birdwatching tours in texas

For Birding and Photography!

Wonderful Destinations

Today's Picture

Common Loon in full plumage in Travis County, Texas.

Birding Tours Texas is an individually owned business. You can contact us with any questions.

Texas Bird Watching Tours and Excursions

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is host to an exotic array of wildlife, including alligators, javelina (collared peccary), snakes, bobcats and whooping cranes. A 16-mile one-way driving tour takes visitors through the refuge’s grassland, oak thicket, freshwater pond, and marshland habitats, providing excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Additional activities include hiking, birding, picnicking, and fishing. Six hiking trails totaling 4.3 miles are available, please bring insect repellent as mosquitoes are usually abundant.

Aransas has a reputation as one of the prime birding locales in Texas, and was originally named Aransas Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. Over 392 bird species have been cataloged in the area, including ducks, herons, egrets and other waterfowl. The refuge’s most famous visitor is the endangered whooping crane, one of the rarest animal species in North America. Each year from late-October to mid-April, the only wild flock of whooping cranes in the world makes its long journey south from Canada to winter in the protected habitat of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. As recently as the 1940’s, only sixteen birds remained, but according to the 2003-2004 winter census at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas the population rose to 194 cranes! Taking a commercial boat tour of the bays and Intercoastal Waterway, offered by operators such as Whooping Crane Boat Tours and Rockport Birding & Kayak Adventures, provides an excellent opportunity to view whooping cranes and other bird species.

Throughout April and May, large numbers of migratory songbirds come to the Texas coast. Ducks and geese are present from August through March, and year-round birding opportunities exist for roseate spoonbills, ibises, herons, and egrets.

Author: Mike Sharp

I have a passion for travel and outdoor activities, and now I'm enjoying retired life. I will continue my traveling, golfing, boating, and enjoying life all across the great state of Texas.

Lone Star Literature: A Book Lover’s Guide to Texas

How marfa came to be, a history buff’s guide to the alamo, bnsf railroad and gunter, texas, pet a baby croc in texomaland .

© Texas Outside 1997-2023 • All Rights Reserved

Join the Texas Outside newsletter

A private guiding service for birders and bird photographers

More birds. better photos. your list., our services.

The best choice for birders looking to experience Texas's incredibly diverse birdlife. Starting at $250 .

Bird Photography

A birding experience designed to get you the best possible photos of Texas's birds. Starting at $300 .

The BEST OF TEXAS

We guide in all major birding regions of the state, from the famous Rio Grande Valley and Upper Texas Coast to the beautiful Hill Country of central Texas and west to Big Bend National Park. We want to get you the best of Texas birds across this enormous and diverse state – Green Jays and Chachalacas to Black-capped Vireos and Colima Warblers.

Our REVIEWS

Texas Birding GUIDES

Texas Birding Guides is about following passions – passion for being in nature, for exploring beautiful places and amazing birds, for getting the best possible photo, and for having new experiences that create lasting memories. We are honored to be able to share our passion for Texas birds with you!

Answers to your questions!

What time of year is best for birding in Texas? Where should I go birding when I visit? What species of birds will I see while I’m there? Find answers to all your questions and more on our FAQ page.

RESERVE YOUR DATES!

Birding Tour USA: Texas Spring — Rio Grande, Hill Country and Whooping Cranes

Go to: South Texas Winter Tour | USA Birding Tours | Birding Tours in North America | All our birding tours

Dates and Costs:

25 March – 05 April 2025

Price: US$4,990  / £4,181 / €4,889 per person sharing

Single Supplement: US$900 / £754 / €882

* Please note that currency conversion is calculated in real-time, therefore is subject to slight change. Please refer back to the base price when making final payments.

Recommended Field Guide

(Please also read our blogs about recommended field   guides for the seven continents here )

Tour Details

Duration : 12 days Group Size : 4 – 8 Tour Start : Corpus Christi Tour End : Corpus Christi

Price includes:

Meals Accommodation Guiding fees Entrance fees All transport while on tour Tolls

Price excludes:

Flights Personal insurance Alcoholic beverages Gratuities ( please see our tipping guidelines blog ) Laundry service Personal expenses such as gifts

Featured Guide:

Texas Spring: Rio Grande, Hill Country, and Whooping Cranes March 2025

Due to its proximity to the humid tropics of Mexico, the subtropical woodlands of the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas boast over two dozen neotropical bird species that just barely spill across the border into the US. Here, the colorful  Great Kiskadee  and the personable  Green Jay  mingle with temperate species from further north. These tropical species occur nowhere else in the United States making for an incredible bird watching experience to a must-visit region for ABA area listers and international travelers alike. Along the gulf coast, muddy lagoons and shallow wetlands throng with thousands of shorebirds, herons, waterfowl, terns and cranes, including the magnificent, sadly Endangered (IUCN) Whooping Crane . Further inland, a rolling, arid plain covered in thorn-scrub harbors a collection of species more typical of the American Southwest, such as  Cactus Wren  and  Pyrrhuloxia . As we move north, the Hill Country stretches along the eastern flank of the Edwards Plateau , a land characterized by wooded hills, sunny slopes, and sparkling streams. In the spring, the forests of the Hill Country ring with the song of  Golden-cheeked Warbler , a Texas breeding endemic. Together, these widely disparate habitats give southern Texas one of the richest and most unique bird faunas in the United States. We time this tour just before the  Whooping Cranes  depart to their Canadian breeding grounds but late enough in the spring for summer breeders and passage migrants to arrive.

The tour begins in the city of Corpus Christi , where coastal wetlands and mudflats are home to an abundance of waterbirds such as the spectacular  Long-billed Curlew  and the stately  American White Pelican . However, the true star of this coastal avifauna is the  Whooping Crane , and we will make a special effort to see this rare species. Continuing south, King Ranch preserves tall-grass savanna, dotted with live oak groves (mottes), which are the US strongholds for  Tropical Parula  and  Ferruginous Pygmy Owl . From here, we focus our attention on a long list of exciting tropical specials found in the riparian woodlands of the lower Rio Grande Valley, such as  Altamira Oriole ,  Long-billed Thrasher  and  Pauraque .

In the scenic Hill Country, the range-restricted  Black-capped Vireo  and  Golden-cheeked Warbler  are our primary targets, but we also visit a site near Concan to witness the spectacle of hundreds of thousands of  Mexican Free-tailed Bats  swirling out of Frio Cave in the evening. The coastal areas of Texas host some of the continent’s most spectacular spring movements of raptors, shorebirds and passerines, and so we head back to Corpus Christi for a day in the hope of experiencing this phenomenon. This should be a fantastic way to round off this exciting itinerary and by the end of the trip, you will surely have a list full of great Texas birds and amazing memories!

This Birding Tour USA excursion can be combined with our  Colorado: Lekking Grouse, Rocky Mountains and Open Plains  which immediately follows this tour, or even our Alabama – Dauphin Island tour after this and finally our Florida Peninsula – Southern Specials and the Keys tour.

Please also note that we can very easily arrange trips to the remote Big Bend National Park , the only place in the United States where you can see Colima Warbler , an otherwise Mexican species. We may be able to put a group together or you may want us to arrange this Colima Warbler/Big Bend tour as a private extension. Big Bend is over six hours’ drive from San Antonio (and over eight from Corpus Christi) and to find Colima Warbler we have to hike 4.5 miles (just over 7 km) up the mountain to see it. But we love looking for this species (and we love the other wildlife and scenery of this great park!), so we’d be delighted to take you on this adventure if you ask us to arrange it!

Itinerary (12 days/11 nights)

Day 1. corpus christi.

After arrival at Corpus Christi International Airport, participants should plan on transferring to our hotel, where a room will be reserved in their name. We will gather in the hotel lobby at 5:30 p.m. to meet each other and have dinner.

Overnight: Corpus Christi

Day 2. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge for Whooping Crane

Although it remains one of the most endangered birds in North America,  Whooping Crane  populations have steadily increased from a low of 15 birds in the early twentieth century to a current population of over 300 individuals. Nonetheless, despite ongoing conservation efforts to establish new populations, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge hosts the wintering grounds of the only remaining self-sustaining population. On our first morning in Texas we will take a boat trip out on Aransas Bay to observe these special birds, as well as a wide variety of coastal species such as  Reddish Egret  and the magnificently colorful Roseate Spoonbill .

