Texas itinerary for 3 weeks (1 Viewer)

Hi.

We are going to visit coastal/Southern Texas in April and/or May for 3 weeks. Our aim is to see many species (what else) but without too much haste and to see nice landscapes, too.

I have intended the following itinerary:
(Houston) -> High Island -> Central Texas Coast -> Lower Texas Coast -> Rio Grande -> Big Bend -> Edwards Plateau -> (Houston)

Actually I am most interested in High Island (migration) and Lower Rio Grande.

1. Is it okay for 3 weeks without getting stressful? In case it is not, which place(s) would you skip?
2. Are there any key sites in each region not to miss?
3. Do you know any reliable spots where to see Elf Owl?
4. Are there any species one should not miss (TX-(near)-endemics, enigmatic species) and what are the best spots to see them?
5. Is there any up to date where-to-watch guidebook (could not find one) or which of the older ones would you recommend?

Lots of questions, I know... Thanks in advance!

The ABA Guides to the TX Coast and to the Rio Grande Valley are great resources.

TEXBIRDS listserve: http://www.moonmountaingroup.com/texbirds/ will have up-to-date sightings information. Lurking on the site will also help you isolate areas/sites to visit during your stay.

My email is sgross77 AT comcast.net if you'd like any more specific help in planning your trip.

Your schedule and route look good to accomplish your aims, however you are more likely to experience migration fallouts in April than May. There are so many places along your route that you will have to be selective in selecting locations. Two must places for migrants and possible fallouts are High Island and South Padre Island. In selecting other places your best bet is to study checlists(you should be able to find these on the internet) of different places, decide on target birds and chose locations from there. Steve's suggestion of the TEXBIRDS web-site is very good. You can study current sightings and historical sightings for the period of your visit and choose locations from there. You can also join the TEXBIRD group and ask specific questions about different areas. Another great resource for information on locations is the Coastal Birding Trail Maps published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife agency http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/coastal/

Happy birding

This year, as well as last year, the last week of April seems to be just amazing as far as variety and numbers of warblers seen. I had planned to go to High Island that weekend and wasn't able to - they had freakin' amazing stuff come through each time!!!

Before and during your trip, check in with Texbirds frequently, as well as NARBA. Both will have posts on anything being seen and NARBA wil give you info on rarities being seen up & down the coast & the valley that you may be able to see fairly quickly.

Texbirds link: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TEXS.html

NARBA link: http://www.narba.org/(X(1)S(fqhheq55k2zynu55zjcie5ro))/Default.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1. On this site, scroll down and click on the Texas Rare Bird Alert.

If it nests in the same spot again you can find an Elf Owl at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park. After you check in and pay at the visitors center, walk down the road towards the gate leading into the park. You will see some telephone poles on the left side, just before you get to the gate and there is one with a hole in it a couple of inches form the very top of the pole. The holes faces the road. If it choses to nest there again, the bird is extremely punctual! They told us it would pop it's head out of it's hole at 8:06 p.m. and by golly it did!! It poped in and out of the hole several times before it flew out & called.

There have been some really good birds in the valley lately - hopefully some will be around when you come through!

Books that helped me:

http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Birds...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295229113&sr=1-4

http://www.amazon.com/Birding-Corpu...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295229113&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Birding-Texas...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295229113&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Gre...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295229113&sr=1-3

You can also buy these maps before you come - not very expensive & worth the money:

http://beta-www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/coastal/

In the Galveston/High Island areas to bird: High Island - Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Sabine Woods (a little farther away), Anahuac, Corps Woods, Dos vacas de la Muertas, the beaches.

Corpus Christi area: Blucher Park, Tule Lake, Hans A. Suter Nature Park, a cemetary in Corpus (I wil get the name & post later), Polly Wog Ponds, Hazel Bazemore Park (actually in Calallen, a little ways out of Corpus). Go to Port Aransas and bird Paradise Pond, Leone Turnbelle Birding Center, Charlies Pasture...a few other spots I can't think of at the moment.

Valley: Sarita rest stop, Laguna Atascosa, Sabal Palms, Bentsen-Rio Grande State park, Santa Anna NWR, Estero Llano State Park, Edinburg Wetlands, McAllen Cemetary, Weslaco Cemetary, Frontera Audubon, valley Nature Center......

Actually we had to change our plans for the trip and now we will be heading for SE Arizona. I am very sure we are going to visit Texas some other time...

Thank you for all the tips - I am sure there are more birders visiting TX that appreciate your comments!

kilianwasmer said:

Actually we had to change our plans for the trip and now we will be heading for SE Arizona. I am very sure we are going to visit Texas some other time...

Thank you for all the tips - I am sure there are more birders visiting TX that appreciate your comments!

Click to expand...

That's where I come in.
Looking at a 3 week trip next April - what were this spring's highlights, folks?

Birdbox said:

That's where I come in.
Looking at a 3 week trip next April - what were this spring's highlights, folks?

Click to expand...

According to locals it was probably the worst Spring migration ever. Unseasonably hot (hit 40C some days) and endless SE winds.

We had a great time though. Did the usual tour and got the targets. Highlight was the Hill Country - Black-capped Vireo went straight into my top 10 birds.

I'll be pumping you for the 'gen' at a later date Tom, thanks.
And thanks again for the Bonelli's info.