Two Four-Day Trips to South Texas to Search for Hidden Gems found only in the Deep South
Rio
Grande
Valley
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Pre Trip - April 22 to 25
Post Trip - May 1 to 4
We are pleased again to offer not one, but two Four-Day Trips to the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley is home to many specialty birds that can only be found in deep South Texas. For the first time, last year this trip surpassed the 200 species mark, including most of the target
birds. Let’s look to 2023 to go beyond that number.
The lodging for both trips will be the Alamo Inn, a birder-centric lodge in the heart of the richest birding area in the United States. This lodge is a South Texas landmark hide-away for guests to enjoy beautiful sunsets, great birds, butterflies, and the friendly Tex-Mex culture where time
moves slower.
The cost of the trip is inclusive of transportation, an experienced leader, entry fees and lodging (with breakfast) for three nights. It does NOT include lunches or dinners. There is a minimum of four for this trip to make and a maximum of eight.
PRICE PER PERSON IS $875.00
This Field Trip will leave from the South Texas Botanical Gardens at 7:00AM. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early for check in and loading. Parking will be in the back parking lot, follow the signs. Gates will be locked every night and patrolled by security.
Listed below is our expected itinerary and we will make every effort to see as many of the target birds as possible. We will remain flexible though and chase rarities that may show up.
PRE-TRIP LEADER/GUIDE – David Sarkozi
POST-TRIP LEADER/GUIDE – Cameron Cox
Estero Llano Grande
State Park
Day One
Leaving from Corpus Christi, we will head to Brushline Road to search for brush country species such as: Bullock’s Oriole, Common Ground Dove, Greater Roadrunner, White-tailed Hawk, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Verdin, and Pyrrhuloxia. Fingers crossed and with some luck, we may have a chance at a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl.
The next stop will be Estero Llano Grande State Park. Here we will search for Hooded Oriole, Green Jay, Common Pauraque, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird.
We will then check into our rooms and rest up a bit before heading out to check our roosting areas for Green Parakeets. Then finally, we will rest and have some dinner.
Bentsen State Park
Day Three
We will head “up valley” early and spend the morning at Salenino on the Rio Grande where we will target: Morelette’s Seedeater, Audubon’s Oriole, Muscovy Duck, and Red-billed Pigeon. From here we will go to Star County Park hoping to find: Clay-colored Sparrow, Red-billed Pigeon, and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher.
After a picnic lunch (included) in Falcon State Park, we will search for Vermillion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Scaled Quail, Chihuahuan Raven, and Black-throated Sparrow.
Day Two
After long previous day of travel, we will start close to the lodging, to allow for some rest. We will start at Bentsen Rio Grande State Park in search of: Green Jay, Plain Chachalaca, Altamira Oriole, Clay-colored Thrush, Great Kisskadee, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Gray Hawk, Ringed and Green Kingfisher, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. To continue the state park adventure, we will go back and visit Estero Llano Grande State Park. Here we will look for Green Kingfisher, Least Grebe, Inca Dove, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and Buff-bellied Hummingbird.
After lunch, we will head over to Anzalduas County Park, where looking North you can glimpse into Mexico. Here we will target: Black Phoebe and Gray Hawk before calling it a day and resting up for dinner.
Falcon State Park
Day Four
On our last day we will head out early to search for Botteri’s Sparrow and Aplomado Falcon, then on to Padre Island. Here we will look for migrants plus shorebirds, gulls, and terns. After a late lunch we will head back to Corpus Christi for a short rest, before the end of tour dinner.