After our boat trip, we will visit the nearby Goose Island State Park in search of wintering sparrows and migrant warblers. This site may also provide us with our first taste of Texas specials like  Black-crested Titmouse ,  Buff-bellied Hummingbird  and  Golden-fronted Woodpecker .

Coastal sites along the way to Kingsville offer opportunities to catch up with any water, shore or wading birds we may have missed earlier in the day.

Overnight: Kingsville

Day 3. King Ranch

After an early breakfast, we drive to the Norias Division of the privately owned King Ranch. The habitat here features a subtropical savanna interspersed with live oak groves, favored by two of the rarest breeding species found north of the border:  Tropical Parula  and  Ferruginous Pygmy Owl . This site also offers the trip’s best chances of observing the declining  Audubon’s Oriole  and the beautiful  White-tailed Hawk .

In the afternoon, we continue our journey south to the lower Rio Grande Valley to seek out flocks of  Green Parakeet  and  Red-crowned Amazon  heading back to roost at urban sites in the valley. These feral species are countable for your ABA area list.

Overnight: McAllen

Days 4 – 5. Lower Rio Grande Valley

We spend two full days birding in the lower Rio Grande Valley, where an amazing diversity of birds flourish in the region’s wildlife sanctuaries, state parks, preserves and other amazing birding locations. Superb birding locales, such as Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park , Estero Llano Grande State Park and Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge , abound in the area, and our exact itinerary will depend mostly on the presence of any rarities (which your guide will watch for on eBird ). Although no particular species is especially likely, the possibility of a Mexican stray such as a  Crimson-collared Grosbeak  or a Blue Bunting  adds excitement to the birding experience here. Regardless, a long list of neotropical specials awaits us, including the brilliant  Altamira Oriole , the noisy  Plain Chachalaca  and the impressive  Ringed Kingfisher .  Clay-colored Thrush , once a rarity, is now a regularly breeding species that we hope to encounter. We also spend one evening at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park to look for  Elf Owl  and  Pauraque . During our time in the valley we can also explore nearby sod farms for migrating shorebirds such as  Upland Sandpiper  and  American Golden Plover .

Day 6. Lower Rio Grande Valley to the Falcon Dam area

Our schedule today depends on which targets we may still be missing from the valley. At some point after lunch, we will head about an hour north to the area around Falcon Dam and Falcon State Park . Here, the lush riparian woodlands, so typical of the lower Rio Grande Valley, grow only along the immediate riverbank. Several species here hold onto a tenuous presence in the United States, found only within this thin strip of habitat, including  Muscovy Duck  and  Red-billed Pigeon .

Overnight: Zapata

Day 7. Falcon Dam area

We will spend the morning at either the town of Zapata or San Ygnacio, depending on recent reports of the increasingly rare (for the US)  Morelet’s Seedeater . Due to an extensive taxonomic overhaul, this tiny bird is the only remaining member of the tanager family (Thraupidae) occurring in the United States. Away from the river, the landscape becomes an increasingly arid, hilly brushland and the birdlife becomes similar to that of the American Southwest. Species we will look for in this dry habitat include the dapper  Scaled Quail , the boldly marked  Black-throated Sparrow  and the unique, tiny  Verdin .

Day 8. Zapata to the Hill Country

We have an extra morning to try for  Morelet’s Seedeater  or any of the arid brushland species around Falcon Dam. Afterwards we continue to the scenic eastern portion of the Edwards Plateau, more popularly known as the Hill Country of Texas. Due to its Cretaceous limestone composition, this rolling landscape of modest elevation (980-2,460 feet / 300-750 meters), features a karst topography of rugged hills, caves and deeply cut valleys. Although it covers a relatively small area of Texas, it forms an overlap region, where the eastern and western bird faunas of the United States meet. In these wooded hills,  Louisiana Waterthrush  shares gurgling forest streams with  Black Phoebe , while Carolina Wren  sings from the same valleys as  Canyon Wren  and  Carolina Chickadee  feeds in the same trees and shrubs as  Black-chinned Hummingbird .

We spend the afternoon exploring the vicinity of the Frio River and the surrounding area, which includes a range of habitats from dry hillside covered in thorny vegetation, to wetter forests dominated by oak and bald cypress. Our first walk through the Hill Country can produce species common on the plateau such as  Field Sparrow ,  Canyon Wren ,  Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay  and  Rufous-crowned Sparrow . By evening we will visit a nearby sinkhole to witness the emergence of hundreds of thousands of  Mexican Free-tailed Bats  in one of the largest mammalian congregations on the planet.

Overnight: Uvalde

Day 9. Hill Country

As the state’s only breeding endemic, the Endangered (IUCN) Golden-cheeked Warbler  is a flagship species of the Texas Hill Country. Found exclusively in mixed juniper and oak woodland, this warbler depends on the presence of Ashe Juniper for nesting material. Birds use small strips of bark from mature juniper trees to construct their nests. Due to the clearing of habitat for agriculture and development, this species suffers from an increasingly fragmented distribution.

Lost Maples State Natural Area , famous for its relict population of Bigtooth Maples, protects one of the largest remaining populations of Golden-cheeked Warbler . We have the entire day to explore the trails of this lovely wilderness, in search of this warbler and other species. Black-capped Vireo , the other key species of this region, inhabits shrubby oaks on the sunny hillsides. Zone-tailed Hawk patrols these same hillsides, while Black-and-white Warbler and Yellow-throated Vireo sing incessantly from wetter forested areas. With so many species in full song, it will really feel like spring!

Overnight: Kerrville

Day 10. Hill Country to Corpus Christi

Kerr Wildlife Management Area hosts a thriving population of  Black-capped Vireo , thanks to aggressive land management practices to create the suitable habitat of live oak thickets with a low, dense understory. We have the entire morning to obtain views of this striking passerine, before driving back to Corpus Christi for the afternoon. Depending on the weather and time of our arrival, we can begin exploring birding sites near to the city.

Day 11. Spring Migration at Corpus Christi

Holding the title of “America’s Birdiest City” for more than a decade, Corpus Christi in April offers some of the most exciting birding in the country. Few places in the United States can boast such large and diverse spring movements of birds. If the weather is in our favor today, coastal migrant traps such as Paradise Pond and Packery Channel Park can be literally dripping with warblers. Although it will be a bit early in the season to expect large concentrations of songbirds, early migrants such as  Hooded ,  Prothonotary ,  Worm-eating and  Black-throated Green Warbler  are still a distinct possibility. Considering the high diversity of resident species and migrating shorebirds in the area, today we will potentially tally our highest day list of the entire trip.

Day 12. Transfer to Corpus Christi International Airport

After some morning birding at nearby migrant traps to see if anything has dropped in overnight, we will transfer back to Corpus Christi International Airport , where the tour concludes. Be sure to check out our  Colorado: Lekking Grouse, Rocky Mountains and Open Plains  tour immediately following this one, as well as Alabama – Dauphin Island and Florida Peninsula – Southern Specials and the Keys for more fun-filled birding adventures!

Please note that the itinerary cannot be guaranteed as it is only a rough guide and can be changed (usually slightly) due to factors such as availability of accommodation, updated information on the state of accommodation, roads, or birding sites, the discretion of the guides and other factors. In addition, we sometimes have to use a different international guide from the one advertised due to tour scheduling. 

Pyrrhuloxia

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Whooping Crane

Green Parakeet

Long-billed Thrasher

Plain Chachalaca

Great Kiskadee

Black-throated Sparrow

Northern Crested Caracara

Black-crested Titmouse

Audubon's Oriole

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

All Rights Reserved, Birding Ecotours

Join our newsletter for exclusive discounts and great birding information!

Aransas Bay Adventures

Birding photo & fishing tours in rockport, texas.

We Specialize in Whooping Crane Photography Tours

Our Popular Birding Tours

• Most Popular!
• Hour Glass 4-6 Hours

Morning Private Photography Birding Charter

Photograph whooping cranes and shorebirds on this morning tour that takes on the Intracoastal Waterway and along the Aransas Wildlife Refuge.

Afternoon Whooping Crane/Birding Charter

Join us for an afternoon birding tour. Cruise the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge by water to see Whooping Cranes, Shore birds, wading birds, dolphins and some awesome sunsets!

