[CCRII]

So I have never been to texas. I am looking for 100% specialty type birds Golden-Cheeked Warbler, Black-Capped Vireo, Green Jay, Brown Jay, Cave Swallow, Black-crested Titmouse, Long-billed Thrasher, Tropical Parula, Olive Sparrow, Audubon Oriole, Chachalaca, Hook-billed Kite, Caracara, Alplomado Falcon (poss?), Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Common Pauraque, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

So my question is which Airport would be best/least expensive to fly into from Pueblo, CO and Southeast Michigan (probably DTW)?

We have 6 days 7 nights available to us.

So where do we start and where should we end? We will be driving a rental around Texas. We will be staying in Economy Hotels most likely.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

[DDolan1075]

Probably your best place is Houston, then you can drive to the coast, ie High Island, Galveston, Brazoria county, and also make a side trip to something more inland. I am not sure what there is in Katy now that the waterfowl numbers are down. You might even make a trip to Austin to get some of the western birds. I would also try to subscribe to Texbirds to see what you can find in terms of day to day stuff for the whole state of Texas. You might even post this question there so that people who are seeing these birds can email you or respond on Texbirds.

I know that I didn't respond about your specific birds but I think others will help. My blog shows some of the locations close to Houston to see what you might be interested in.

[lulubelle]

It sounds like the majority of the birds you are wanting to see are Lower Rio Grande Valley birds. You can get the Green Jays in Corpus Christi(I can't, but everyone else does!!), as well as the Northern Parula, Caracara, and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The Black-capped Vireo is a bird that is a Texas Hill Country region specialty, as is the Golden-cheeked Warbler. The Olive Sparrow and I do believe the Black-crested Titmouse are in that area as well as the Caracara, Harris's Hawks, Zone-tails, etc. If you are willing to consider Hill Country, there is a place called Neal's Lodges in Concan, Texas (not too far from Kerrville) and a man named Bob Rasa who posts on TEXBIRDS - he is an excellent guide (I don't know if he charges anything or not) and can get alot of the species you are looking for. I stayed at Neal's for several days (they give discounts to birders in the spring) and it was amazing - 123 birds in 24 hrs and 42 of them were lifers!! The area that the lodges are located in provides stunning scenery to complement the birds. He also took us to Park Chalk Bluff - great birding there. Lost Maples State Park is close by & also boasts of Black-capped Vireos and the Golden-cheeks. It is where I got my 1st Golden-cheek. If you decide to go the LRGV route, you can fly into Corpus and the valley is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from there - depending on the area/city you go to, drive time will vary . You can also drive to the valley from Neal's, it is little bit longer.

I think Dave had a great idea in suggesting that you subscribe to TEXBIRDS, there is lots of info about who is seeing what & where. Bob Rasa posts under the name "bobolink". There is also a gentleman named Steve Gross (whom I think Dave has met, if I remember a post on Birder's World correctly) that posts on this site as well as TEXBIRDS. He would be a great resource also. The Houston area is my next target area for birding - great area for numerous species that would be lifers for me. Most of the birds that you are wanting are unfortunately not in the Houston area, as far as I know. You have lots of options for Texas birding during spring migration - any where near the coast or valley will be awesome!! Good luck and try looking on Dave's blog - it is very interesting!

I wasn't very helpful on the airport issue, but I usually drive so I can bird along the way! If I had 7 days here, I would fly into Houston or Corpus (my top choice) and then bird my way down the coast til I got to the valley. The valley will net you the most specialty species & then a side to trip to the Hill Country to get regional specialties like the Blackcapped & the Golden-cheeked.

[CCRII]

Originally Posted by DDolan1075

Probably your best place is Houston, then you can drive to the coast, ie High Island, Galveston, Brazoria county, and also make a side trip to something more inland. I am not sure what there is in Katy now that the waterfowl numbers are down. You might even make a trip to Austin to get some of the western birds. I would also try to subscribe to Texbirds to see what you can find in terms of day to day stuff for the whole state of Texas. You might even post this question there so that people who are seeing these birds can email you or respond on Texbirds.

I know that I didn't respond about your specific birds but I think others will help. My blog shows some of the locations close to Houston to see what you might be interested in.

Well I use to live out west so I got all the western birds. I am strictly looking for whats on my list. Do you think this would cover it?

