Texas: Lower Rio Grande Valley Winter Birding Break

South Texas is known for its large abundance of birds, including a number of specialties that are not found in other areas of the United States.  Some of these birds include Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Ringed Kingfisher, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Aplomado Falcon, Olive Sparrow, Gray Hawk, Altamira Oriole, Red-crowned Parrot, Green Parakeet, Plain Chachalaca, Clay-colored Thrush, and more.

More details about this trip:

This trip will visit a number of birding hotspots around south Texas, including places like Bentsen State Park, South Padre Island, Laguna Atascosa NWR, Estero Llano Grande SP, one or more large parrot roosts, and Anzalduas Park, where along with good birds you will have the unique experience of looking north into Mexico while still in the USA.
 

Winter weather in south Texas is usually quite mild, so escape the cold and migrate south for a bit like the birds do.  Black-throated Green Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Indigo Bunting, and more often winter in south Texas.

With luck there may be one or more rare vagrant birds that cross the border, which we will make reasonable attempts at seeing. While there is no guarantee, previous trips have found Blue Bunting, Tropical Parula, Tamaulipas Crow, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, White-throated Thrush, Amazon Kingfisher, and Hook-billed Kite (picture to the left).