Shared Photography/Whooping Crane/Charters

Share a Charter and save some money!

Texas' Best Birding Tours

We offer one-of-kind photography tours. Our charters are custom-designed to fit your group, and our boats are uniquely designed for photographers. The Jack Flash has three different decks at separate elevations to give you the angle of your choice. The Lady Lori has two decks at different elevations.

Another great feature of both boats is they have enclosed cabins so you can take a break and relax out of the elements. The absolute best feature is the true shallow draft capability. We are able to float at a depth of 10 inches and can motor at 18 inches.

This allows you to get really close to the birds. It is not uncommon to get within 50 feet of whooping cranes and even closer for most shorebirds. Your tour begins at the Sea Gun Marina, located on the Lamar peninsula.

Aransas Bay's Best Birding Experience ★★★★★

"We did a 6AM to 11AM boat tour with Lori. She was awesome! Very knowledgeable about birds, able to spot them from a distance and identity them for us while captaining the boat. Did not rush, let us enjoy the birds for as long as we wanted, answered all our questions. Equipped with spare binoculars, coats, hand warmers, picture guides for easy identification. Totally awesome experience. Highly recommend it."

"I have taken several trips with Capt. Kevin and Capt. Lori Sims and they never disappoint! As anyone who photographs wildlife knows, it's always a bit of a gamble on whether or not you'll see anything, but they know where to look and have always provided me with great photographic opportunities. They obviously love what they do and love the area and it shows! Thanks for a wonderful trip."

"Aransas Bay Birding Charters offers excellent birding trips to see the endangered whooping cranes in the winter months and to rookery islands in the spring. With boats designed to get in close and the experience and knowledge of Captain Lori and Captain Kevin Sims make for an outstanding adventure. Highly recommended."

"This trip far surpassed any expectations! We saw over 20 Hooping Cranes plus a plethora of other birds. This is a local company run by a husband & wife. They are so knowledgeable about the behaviors of the local birds. We saw over 30 species. It was such an enjoyable trip and one I would do again!! Can’t go wrong with this company!!!"

"We had an excellent time photographing the Whooping Cranes up close without disturbing birds which means a lot to me. We were able to observe from a distance that allowed us to capture great photos. Such a magical experience to be able to see and get such great shots. Will definitely go again! What a great day."

Nature Tours

Over 25 years of Nature Tours!

Come experience King Ranch’s guided wildlife and bird-watching tours.

King Ranch has a long history of wildlife management. As early as 1947, famed conservationist Aldo Leopold called King Ranch “one of the best jobs of wildlife restoration on the continent.” Today, the ranch is a vital part of an incredibly diverse landscape in South Texas dubbed “The Last Great Habitat.”

Besides rich populations of game species such as northern bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, and wild turkey, King Ranch is also home to an incredible number of birds, mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. We have been honored as an Internationally Important Bird Area: 372 species of birds have been recorded here, including the largest known population of ferruginous pygmy-owls in the United States. In 2004, a species of damselfly never before seen in the U.S., the cream-tipped swamp-damsel, was discovered on the ranch.

Whether you’re interested in beautiful or unusual birds, big deer, or the wonders of nature, King Ranch is the place to visit. Book your tour online at the button below. You can also speak with a King Ranch Visitor Center representative to learn more by calling either   (361) 592-8055   or emailing  visit@king-ranch.com .    Please note that the prices below don’t include sales tax of 6.75%.

Our Nature Tours

Click on one of the links below to get more information about each tour.

Wildlife Half-Day Tour (3.5 hours)

Enjoy a tour through some of the premier wildlife habitat in the country. Along with the famed quality of antlered white-tailed deer in its pastures, King Ranch is home to a diverse range of animal species including javelina, bobcat, wild turkey, American alligator, and a host of other mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Offered: October – March, Wednesday – Saturdays.

Not Offered: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Book your tour online at the button below. You can also speak with a King Ranch Visitor Center representative to learn more by calling either   (361) 592-8055   or emailing    visit@king-ranch.com .  

Reservations & binoculars recommended. Children under age 10 not recommended.

Winter Birding Half-Day (4 hours)

King Ranch is a showcase for the incredible diversity of wintering and tropical resident birds in South Texas. We will visit habitats from wetlands and grasslands to brush country to look for birds such as least grebe, white-tailed hawk, crested caracara, vermilion flycatcher, great kiskadee, green jay, olive sparrow, and more.

This tour does  not  visit the division of the ranch where the ferruginous pygmy-owls occur.

Offered: November – March, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Reservations required. Children under age 12 not recommended.

Norias Birding Full-Day (9 hours)

This tour visits the Norias Division, the southernmost part of King Ranch. This area provides a great birding experience, with some of the rarest breeding birds in the U.S. such as the ferruginous pygmy-owl and tropical parula, and habitat for migrating songbirds. Other species we’ll look for include white-tailed hawk, northern-beardless tyrannulet, vermilion flycatcher, Botteri’s sparrow, and Audubon’s oriole. Lunch and drinks provided.

Offered:   March – June.

Deluxe Norias Birding Tour (1.5 days, 1 night)

This tour maximizes the varied birding opportunities on the Norias Divison, of King Ranch. Besides possibly seeing the many special resident & summer resident bird species, this portion of King Ranch has extensive upland coastal habitat that can attract many spring migrants. This tour allows time to visit these coastal migrant stopover areas and includes an overnight stay on this division of the ranch.

Reservations required. Children under age 14 not recommended.

King Ranch Birding Adventure (3 days, 2 nights)

This unique and extended outing is a great way to experience a much larger portion of King Ranch and its birds. It will include birding divisions of the ranch and a two night stay on the remote Norias division of King Ranch. Meals and comfortable accommodations are provided in a rustic setting. This is indeed a very special adventure on King Ranch.

Reservations required. Children under age 14 not recommended.  

Note:  Vehicles headed north after a Spring birding tour travel through the Sarita U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Check Station. Each vehicle is met at the checkpoint by Border Patrol agents for a quick visual inspection and brief questions to determine citizenship. The process is routine, and most stops average less than a minute in duration. All passengers need to carry proper identification to verify U.S. Citizenship such as a Drivers License or Student ID card. Foreign nationals planning to take a Spring birding trip on the King Ranch should be sure to carry the appropriate documentation to avoid unnecessary delays, as Border Patrol agents are required to determine the immigration status of every traveler. Participants who do not have proper identification will not be permitted to board vans headed for King Ranch birding excursions on the Norias Division of the ranch, as an 1-2 hour delay in return of a birding trip would not be fair to other participants.

Texas' Big Bend

Full - check out south texas: birds & nature in november.

April 27 - May 5, 2024

• Full Itinerary
• Photo Gallery

Travel Details

• Trip Reports
• Know Before You Go
• Other Trips You May Like

Join Naturalist Journeys for this highly popular Big Bend nature tour. Immerse yourself in the big, bold, and beautiful landscape of Big Bend National Park, home to the stunningly eroded Chisos Mountains and the elusive Colima Warbler. A playground of light, the rugged mountains, rolling hills, and deep canyons glow in rich red and orange hues. The wildlife of the Chihuahuan Desert are fascinating and abound. This Big Bend nature tour lets you experience the rhythm of spring bird migration, as Eastern, Western, Mexican, and Rocky Mountain birds converge — nearly 450 species, many rare or vagrant. Big Bend National Park also has its share of mammals, including Kangaroo Rat, skunks, Badger, and Javelina, to Mountain Lion and Black Bear. And of course, plentiful reptiles. In addition to exceptional wildlife watching and geological and ecological interpretation, our tour group spends time at lovely accommodations and enjoys delicious meals along the way … and of course, good company.

