This is a wonderful opportunity to bird the world-famous Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, and also experience north-east Mexico’s outstanding El Cielo Biosphere Reserve – and in the company of one of the region’s best-known ornithologists. Ecosystems in the Texas Valley range from riparian woodlands to brushland and coastal areas, making this a perfect destination to see a large number of species, including many which do not occur further north in the United States. Migration will also be in full swing, and if we catch it right the spectacle of large numbers of raptors, warblers and waterbirds on the move could be breathtaking. We will also spend time in Mexico’s El Cielo Biosphere, which is only six hours to the south of the Valley. This protected region contains tropical jungle, gallery forest, pine-oak forest and the northernmost cloud forest in the North American continent. El Cielo is the perfect place to add as many as 120 species to the Texas trip list, including many tropical specialities which have never occurred north of the US border. Furthermore, by visiting El Cielo on this trip you will be contributing to the local Sustainable Development Through Birding Project.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Early morning departure from London Heathrow, arriving late afternoon via Houston in McAllen, Texas. As time and light permit, we will attempt some local birding, either at the Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Centre and or in north McAllen for the Green Parakeet roost spectacle. Nights in McAllen.
Day 2: We will visit the resaca woodlands, floodplain forests and brushlands at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park – a haven for many Valley tropical bird species, including Green Jay, Plain Chachalaca, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and the stunning Altamira Oriole. Even reclusive species such as Olive Sparrow, White-tipped Dove and Long-billed Thrasher make the park their home. We may plan to have lunch at Anzalduas County Park, located on the Rio Grande. The park is a good place to see all three North American kingfisher species, along with Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet and Black Phoebe, and both Grey Hawk and Zone-tailed Hawk may also be found. Wintering warblers, along with Black-crested Titmice, form mixed foraging flocks. We will carry on to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, the jewel of the US refuge system. A few Tropical Parulas have been resident here in the past and Clay-coloured Robins are often found. From the Hawkwatch Tower, the open areas around Pintail Lake provide excellent viewing for Grey Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk or rare Hook-billed Kites, as well as migrating flocks of numerous raptor species, including Broad-winged Hawk and Mississippi Kite.
Day 3: Our first stop today will be Frontera Audubon Centre in Westlaco. In previous years, this 15-acre urban woodland site has been a magnet for such rarities as Crimson-collared Grosbeak, White-throated Robin and Elegant Trogon. In addition to migrating songbirds, Frontera is an excellent venue for Valley specialities such as Curve-billed Thrasher, Lesser Goldfinch, Golden-crowned Woodpecker and White-tipped Dove. Next we visit the new World Birding Centre Site at Estero Llano Grande State Park, a restoration of agricultural lands that offers a variety of habitats including wetlands, riparian woodlands, and thorn scrub. Expect to see shorebirds, waterfowl, migrants, raptors and lots of Valley specialities including Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Harris Hawk, Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee and more. Lunch will be at the Valley Nature Centre – another urban oasis for birds. Feeders attract Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Olive Sparrow, Green Jay, Green Parakeets and Long-billed Thrasher. Later we will drive a short distance to the World Birding Centre and Edinburg Scenic Wetlands. This visit will provide opportunities to observe a variety of waterbirds, with American White Pelican, Neotropic Cormorant, Least Grebe, Green Kingfisher and various herons and ducks all possible.
Day 4: Today we will visit Salineño, a habitat of rolling sandstone hills with a definite Chihuahuan Desert flair, while the Rio Grande winds through semi-arid hillsides. Here, birds such as cormorants, pelicans, ducks, raptors and songbirds travel from night-time roosts to feeding areas. Along the river, the spectacular Ringed Kingfisher and the tiny, jewel-like Green Kingfisher are relatively common. Other species found in the Upper Rio Grande include major US species such as Muscovy Duck, Red-billed Pigeon and Audubon's Oriole. The arid uplands hold desert south-west species like Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Cactus Wren, Verdin, Pyrrhuloxia and Black-throated Sparrow. Nearby, Starr County Park is a good lunch spot and the desert habitat will allow opportunities to look for Lark Bunting, Cassin’s Sparrow and Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Afternoon birding will be a choice between Falcon State Park and Zapata/San Ignacio for White-collared Seedeater.