[CCRII]

Originally Posted by lulubelle

It sounds like the majority of the birds you are wanting to see are Lower Rio Grande Valley birds. You can get the Green Jays in Corpus Christi(I can't, but everyone else does!!), as well as the Northern Parula, Caracara, and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. The Black-capped Vireo is a bird that is a Texas Hill Country region specialty, as is the Golden-cheeked Warbler. The Olive Sparrow and I do believe the Black-crested Titmouse are in that area as well as the Caracara, Harris's Hawks, Zone-tails, etc. If you are willing to consider Hill Country, there is a place called Neal's Lodges in Concan, Texas (not too far from Kerrville) and a man named Bob Rasa who posts on TEXBIRDS - he is an excellent guide (I don't know if he charges anything or not) and can get alot of the species you are looking for. I stayed at Neal's for several days (they give discounts to birders in the spring) and it was amazing - 123 birds in 24 hrs and 42 of them were lifers!! The area that the lodges are located in provides stunning scenery to complement the birds. He also took us to Park Chalk Bluff - great birding there. Lost Maples State Park is close by & also boasts of Black-capped Vireos and the Golden-cheeks. It is where I got my 1st Golden-cheek. If you decide to go the LRGV route, you can fly into Corpus and the valley is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from there - depending on the area/city you go to, drive time will vary . You can also drive to the valley from Neal's, it is little bit longer.

I think Dave had a great idea in suggesting that you subscribe to TEXBIRDS, there is lots of info about who is seeing what & where. Bob Rasa posts under the name "bobolink". There is also a gentleman named Steve Gross (whom I think Dave has met, if I remember a post on Birder's World correctly) that posts on this site as well as TEXBIRDS. He would be a great resource also. The Houston area is my next target area for birding - great area for numerous species that would be lifers for me. Most of the birds that you are wanting are unfortunately not in the Houston area, as far as I know. You have lots of options for Texas birding during spring migration - any where near the coast or valley will be awesome!! Good luck and try looking on Dave's blog - it is very interesting!

I wasn't very helpful on the airport issue, but I usually drive so I can bird along the way! If I had 7 days here, I would fly into Houston or Corpus (my top choice) and then bird my way down the coast til I got to the valley. The valley will net you the most specialty species & then a side to trip to the Hill Country to get regional specialties like the Blackcapped & the Golden-cheeked.

Oh I was looking for Tropical Parula, is that seeable in Corpus Cristi? Thanks!

[jewelwing]

You didn't mention the dates of your trip, but one factor in trying to locate Golden-cheeked Warblers is whether they will still be singing or not. Unfortunately, I don't know when they taper off.

[CCRII]

Originally Posted by jewelwing

You didn't mention the dates of your trip, but one factor in trying to locate Golden-cheeked Warblers is whether they will still be singing or not. Unfortunately, I don't know when they taper off.

I didn't mention it because I am not set on a date. I need to go when I can see the target birds. Thanks.

[lulubelle]

Originally Posted by CCRII

Oh I was looking for Tropical Parula, is that seeable in Corpus Cristi? Thanks!

I think this is another valley specialty & you did specify Tropical - don't know why I said Northern! I got great views of a Northern Parula this last weekend when I drove to Corpus Christi, but I think a Tropical Parula would be an unusual bird in that area. Someone else had mentioned when the Golden-cheeks stop singing and that I don't know either, but I DO know they are on territory already. We have documented at least 4 males on territory in an area close to Glen Rose, Texas. I know others have reported them on territory in other parts of the hill country region. I still think the valley is your best bet to get a large number of your target birds. I will find and post an email address of someone who works at one of the refuges in the valley. They can give you a better idea of what you can expect to see there. Quite a few of your birds are strictly valley specialties - like the Hook-billed Kite, Brown Jay, Aplomado Flacon, & the Chachalaca. The Black-capped and Golden-cheeked are a reasonable drive from the valley, but are in a specific area that doesn't include the Texas coast. The Green Jays can be found from Corpus to the valley; the Black-crested Titmouse can be found in the same area of hill country that the Golden-cheeks and Black-capped - you can also get the Green & Ringed Kingfishers, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher, a variety of wrens, Olive Sparrow - just to name a few others! When are you planning on coming?