• “A well planned and guided trip to the West Texas desert and beautiful canyons of Big Bend National park.” — Mark Jewett, 2023 Traveler
• “It was great. We saw lots of scenic and interesting country. Both of the guides were excellent. We saw lots of birds, about 150 species. We saw most of the birds very well and were able to get some pretty good pictures. We also saw other interesting wildlife, such as elk, pronghorns, deer, javelinas, a soft shelled turtle, a leopard frog, a bullfrog, a pink Coachwhip snake and a black bear. The flowers and cacti were also beautiful.” — Robert Leonhardt, 2023 Traveler
• “A wonderful mix of birding and being in spectacular settings. A fun group to travel with, and excellent guides…50 life birds for me!” – Karl Weis, 2023 traveler
• “An excellent opportunity to pump your birding life list while touring some magnificent scenery.” – John Connell, 2023 traveler
• “Fabulous! Big Bend is an amazing Park, and the area around Fort Davis was also beautiful and full of surprises…The people on our tour were wonderful and we formed a fun and tight knit group!” – Dana London, 2023 traveler

Tour Highlights

• Visit two of Texas' three Sky Island mountain ranges
• Search for the rare Colima Warbler on its only US breeding territory
• Catch the peak of migration—every day brings new arrivals!
• Travel along some of the most ruggedly beautiful roads in west Texas
• Gaze up at the stunning stars in a premier dark sky region
• Slow down and live life more slowly, the “Texas Way”

Trip Itinerary

Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary may occur to account for weather, road conditions, closures, etc. and to maximize your experience.

Sat., Apr. 27 : Arrivals | El Paso

Welcome to El Paso! Please plan to arrive at your leisure today and take the complimentary shuttle to the Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel. The group gets together for dinner tonight to get to know each other and your guide and talk about the week ahead. Accommodations at Wyndham El Paso Airport Hotel (D)

Sun., Apr. 28 : Fort Davis

After breakfast, we plan to do some birding en route to Fort Davis and the Davis Mountains, so be sure your binoculars are handy and your shoes are good for walking. We drive east about two hours to Van Horn where we take a break and then continue to Balmorhea State Park, a lush oasis. The park is located at the northern end of the Davis Mountains. Here an artesian spring pours forth millions of gallons of water, encouraging the growth of tall trees and marsh vegetation. The park is a haven for migrating birds, with such beauties as Painted Buntings sometimes coming in to the feeders. We look for Bullock’s Oriole, Western Kingbird, Pied-billed Grebe, and two species of rare desert fish. As time permits, we continue a short way to one of the larger reservoirs in this area, Balmorhea Lake. Here we may find a variety of ducks and shorebirds, and with luck, a flock of magnificent American White Pelican. Our afternoon drive of 30 miles or so down to Fort Davis is timed for good wildlife viewing hours, with a chance of seeing Mule Deer, Javelinas, Coyotes, or Wild Boar. This scenic route reveals tall cliffs of columnar volcanic rocks. Settle into your accommodations at the delightful Hotel Limpia and enjoy a first group dinner at the hotel. Accommodations at the Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis (B,L,D)

Mon., Apr. 29 : The Davis Mountains

Today we explore the Davis Mountains, a Sky Island mountain range in Texas. Learn more about the ecological significance of the Davis Mountains as a link between Mexico and the Rocky Mountains. In the morning we visit The Nature Conservancy’s outstanding preserve, high in the Davis Mountains. For many years the higher elevations of this range have been inaccessible as private land. Since the preserve was established, limited public access is allowed, and a number of very exciting birds have been recorded. Those familiar with the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona recognize Olive Warbler, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Painted Redstart, and Dusky-capped Flycatcher, found there in similar habitat. Enjoy a walk amid large Ponderosa Pines, with a view of the highest peak in the Davis Mountains, Mt. Livermore. Permission to visit this area varies by the year, and if for reasons of fire restriction or other, we cannot visit, we have several other great Davis Mountain areas as alternatives. Returning by mid-afternoon, we offer an optional visit to historic Fort Davis, one of the best preserved post-Civil War forts in our National Park system. The volcanic geology of its setting is quite spectacular. Dinner is at the Blue Mountain Bistro tonight. Accommodations at Hotel Limpia (B,L,D)

Tues., Apr. 30 : The Post at Marathon | Prairie Dogs | Big Bend National Park

This morning we visit Davis Mountains State Park, where in some years Montezuma Quail come into feeders along with Scrub Jay, Acorn Woodpecker, and Green-tailed Towhee. It’s hard to tear ourselves away from this idyllic sit-down birding! However, adventure and Big Bend call us, so by mid-morning we head on. Passing through grassland habitat, we are likely to see Pronghorns and possibly Scaled Quail. We enjoy lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants in Alpine, then visit a lush birding oasis at a creek-side park that once housed the U.S. Cavalry. Today it is known as The Post, and its large cottonwood trees and small reservoir attract a good number and variety of birds like Vermilion Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, and possibly Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Driving back into extensive grasslands we visit an active Prairie Dog town to observe these animals’ lively and sometimes comical behavior. With luck a Coyote or Golden Eagle may be here on patrol. Then we turn south to Big Bend National Park, interpreting the geologic features on the way. We pass through low desert that was once so rich in Tobosa grass that the early settlers could cut it as hay. Our destination is Chisos Basin, which sits at a comfortable 5,400 feet, surrounded by mountain peaks. Here, we keep an eye out for Zone-tailed Hawk and other birds of prey. Relax, settle in, and enjoy dinner in the lodge’s dining room. A Say’s Phoebe may have a nest by the door; at night, Gray Fox and Javelina are sometimes seen from the balconies. Accommodations at Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)

Wed., May 1 : Big Bend National Park | Rio Grande Village

We get an early start this morning with a field breakfast in tow, so we can get to Rio Grande Village early enough for prime bird activity. Ro Wauer, author of The Birds of Big Bend, regards this as the most consistent location in the park to see good numbers of species, and today should be no exception. Painted Bunting often steal the show, but there is stiff competition from Greater Roadrunner, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Inca Dove, Indigo Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak. Take time to learn some of the calls so you can be aware of Yellow-breasted Chat and Bell’s Vireo; with luck, you hear the scream of a Gray Hawk. Common Black Hawk have nested here for several years, and Black Vulture can be seen along the river. Along the nature trail — a boardwalk through a beaver pond — the blend of lush cattails and rushes, desert scrub, and distant views of the Chisos is striking! Enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of the Sierra del Carmen Mountains. A siesta under the shade of the cottonwoods is a must before we return to the Basin. We stop at the Boquillas Canyon Overlook and Hot Springs Historic Site, as well as the park’s visitor center. Accommodations at Chisos Mountain Lodge, Big Bend National Park (B,L,D)

Thurs., May 2 : Big Bend National Park | Boot Springs

Enjoy a full day of walks and hikes in Chisos Basin. Those with energy can scale the nine-mile loop trail high into the Chisos, where we find nesting Colima Warbler. The entire hike is fascinating, and we have all day to do it, so many can participate. We climb steadily through oak and juniper woodland, finding an abundance of Mexican species such as Evergreen Sumacs and Drooping Junipers. Fresh-flowering Texas Madrones are magnets for warblers. We often find Townsend’s, Hermit, Yellow-rumped, and sometimes Orange-crowned and MacGillivray's Warblers. Wildflowers and brilliant cactus blooms brighten the trail. In sheltered Boot Canyon we find huge pines and Arizona Cypress, a Mexican relict species. The route down through Laguna Meadows opens up to great vistas and more birding. Listen for calls of Hutton’s Vireo and Bewick’s Wren, as well as the trill of Broad-tailed Hummingbird during courtship displays. Those who do not wish to scale the mountain can enjoy a very special hike to a place where orchids and Cardinal Flower grow at a backcountry desert spring (if we have a large enough group for two guides). This oasis is great for birding and affords a visit to the Old Sam Nail Ranch, one of the best birding spots in Big Bend. If we have a small group, those not on the long hike can walk partway with us, or enjoy free time in the basin where the park may have activities scheduled. Dinner is once again at your leisure. On this, or another evening, your guide offers an optional drive out to a location where we have a great chance of observing Elf Owl, Common Poorwill, and possibly Lesser Nighthawk. Accommodations at Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)