Day 5: San Miguelito Ranch offers private tours to see Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Wild Turkey and wild game. Some of the best winter sparrow-watching can be found here. We will later visit Valley Salt Lakes or Sal Del Rey National Wildlife Refuge. This area provides a wide variety of habitats for species as diverse as shorebirds, waders, waterfowl, raptors, wintering sparrows, arid-country birds and a good selection of Valley specialities. Sandhill Crane, Long-billed Curlew, Snowy Plover, White-tailed Hawk and Crested Caracara are all possible here.
Day 6: We will bird around Brownsville today. Some short stops to visit parrot haunts and resacas can yield some good species and high numbers. A visit to the Sabal Palm Audubon Centre is always interesting – we can hope to see Least Grebe, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Couch’s Kingbird and Plain Chachalaca. White-tailed Kites are sometimes seen in the regenerating fields outside the palm forest, and this site can also produce Groove-billed Ani. Pristine beaches, jetties, mud flats, mangroves and sparkling waters make nearby South Padre Island the sub-tropical paradise of South Texas. At the Laguna Madre Boardwalk we’ll hope to see Least Bitterns, along with a variety of rails as well as Black Skimmers, American Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, Marbled Godwits and Roseate Spoonbills. We can also opt to visit Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. With more bird sightings than any other refuge in the nation, there is no question that this is the Valley's most diverse area for specialities. A stop at the Visitors' Centre feeding station and water garden might produce Green Jay and other resident species. The refuge’s vast and varied landscape yields some great places for finding a variety of waterbirds, often including such gems as Roseate Spoonbill and Reddish Egret. White Pelican and Crested Caracara are regularly seen here, and you might catch a glimpse of one of the reintroduced Aplomado Falcons.
Day 7: Today we’ll head south from McAllen, pick up our visas at the border crossing into Mexico and stop for lunch in Ciudad Victoria, Tamulipas. We’ll head towards Gomez Farias, a little town located at the very entrance to El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. El Cielo achieved this status in 1985 due to its richness in biodiversity, and it includes the northernmost cloud forest in the North American continent. Its logging days long past, local inhabitants are today trained as birdwatching and butterfly guides, with the aim of enhancing conservation awareness and generating an alternative source of income through ecotourism. On the afternoon of our arrival we will visit Falmboyanes, where we might find Squirrel Cuckoo, Spot-breasted Wren, Golden-crowned Warbler, Yellow-winged Tanager and Black-headed Saltator. Four nights in Gomez Farias.
Day 8: A trip to Alta Cima will take us into the mountain area of El Cielo, to the place where the cloud forest begins. Some of the feature birds of this area are Tamaulipas Pygmy-Owl, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Elegant and Mountain Trogons, Barred Antshrike, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Melodious Blackbird and Black-headed Siskin, among many others – the range of species will have a very different flavour to the birds of Texas we left behind yesterday.
Day 9: Today we head to La Florida, a wonderful place to look for birds along the Rio Frio. Bat Falcon, Blue-crowned Motmot, Lineated and Pale-billed Woodpeckers, Military Macaw, Red-crowned and White-crowned Parrots, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl and Masked Tityra are some of the region's specialties. After a break for lunch we will take a 35-minute boat ride along the Río Frio, where we will look for Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron and all locally occurring species of kingfisher, including Amazon; Northern Potoo is also possible. Night-time will offer the opportunity to go owling.
Day 10: We will head to El Encino and El Azteca, where we will bird along the Sabinas River until noon. Specialities in this area include Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Collared Forest-Falcon, Roadside Hawk, Bat Falcon, Ruddy Ground Dove, Blue Ground Dove, Amazon Kingfisher, Tufted Flycatcher, Bronze-winged Woodpecker, Altamira and Hooded Yellowthroats, Yellow-winged Tanager, and Blue-black and Yellow-faced Grassquits. Overnight Tampico (dinner not included).
Day 11: After an early breakfast, we fly to Houston and our later flight back to the UK.
Day 12: Arrive back London Heathrow.
Holiday Information
Dates: 15th – 26th April 2009
Leader: Roy Rodriguez
Cost: £2479 per person sharing a twin room
Single Supp: £130 per person
Deposit: £500
Group size: Minimum 4 plus leader
Price includes: Return economy class flights including airport taxes, all ground transportation by mini-bus, accommodation in rooms with private facilities, most meals, bottled water and snacks, all park entrance fees, boat trip as per itinerary, services of WildWings leader, pre tour information pack and a day-by-day bird checklist.
Price excludes: Travel insurance, other meals and drinks, visa fees (if applicable), souvenirs, gratuities, laundry charges and other items of a personal nature.
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WildWings, 577 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol. BS16 3AF.UK
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