Thrashers, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and the wonderful Green Jay!
We visit Quinta Mazatlan, a McAllen World Birding Centre which along with a spectacular historic house, has grounds heaving in Monarch Butterflies, many warblers such as Hooded Warbler and Black-and-White Warblers at their spring 'drips' and, if we are lucky, numerous roosting Pauraques.
We also take excursions to the famous gardens of Alan Williams in the Pharr area just east of McAllen where he has successfully created a 'birding haven' in his own backyard, often full of birds such as Clay-coloured Robin, Olive Sparrow, Ovenbird and a great place to sit around and spot what drops in with a cold drink in hand!
To escape the heat of the deep south, we head out to South Padre Island Birding and Nature Centre in the Gulf of Mexico to enjoy the sea breeze and take in the many terns, skimmers, herons, plovers and rails visible at close range from a convenient boardwalk as well as enjoying another warbler hot-spot where species such as Tropical Parula, Orange-crowned Warbler and Red-eyed Vireos drop in to feed and bath at close range - here anything is possible in this migratory bottle-neck! An excursion to the Falcon Dam area on the border with Mexico may also see the charismatic Greater Roadrunner and the large Cactus Wren as well as Crested Caracara's soaring with vultures and many migrating raptors.
Eight nights McAllen
Day 10
Depending on flight times we may be able to make another birding visit locally before heading to McAllen airport to catch an internal flight, connecting with our overnight flight back to the UK to arrive early on Day 11
Accommodation will be in a ranch style bed and breakfast with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients
Day 1
We take a scheduled flight from London to Houston and connect with our short flight to McAllen, Texas where we will be based throughout the trip. A short drive in our comfortable minibus will find us at our spacious Bed and Breakfast Ranch where we will be based for our stay. An evening walk around the grounds of our friendly hosts' 20 hectare-garden may yield our first Great Horned Owls, Great Kiskadee, Rufous-bellied Hummingbirds and noisy Boat-tailed Grackles before we relax for supper.
Overnight McAllen
Day 2 - 9
Our relaxed itinerary will see us visit several of the Texas's best National Parks, including our favourite Bentsen State Park which we will visit on several occasions including trips to enjoy the Hawk Watch Platform and an evening Owl and mammal hunt and a butterfly and dragonfly walk with an experienced local guide! Bentsen and the famous Santa Ana Reserve, an extensive wetland Park, are excellent locations to look out for the beautiful sleek 'Bobcat' as well as a large number of birds including Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Altamira Orioles, Plain Chacalacas, Curve-billed Thrashers, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and the wonderful Green Jay!
We visit Quinta Mazatlan, a McAllen World Birding Centre which along with a spectacular historic house, has grounds heaving in Monarch Butterflies, many warblers such as Hooded Warbler and Black-and-White Warblers at their spring 'drips' and, if we are lucky, numerous roosting Pauraques.
We also take excursions to the famous gardens of Alan Williams in the Pharr area just east of McAllen where he has successfully created a 'birding haven' in his own backyard, often full of birds such as Clay-coloured Robin, Olive Sparrow, Ovenbird and a great place to sit around and spot what drops in with a cold drink in hand!
To escape the heat of the deep south, we head out to South Padre Island Birding and Nature Centre in the Gulf of Mexico to enjoy the sea breeze and take in the many terns, skimmers, herons, plovers and rails visible at close range from a convenient boardwalk as well as enjoying another warbler hot-spot where species such as Tropical Parula, Orange-crowned Warbler and Red-eyed Vireos drop in to feed and bath at close range - here anything is possible in this migratory bottle-neck! An excursion to the Falcon Dam area on the border with Mexico may also see the charismatic Greater Roadrunner and the large Cactus Wren as well as Crested Caracara's soaring with vultures and many migrating raptors.
Eight nights McAllen
Day 10
Depending on flight times we may be able to make another birding visit locally before heading to McAllen airport to catch an internal flight, connecting with our overnight flight back to the UK to arrive early on Day 11
Accommodation will be in a ranch style bed and breakfast with all rooms en suite.
Numbers: Max. 12 clients