Fri., May 3 : Big Bend National Park | Burro Mesa Pouroff | Santa Elena Canyon

Today we head west towards magnificent Santa Elena Canyon. Our first stop is at the Old Sam Nail Ranch, where water coming from a windmill attracts Varied Bunting and a variety of other migrant songbirds. We then walk to Burro Mesa Pouroff, a unique geologic feature where unusual plants like the Texas Persimmon and Texas Buckeye bear fruit that attracts some of the larger songbirds. The arid hills provide good habitat for Black-chinned Sparrow, while the canyon seems to echo with the songs of Rock and Canyon Wrens. We have lunch at Cottonwood Campground, another oasis with large trees and a Hackberry and Lotebush hedgerow that provides shelter and food for migrants. In some years, we see waves of birds coming through — grosbeaks and buntings seem especially fond of this area. We may also find Lucy’s Warbler in the dry mesquite, and Hooded, Orchard, and Bullock’s Orioles. In the afternoon, after our siesta, we discuss the vivid geologic story of the Big Bend region. Visit historic Castolon, where ice cream is a welcome treat. In the late afternoon, the sun is off the trail into Santa Elena Canyon, so we can enjoy a walk along 1,000-foot limestone walls laid down during the Cretaceous Period. Watch swallows hunt over the river and listen for the calls of White-throated Swift. From here we take a back road north to the West Entrance of Big Bend, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant as unique as its desert surroundings. Accommodations at Chisos Mountain Lodge (B,L,D)

Sat., May 4 : Big Bend National Park | Blue Creek | Christmas Mountains

Today we say good-bye to the scenic Chisos Basin. But a great day is in store as we visit the Christmas Mountains and the home and feeders of Carolyn Ohl-Johnson, a grand finale of bird activity where difficult to find species like Lucifer Hummingbird and Varied Bunting can be found with ease. Carolyn has worked tirelessly to create a stunning oasis just north of Big Bend. This stop today is a real treat, and a fantastic way to round out our trip. By now the arid landscape, and its riches of cactus, vistas, birds, and wildlife is a part of you. We are sure to stop and visit the wonderful Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross University and the local cactus garden often replete with flowers before dinner at the Reata restaurant, a perfect place to celebrate the end of our journey. Their menu is a delight and we plan to enjoy a great final dinner, reminiscing with now familiar travel companions. Accommodations in Alpine (B,L,D)

Sun., May 5 : Departures from El Paso

Our journey comes to an end today in El Paso. We have a four-hour drive, so plan to arrive at the airport by 11:00 AM (time change works in our favor today!) for flights out NOON or later. (B)

Group at Big Bend by Michael J. Good

Western Tanager

Big Bend National Park

Hummingbird by Steve Shunk

Birding Big Bend by Steve Shunk

Big Bend Scenic by Steve Shunk

Indigo Bunting by Steve Shunk

Yellow-breasted Chat by Terry Peterson

Painted Bunting

Group at Big Bend by Steve Shunk

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Cost of the Journey

Cost of the main journey is $3390 DBL / $4330 SGL, per person, based on double occupancy, from El Paso, TX (ELP). This cost includes: accommodations for eight nights, meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), airport welcome and transfer or hotel shuttle, land transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. Cost does not include round-trip airfare to and from El Paso, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar, gratuities for luggage handling or personal services.

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

Arrival and Departure Airport: El Paso International Airport (ELP)

Arrival Details: Please plan to arrive April 27, 2024 at your leisure. You may arrive anytime this day, but we encourage you to arrive in time for the 6:30 PM welcome dinner and journey orientation. 

Departure Details: Please plan flights to depart after NOON May 5, 2024.

Travel Tips: Some of our past travelers have rented a car to visit other area attractions before or after the trip. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is 2.5 hours away, and many are surprised to find that the birding Mecca of Portal, Arizona and Cave Creek Canyon is just 3 hours away.

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

Big Bend & Davis Mountains

• Species List
• Trip Report

Big Bend Monsoon Madness

South texas, texas coast, texas hill country.

Dave is a naturalist with interests in birds, migration, ecosystems and natural disturbances, plants, and gardening. He holds a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Dave worked for The Nature Conservancy for 25+ years as Director of its Migratory Bird Program. He has researched in Latin American and the Caribbean. An avid birder, Dave enjoys teaching about natural habitats and local cultures. He has published papers in scientific and popular journals.

Other trips with Dave Mehlman

Michael has more than 25 years of experience studying the birds of North America, and brings a wealth of knowledge about Neotropical migrants and the avifauna of the Eastern United States. Michael has traveled extensively in the US, Alaska, Europe, Australia, South America and Cuba. He is also a regional business leader promoting sound ecologically practices in business and land development. Michael has been guiding professionally for many years, focusing on avian ecology in the Gulf of Maine bioregion. His fields of expertise include wetland ecology, ornithology, environmental education and developmental biology. Michael worked for many years at the Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, studied numerous aspects of the Gulf of Maine. In his spare time, he maintains Three Pines Bird Sanctuary in Town Hill, Maine, studying micro-habitat of Neotropical migratory birds on Mount Desert Island, Maine and winter ecology in various Neotropical countries, when given the opportunity.

Other trips with Michael Good

Essential Information +

This information is important for being prepared for your journey; we want you to have the best experience possible. If you only read one section, this one is key!

Ahead of Your Tour

• Please talk with your doctor about general health needs. It is a good idea to consult with your doctor about general vaccinations recommended for travel.
• Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed. After you make travel reservations, please send a copy of your travel itinerary to the Naturalist Journeys office at [email protected] .
• Travel insurance in case of serious medical emergency is recommended. Full health coverage and repatriation is available through Allianz Travel Insurance .
• Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Remember to pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Health Information

We will share a copy of your health and emergency contact information with your guide. This information will be kept confidential but is very important in case of a medical emergency. In addition to bringing any prescription medications with you, we recommend that you have a copy of the prescriptions in case of loss.

Pace of the Tour & What to Expect

You will receive a Schedule-at-a-Glance and list of hotels (our eContact List) a few weeks before your departure. This will serve as an outline for each day and alert you to any recent changes made in the schedule or to our hotels, if needed.

Our journeys are set up to follow the rhythm of nature. Our focus is on birding and nature; we offer full, well-planned field days and often get up early for that magical time around dawn. We generally follow the published itinerary, but we stay flexible to the weather, wildlife opportunities and the interests of the group. Your guide will keep you apprised of the next day’s schedule at each evening meal, noting what to bring and what to prepare for. Questions and/or concerns are welcome.

The pace of our Naturalist Journeys tours is moderate; to fully participate you should be able to get in and out of vehicles several times a day, and walk 1-3 miles over uneven terrain . It is important to participate with a flexible attitude as adjustments may be made in our schedule to make the most of our time in the field or for other purposes at your guide's discretion. We are not a “listing” bird company that drills down on target species, but at times we do wait for those special species unique to the places we visit. During the day, we take time to stop for photos and for educational opportunities to learn about conservation projects, landscapes, and geology. We appreciate other taxa as well as birds, with mammals often the biggest draw but plants and butterflies are also very popular. Our clients often lend their own expertise to the mix.  

We like to make meals a fun and memorable part of the experience, too. Breakfasts are often at hotels, and we carry snacks, fruit, and water in the vans each day. Lunches are a mix of picnics in the field (weather dependent) and a chance to dine with locals at small cafes and restaurants. For dinner, we pride ourselves in our homework to keep up with the best choices for dining, choosing restaurants with atmosphere that specialize in local foods. On occasion we keep dinner simple to go back out in the field for sunset wildlife viewing or night walks. In some remote locations, our choices are limited. If you are tired, room service for dinner may be an option you can choose.

Food & Drink

We carry water and juices/cold drinks in the cooler each day, and sodas if people like them. Please also plan on bringing and filling your water bottle for hiking each day. We try to use as few plastics as possible!

Packing, Clothing & Laundry

Soft sided luggage/duffel bags are easiest for packing the vans. Please pack essential medications in your carry-on luggage, as well as one day of clothing and optics in case of luggage delay.

Dress is informal and is casual even at restaurants. Layering is a great way to stay comfortable. Protective clothing is essential, whether it be from sun, rain, cold, insects, or vegetation. You need closed toe shoes, and wear comfortable walking shoes with good tread. Hiking boots with good support for hiking and on rocky terrain can work well.

Spending Money

Many people ask how much to plan to bring as spending money. Part of that depends on how much you want to shop. Most shops will take VISA and MasterCard or American Express. Typical items people purchase include local souvenirs and T-shirts, caps, and natural history books.   You may want to bring cash for drinks with dinner (if available) or smaller local purchases.

Expect the normal tipping protocol to apply for hotel maids and bar service. If at the end of the tour, you would like to show your appreciation to your guides, tipping is entirely appropriate but at your discretion. We hope that you will be pleased with all professional services. Gratuities for group meals are included. For your birding tour guide, we suggest $10-$15 per day per guest. Note that if there is more than one guide, this amount can be split among them.

Cell Phones & Internet Service

Wi-Fi and cell phone service are available in most US destinations, although there are some exceptions in remote locations. Wi-Fi is generally provided in all hotels, lodges, and restaurants you visit, at least in public areas. Please refrain from taking or making cell phone calls in the vehicles when traveling with other passengers unless it appears to be an emergency as this disrupts other guests – please plan cell phone calls on your own time.

Smoking is not permitted in any vehicle or in any situation where the group is participating in an activity together, such as a vehicle excursion or a guided walk. Please respect all designated smoking areas at hotels and restaurants.

Transportation

For this tour, your guides will drive travelers in either full-size or mini-vans or a combination of those two. We ask all attendees to please rotate your seating, so you ride with different drivers and alternate between front and back seats.

Photo Release & Sharing

We take many group photos and will share photos with the group. And after your tour, we will organize a chance to share photos via Dropbox or Google Photos. Please note that this is our policy and if you prefer to be excluded, we need to know ahead of your tour.

By registering for this tour, you agree to grant to Naturalist Journeys and its authorized representatives permission to record photos and/or video of your participation in the tour. You further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochures, or other printed materials used to promote Naturalist Journeys, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation.

Please contact Naturalist Journeys by email at [email protected] or telephone our office: (520) 558-1146 or toll free: (866) 900-1146 if you have any questions. Many thanks for traveling with us and we hope you enjoy your journey.

Safety & Best Practices

Spring temperatures in Big Bend National Park average in the 70s-90s during the day, even rising over 100 at times. It can also dip into the 30s overnight, and it will be cooler at higher altitudes. It smart to be prepared. Layered clothing is a good strategy.

The sun is strong. Pack to protect yourself with clothing, hats and sunscreen. Lightweight pants, and light, long-sleeved shirts are ideal.

Comfortable closed-toe footwear with good tread is essential. A lightweight walking stick or trekking poles may be helpful.

Your guide will provide helpful advice on coping with snakes, scorpions, spiders and other borderland creatures. They will also bring ample water along to help insure that everyone stayes hydrated. Guides are certified in CPR and First Aid, and will have a first-aid kit handy.

The National Park Service promotes following the Leave No Trace Principles , and we are happy to join with them in this. It is important to be conscious of the effects our actions may have on plants, animals, other people, and even entire ecosystems.

Packing List +

Please pack light.

• Soft luggage is easiest for us to pack in the vehicles – duffle bags are a great choice
• Include your name and address on the inside of the bag and the luggage tag – most airlines charge for checked bags over 45 pounds; we hope yours is less!
• Pack medications, airline tickets, binoculars, camera, emergency contact information, and other essentials in your carry-on – you’ll want a daypack for field trips, so this can serve a dual purpose
• Dress is very informal
• The weather will range from lows in the 50s to highs in the 80s and 90s, with little chance of rain
• Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and long pants make ideal field clothing; they protect you from sun, insects, and vegetation
• Choose clothing you can get dirty and that is comfortable and easy to wear. Layering is your best strategy for comfort

Clothing and Gear

• Lightweight long pants (2 pairs)
• Shorts (optional)
• Lightweight, long-sleeved shirts, 2-3 (Loose fitting keeps you cool)
• T-shirts or equivalent (4–5 – remember you may buy some souvenir tees along the way!)
• Personal underclothing and pajamas
• Socks (lightweight and easy to hand wash and dry)
• Raincoat or poncho (great if this doubles as a windbreaker)
• Comfortable evening clothes (clean field clothes are appropriate, but feel free to go dressier if you wish)
• Bathing suit (optional)
• Broad-brimmed hat
• Bandana (they now make these with a gel inside that you wet to keep you cool – great to have!)
• Comfortable walking shoes (tennis shoes, etc.)
• Lightweight hiking boots
• Sandals for evenings, travel days (optional)
• Lightweight jacket (fleece is ideal, but a sweater or sweatshirt will do)

Equipment and Miscellaneous

• PHOTO IDENTIFICATION
• Airline tickets or e-ticket verification
• Passport (for international travelers)
• Small daypack or fanny pack for field gear
• Umbrella – compact and not brightly colored (optional, we’re unlikely to see rain but great to keep sun off!)
• Walking sticks (optional, but strongly recommended if you usually hike with them)
• Small flashlight with fresh batteries
• Alarm clock (or cell phone with built-in alarm)
• Sunscreen/lip balm with SPF
• Sunglasses with neck strap
• Insect repellent
• Toilet articles
• Spotting scope and tripod (optional)
• Camera and extra batteries/battery chargers, film or digital chips, lens cleaning supplies and your instruction manual (optional)
• Tablet or laptop for personal use and/or transferring photos and charger (optional)
• USB cord for transferring photos from camera to tablet/laptop (optional)
• Water bottle (or you can use one of ours and refill during the journey)
• Notebook or journal and pen (optional)
• Field guides (optional)
• Earplugs (if hotel noise or roommates snoring may bother you; optional)
• Laundry soap if you plan to do hand washing
• Cell phone and charger
• Rechargeable power bank (optional)

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND TRAVELING WITH PRECIOUS OR VALUABLE JEWELRY – don’t tempt anyone and don’t bring things you’d regret losing, and your mind will be at ease

Medical and First Aid Items

• Personal medications (and copy of vital prescriptions)
• Motion sickness preventatives if likely to be needed
• Personal first aid kit and medications for general ailments
• Foot powder, lotions, general “comfort” items
• Copy of eyeglass prescription, copy of medical prescriptions, and any medical alerts
• Insurance information
• Extra pair of eyeglasses or contacts
• Band-Aids, moleskin to protect against blisters

Suggested Reading List +

  There are many titles of interest for Texas; the following are a few that we have enjoyed that can get you started.

General Reading

Texas Big Bend Country

Naturalist’s Big Bend: An Introduction to the Trees and Shrubs, Wildflowers, Cacti, Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fish and Insects

Big Bend of the Rio Grande: A Guide to the Rocks, Landscape, Geologic History and Settlers of the Area of Big Bend National Park

The Chihuahuan Desert

Field Guides

Merlin App. A phone-based birding app from Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology. Download it here .

The Sibley Guide to Birds

Field Guide to the Birds of North America

ABA Field Guide to Birds of Texas

Birds of Texas Field Guide

A Field Guide to the Birds of the Big Bend

The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds

Amphibians and Reptiles of Texas

Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West

Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Mammals of Texas

Wildflowers of Texas (A Timber Press Field Guide)

Natural History

Big Bend National Park: Mexico, the United States, and a Borderland Ecosystem

The Birder’s Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds

The Complete Birder, A Guide to Better Birding

Lives of North American Birds

Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding: Understanding What You See and Hear

Roadside Geology of Texas

History & Culture

The Big Bend: A History of the Last Texas Frontier

Hiking Big Bend National Park

Big Bend Pictures

I'll Gather My Geese

Memoir/Non-Fiction

For All Seasons: A Big Bend Journal

Lizards on the Mantel, Burros at the Door: A Big Bend Memoir

Stray Tales of the Big Bend

Adventures with a Texas Naturalist

Your guide will also have a selection of reference books and materials for participants to share. As an Amazon Associate, Naturalist Journeys earns from qualifying purchases, and may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page at no added cost to you.

The Park Service also offers a book list at https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/historyculture/reading-list.htm

Useful Links +

El Paso, Tx – An Encyclopedic Overview

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Paso,_Texas

Fort Davis, Tx – An Encyclopedic Overview

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Davis,_Texas

Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park (Boquillas, Texas)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boquillas,_Texas

Santa Elena Canyon

• https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/secyn.htm

Chisos Mountains

• https://visitbigbend.com/chisos-mountains/

Christmas Mountains

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Mountains_(Texas)

Nature, Wildlife & Biology

Birds of Big Bend

• www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/birds.htm

West Texas Target Birds

• http://www.texastargetbirds.com/birding-in-texas/west-texas/

Colima Warbler

• http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/11/birding-national-parks-searching-colima-warbler-big-bend-national-park9088
• https://reallybigyear.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/the-colima-warblers-of-big-bend/

Texas Butterflies

• http://butterfliesathome.com/butterflies-in-texas.htm

Herps of Texas

• https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/

Prairie Dogs

• http://www.defenders.org/prairie-dog/basic-facts
• https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Pronghorn

Wildlife Management in West Texas

• https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/trans_pecos/

Wildflowers of Big Bend

• http://www.americansouthwest.net/texas/big_bend/wildflowers.shtml

Ecosystems of Big Bend National Park

• https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/ecosystems.htm

Ecoregions of Texas

• https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Ecoregions_of_Texas_(EPA)

Conservation, Parks & Reserves

• https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_National_Park

Audubon Article – “The Grand Dream of an International Park with Mexico Meets a Complicated Reality” - Big Bend and Sierra del Carmen Mountains

• https://www.audubon.org/magazine/winter-2021/the-grand-dream-international-park-mexico-meets

Davis Mountains State Park

• https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/davis-mountains
• https://texastimetravel.com/directory/post-park/
• https://visitbigbend.com/big-bend-post-park-marathon-tx/

Chihuahuan Desert – WWF Conservation

• https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/chihuahuan-desert

Geology & Geography

Big Bend through Time

• http://maroon.com/bigbend/time/index.html

Marathon Uplift

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_Uplift

100th Meridian

• https://lodore.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/the-100th-meridian/

Brief History of Big Bend National Park

• https://visitbigbend.com/historical-overview/

History of Prairie Dogs in Texas

• https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/prairie-dog
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Davis_National_Historic_Site
• https://www.nps.gov/foda/index.htm

Helpful Travel Websites

El Paso International Airport (ELP)

• https://elpasointernationalairport.com/

Homeland Security Real ID Act

• https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• https://www.tsa.gov

ATM Locator

• https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/find-nearest-atm.html
• https://www.visa.com/atmlocator/

Date & Time

• https://www.timeanddate.com/

Photo credits: Banners: Big Bend National Park (Steve Shunk), Burrowing Owl (NJ Stock), American Avocet (NJ Stock), Group Hike (Steve Shunk), Big Bend Sky (Steve Shunk), Vermillion Flycatcher (NJ Stock), Crissal Thrasher (Steve Shunk) Thumbnails: Summer Tanager (NJ Stock), Mexican Jay (NJ Stock), Greater Roadrunner (NJ Stock), Acorn Woodpecker (NJ Stock), Cactus Wren (NJ Stock), Pyrrhuloxia (NJ Stock), Elf Owl (NJ Stock), Blue Grosbeak (NJ Stock)

Like what we do?

Sign up for our weekly enews to stay up to date, get to know our favorite destinations each week. we promise no spam..

South Texas

• Wonderful, often easy, birding!
• Boat trip for Whooping Cranes and other wading birds
• Lots of Mexican specialties that are located nowhere else in the United States
• Excellent reserves and birding areas

Tour Overview

Winter is a fine time for a birding tour in south Texas. Resident species are starting to nest, and some choice species are here before setting off for the north. Wading birds along the coastal lagoons will include Whooping Cranes alongside stunning Roseate Spoonbills and Reddish Egrets. There are the southern Texas specialties – Tropical Parula, Green Jay, Clay-colored Robin, Altamira and Audubon’s Orioles, Buff-bellied Hummingbird and Hook-billed Kite, and we look for Brown Jay and Morelet’s Seedeater up the valley, and Aplomado Falcon towards South Padre Island.

Our route will take us from Corpus Christi to Rockport, then down to the Rio Grande Valley where we will explore the sub-tropical preserves of Sable Palms Frontera Audubon Thicket, Bentsen State Park and superb Santa Ana NWR, and then up the valley to the riparian zone sanctuaries of Salineño, Chapeno, and the Chihuahuan Desert habitat of Falcon State Park, the later location being an excellent location for arid country species like Vermillion Flycatcher, Greater Roadrunner and Black-throated Sparrow.

You can combine this tour with our  Arizona in winter birding tour .

Read the trip report from South Texas 2022 .

Dates & Prices

Dates & prices, what's included, tour price includes.

• All accommodation (Good, comfortable)
• All breakfasts and lunches
• Ground transportation (15-passenger vans)
• Half-day boat ride in intercoastal water
• All park, conservation and entrance fees
• 4 - 8 participants with one leader, 9 - 12 participants with two leaders

Tour Price Does Not Include

• Flights to and from start/ end location
• Evening meals
• Travel Insurance
• Items of a personal nature

Day 1: Arrival

Our South Texas birding tour begins when we meet to go to dinner together in the hotel lobby at 6:30 p.m. (participants arriving early can enjoy a walk down the beach). Night in Corpus Christi.

Day 2: North to Rockport

After breakfast, we will bird around Corpus Christie and will work our way north towards Rockport. We’ll start out at Hazel Bazemore Park, an excellent first taste of south Texas with good numbers of wintering raptors and songbirds, andwe should start seeing our first subtropical Mexican species like Great Kiskadee and Olive Sparrow. Both Goose Island State Park and the peninsula on the north side of Copano Bay have a wide diversity of coastal habitats in close proximity, making possible an impressive array of ducks and waders and we will have our first introduction to shorebirds such as American Oystercatcher, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt and Piping Plover. Goose Island is also the home of a huge live oak known simply as “the Big Tree" and we have a good chance of finding Whooping Cranes here. Our tally at day’s end will be impressive. Night in Rockport/Fulton.

Day 3: Boat Trip on Intercoastal Waterway, Port Aransas and south to Brownsville

After breakfast we head for the docks in Rockport where we take a boat trip along the shallow Intracoastal Waterway, encountering a wealth of coastal species, from Brown and White Pelicans and Black Skimmers to Roseate Spoonbills, herons and egrets including Tricolored Heron, Little Blue Heron and Reddish Egret. There should be several family groups of Whooping Cranes present, and we will take our time admiring this impressive bird. After lunch we leave Rockport and set off for the lower Rio Grande valley, passing through the King Ranch and keeping an eye out for interesting raptors like Harris Hawk and White-tailed Kite as well as for flocks of Snow and Rosss Geese. Night in Brownsville.

Day 4: South Padre Island

Today we drive east to Port Isabel and South Padre Island. Our main target species here is Aplomado Falcon, and we have a good chance of finding this exquisite raptor. We should also encounter several species of terns, egrets and other waterbirds such as Mottled Duck, Least Grebe, and Sora & Clapper Rails. We then visit night-time roosts for several species of parrots, including Red-crowned Parrots and Green Parakeets, both AOU “countables”. Night in Brownsville.

Days 5 - 7: The Lower Rio Grande River

We spend these three days in the Lower Rio Grande valley, visiting a wealth of superb wildlife sites. Sabal Palm Sanctuary, the southernmost point in Texas, is a unique sanctuary in that it is a remnant of the last standing Sabal Palm forest. Here we have a good chance for Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Plain Chachalaca, and Least Grebe and possible rarities such as Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. Weslaco’s Frontera Audubon Thicket frequently has exciting overwintering species like Golden-crowned Warbler or even on rare occasions Crimson-collared Grosbeak. We will be spending some time exploring the fabulous Estero Llano State Park. This will probably be our best chance for seeing Buff-bellied Hummingbird and Clay-colored Robin as well as rarities seen in recent years on this tour include great looks at Tropical Parula and Rose-throated Becard! Santa Ana NWR with its unique blend of habitats always lends itself to exceptional birding. Altamira Oriole and Northern Beardless Tyrannulet occur here, Ringed and Green Kingfishers are possible, many waterbirds and ducks inhabit Willow Lake, and there is a good chance of Hook-billed Kite or some even rarer species. The famed Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park is an excellent location to see Plain Chachalaca, White-tipped Dove, Clay-colored Robin and many other Rio Grande specialties. Bentsen is well known for the occurrence of rarities like Blue Bunting and Gray Hawk, and a night-time visit could turn up Common Pauraque. Should we hear of any rare “South Texas Specialties” in the area, then we will adjust our itinerary accordingly. We have an option of visiting the Brownsville dump to look for Tamaulipas Crow, should there be reports that the crows are still present (absent in 2014 and 2015). Nights in McAllen/Mission.

Day 8: Salineno, Chapeno and Falcon Dam area

We leave the McAllen/Mission area early and will first head for Salineno. This small patch of riparian habitat managed by the USFWS is one of the birdiest places we’ll visit on this tour, with great photographic opportunites at the feeding station . Some of the specialties here include Ringed Kingfisher, Zone-tailed Hawk and Audubon’s Oriole and rarities like Morelet’s Seedeater (formerly known as White-collared), Red-billed Pigeon and Muscovy Duck. Some winters Brown Jay will appear, having become incredibly scarce in its restricted U.S. range. After a delightful morning at Salineno, we’ll head up into Falcon State Park try to find dry-country species such as Greater Roadrunner, Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia and various species of desert-loving sparrows. We then drive back to McAllen. Night in McAllen/Mission.

Day 9: Departure

Our South Texas birding tour concludes in McAllen. Breakfast is available, but you can depart anytime today for flights home.

What to Expect

Overview The South Texas tour is an easy-paced birding tour. You can expect some early mornings and long days in the field. If the temperatures are hot some afternoon or a migratory fallout is going on we may take a break midday and bird again in the evening.

Food We generally have breakfast at the hotel before we head out for the day. Sometimes we will have optional pre-breakfast walks. We often take a picnic lunch in the field, but will occasionally stop at a restaurant for lunch. Dinner is usually at the lodge or a nearby restaurant. Each evening after dinner we compile the day's checklist, review the day's activities, birds, mammals and other observations, and plan the next day's activities.

Accommodation We stay in comfortable hotel rooms and lodges.

Walking This tour involves mostly easy to moderate walking and hiking; the most walking to be done would likely be at Santa Ana NWR where we might walk 5km (3 miles). Other birding locations will involve short forays away from the van.

Driving Driving distances vary from short on some days to moderate on others, and we make frequent stops during each day’s travel.

Climate The climate of this region is generally mild to seasonably warm with average February temperatures ranging from 24°C (75° F) during the day to 14°C (57° F) at night. There could be some rain and wind at this time of year, so carrying a light rain jacket is recommended. The sun can be intense, so sunscreen and a brimmed hat are advised. We recommend checking the weather forecast the week before this trip starts to help you pack.

Boat Trips Our South Texas birding tour includes one half-day boat trip in a shallow bay and Intracoastal Waterway. Conditions are almost always calm. It may be quite cool on the water, so layered clothing underneath a waterproof windbreaker would be desirable. Boat trips are rarely cancelled due to weather, however, if this occurs, we will bird alternative locations.

Featured Wildlife

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds or mammals listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour.

• Whooping Crane
• Least Grebe
• Plain Chachalaca
• Ringed Kingfisher
• Golden-fronted Woodpecker
• Great Kiskadee
• Long-billed Thrasher
• Altamira Oriole
• Audubon’s Oriole
• Clay-colored Robin

Past Tour Checklists

View the list of birds and other wildlife we encountered on our past tours.

• South Texas species list 2024 (eBird)
• South Texas species list 2023 (eBird)
• South Texas species list 2022 (eBird)
• South Texas species list 2020
• South Texas species list 2019
• See More...
• South Texas species list 2018
• South Texas species list 2017
• South Texas species list 2015

Trip Reports & Inspiration

Tour reviews, connecting tours.

Arizona in Winter

You might also like.

Texas Spring Migration & Hill Country

Southeast Arizona

• Conservation
• In the media
• Birding blog
• How to book
• Booking FAQs
• Plan your trip
• Land Tour FAQs
• Insurance FAQ

WHERE WE GO

• Mexico & Central America
• South America
• Australia & New Zealand

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy

Featured Trips

These tours are Guaranteed Departures, or only need a couple more bookings to become guaranteed.

2025 Puerto Rico Escape – Endemics and Island Birding

2025 Minnesota – Sax-Zim Bog, Boreal Specialties, and Owls

2025 California – Northern California: Mountains, Ocean and Desert

2024 Northern Arizona – The Grand Canyon and Condors

Destinations.

We go where the birds are!

Worldwide Birding Tours available through

Details on the Birding Ecotours website!

Most popular tours.

Our most sought-after destinations

2024 Florida – South Florida Specialties and the Dry Tortugas

2025 Oregon – Klamath Basin & the Coast

2024 North Carolina – The Outer Banks

2024 California – Southern California Specialties

2025 Texas Winter — Whooping Cranes and Rio Grande

2024 oregon – klamath basin & the coast, meet the leaders.

Our highly trained and knowledgeable guides at your service!

Jacob Roalef

People who always support and endorse our work

Save big on upcoming tours!

Sign up to recieve discounts and the latest information on our unforgettable tours in the United States and Canada

• DESTINATIONS
• SEARCH FOR TOURS or QUICK LINKS
• TOUR CALENDAR
• REPORTS & PHOTOS
• BIRDS OF A FEATHER SERIES
• PHOTO GALLERY ARCHIVE
• GUIDES & STAFF
• LATEST NEWS
• HEALTH PROTOCOLS
• PRIVATE TOURS
• JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
• ABOUT FIELD GUIDES
• INFO & POLICIES
• TRAVEL RESOURCES
• GUIDING CAREERS

Destinations

Worldwide birding options.

Guides & Office

Meet our stellar staff.

Tour Calendar

Through december 2026.

Latest News

New video, newsletter.

Recent Tour Reports

See what we’ve been seeing.

Recent Tour Photos

Our march 2024 gallery.

Last Spots on a few upcoming tours CENTRAL ASIA: UZBEKISTAN, KYRGYZSTAN & KAZAKHSTAN Spaces: 1 May 22 - Jun 12, 2024 ($8975) with Jay VanderGaast & local guide Tour Limit: 12 A three-country tour exploring the scenic Central Asian steppes, deserts, canyons, and high mountains, for an enticing mix of localized resident species and northbound migrants, with the added cultural element of the beautifully preserved Silk Road cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. FRANCE'S LOIRE VALLEY: BIRDS, CHATEAUX & WINE Spaces: 1 May 31 - Jun 10, 2024 ($5775) with Marcelo Padua & Megan Edwards Crewe Tour Limit: 12 A tour of France's lovely Loire Valley, combining lowland birding with visits to the chateaux of Chambord, Chenonceau, and Villandry, as well as some of the region's famous vineyards. ICELAND Spaces: 2 Jun 7-16, 2024 ($6525) with Cory Gregory & John Coons Tour Limit: 12 Seabird colonies, endemic landbirds, spectacular scenery, and high-latitude natural history. ALASKA: THE GREAT LAND Spaces: 3 Jun 8-24, 2024 ($13075) with Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson Tour Limit: 14 Our fabulous survey of the best of Alaska birding: the Pribilofs, Kenai Fjords, Nome, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow). BRAZIL'S RIO ROOSEVELT: BIRDING THE RIVER OF DOUBT Spaces: 2 Jun 15-30, 2024 ($10875) with Bret Whitney Tour Limit: 8 A birding adventure on the remote Rio Roosevelt in the spirit of Teddy himself, as we search for bushbirds, ant swarms, up to 10 species described to science only in 2013, and, of course, the unknown.

Tours In Rockport-Fulton, TX

Rockport Adventures specializes in birding tours in Fulton, TX aboard our flagship Skimmer. Dolphin tours and sunset cruises are offered in the summer months, and private tours are always an option. Inland birding tours provide our customers the opportunity to really see the vast array of species habitat our area has to offer.

• Most Popular!
• Hour Glass 3 Hours
• Tags Winter

Whooping Crane & Coastal Birding Tour

This Texas Boat Safari guarantees you’ll see whooping cranes and we typically point out 30 to 60 different species during our 3-hour trip. Capt. Tommy and his experienced guides will teach you as much as you want to learn on how to ID some of the over 400 species that have been documented along the Texas Coastal Bend.

• Hour Glass 1.5 Hours
• Tags Summer

Sunset Cruise

See nesting birds and other wildlife along San Jose Island’s smooth waters before catching the sunset over the bay!

• Hour Glass 4 Hours

Spring Rookery Tour

Visit 3-4 different rookeries and travel through 6 different bays on this 4 hour trip!

• Hour Glass 2 Hours

History Tour by Golf Cart

Take a golf cart ride through Fulton, Old Rockport, Downtown Rockport, and everything in between!

Aransas Bay Dolphin Watching Cruise

See Dolphins, Birds, and learn how local Shrimp are caught!