“Migration along the Gulf Coast comes with a riot of …speysidewildlife.co.uk/PrinterVersions/TEXAS.pdf10-14 Our transfer towards the Gulf Coast, is broken with a stay at Sealy

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TEXAS

1-2 Driving three hours from Houston, with a break for roadside birds like

Eastern Meadowlark, Great-tailed Grackle and the incomparable Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, our first base is Rockport. A handful of Whooping Cranes linger into April at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and our boat trip through this vast marsh, to see this globally rare bird, will also introduce us to ducks, shorebirds, pelicans, egrets, herons, Royal Terns, Black Skimmer and hopefully Bottlenose Dolphins.

3-6 Further south, with White-tailed and Harris Hawks on the way, we have

three days to explore the bird rich Lower Rio Grande from our base at McAllen.

Mexico is just across the river and the species list has an exotic feel, with Great Kiskadee,

Birding in the Big State. A big tour, big mountains, a big bird list and a big Texas welcome y’all, hold on to your hats!

Green Jays, Aplomado Falcon and Plain Chachalaca. The lush woods and pools of Santa Anna and Bentsen State Park are a haven for Cinnamon Teal, Least Grebe, Ringed Kingfishers, Altimira Oriole, Couch’s Kingbird, Tropical Parula and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. Migrant hawks use the Rio Grande corridor as a roost and the morning sun can trigger hundreds of Broad-winged Hawks and Mississippi Kites taking to the air - we’ll hope for Gray Hawk and Hook-billed Kite too. An evening visit might yield Elf Owls, whistling Paraques and churring Lesser Nighthawks – Bobcat last time!

Around Zapata, at Falcon Dam and Chapeno, there are more Rio Grande specialities including Audubon’s Oriole, White-Collared Seed-eater or Brown Jay.

Dates Sat 16 Apr - Sun 1 May 2016

Price £3,795

Deposit £700 Single Supp £600

Leaders Darren Rees and Simon Eaves

Flights British Airways, scheduled Outbound: Morning, Heathrow–Houston Inbound: Overnight, Houston–Heathrow

Weather Warm and sunny with the outside chance of showers (20°-30°C)

Walking 1-2 miles on easy tracks Light footwear recommended

Meals All included from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 15 Varied American food Note – many tour companies do not include meals in North America

Insects Biting insects will be encountered in coastal woodlands, so bring repellent

Accom Twin and single rooms all ensuite Gulway Motel, basic but perfect location

Group 12

A six-centre tour of this vibrant and vast state Mexican exotics in the Lower Rio Grande 10 million Brazilian Free-tailed Bats! Pelicans, skimmers and shorebirds galore Colourful migrant warblers and tanagers Legendary Texan hospitality 300 species of birds up for grabs!

Just some of what we hope to see:

American BitternRoseate SpoonbillHook-billed KiteZone-tailed HawkWhite-tailed HawkAplomado FalconWhooping CraneAmerican AvocetUpland SandpiperBuff-breasted SandpiperGreater RoadrunnerElf OwlBuff-bellied HummingbirdRinged KingfisherGreen Kingfisher

Vermilion FlycatcherGreat KiskadeeScissor-tailed FlycatcherBrown JayBlack-capped VireoGolden-cheeked WarblerWorm-eating WarblerHooded WarblerKentucky WarblerBlue GrosbeakPainted BuntingAudubon’s OrioleAltimira OrioleBrazilian Free-tailed BatAmerican Alligator

“Migration along the Gulf Coast comes with a riot of colour: bright orioles and tanagers can

spot the canopy with vivid orange and scarlet; gem-like warblers can light up the bushes with exquisite patterns of black,

white, blue and yellow.“

Darren Rees

01479 812498 | [email protected]

7-9 Heading north to the scenic hill country, we’ve three days looking

at different species more typical of the arid southwest, like Canyon Towhee, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and the incomparable Roadrunner (Meep! Meep!) The feeding stations at Neal’s Lodges are always busy with wrens, hummingbirds, sparrows and thrashers; whilst a walk along the River Frio may produce Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-throated Warbler, Black Phoebe or elusive Green Kingfisher. Endemic and much-prized Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo inhabit the stands of walnut and juniper at Lost Maples State Park and easy trails may yield Zone-tailed Hawk, Wilson’s Warbler, Blue Grosbeak and stunning Scott’s Oriole.

Our evening visit to the Rio Frio bat cave is a trip highlight: as a thousand Cave Swallows go in to roost, ten million or more Brazilian Free-tailed Bats emerge into the dusk like billowing clouds of smoke! As their wings patter just above our heads, Red-tailed and Swainson’s Hawks swoop through to snatch a last meal – what a sight!

10-14 Our transfer towards the Gulf Coast, is broken with a stay

at Sealy and birding stops! Around Attwater Refuge fields can hold big numbers of Upland and Buff-breasted Sandpipers and a drive around the reserve is always fruitful, with ducks, waders and charismatic American Bison! At beautiful Brazos Bend, Anhinga and Black-bellied Whistling Duck perch in trees festooned with Spanish moss, whilst

American Bittern, Yellow-crowned Night Heron and dazzling Prothonatory Warblers are all on show. Watch out for alligators!

Arriving at our base on the Gulf Coast we’ve so many birds to see: at High Island, waves of migrant warblers, vireos, orioles and tanagers arrive at the only trees within the surrounding flat marshes. Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks are havens attracting warblers galore – Black-and-white, Parula, Yellow-rumped and Blue-winged, with another 20 species possible! Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting and Orchard Oriole add their own riot of colour, whilst shy Worm-eating, Kentucky and Hooded Warblers skulk below. East lies another migrant trap at Sabine Woods and this small woodland can hold a bewildering array of birds: Waterthrushes, Painted Bunting, or Summer Tanager for anyone?

Along the coastal marshes water loving birds provide a constant backdrop (and photographer’s dream). Busy local heronries support Great, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, Tri-coloured and Little Blue Heron and charismatic Roseate Spoonbill; and at the famous Bolivar Flats, you’ll be astonished by thousands of American Avocet, plus White Pelicans, Black Skimmers, Royal Terns, American Oystercatcher, five species of plover and sandpipers galore! Join us and see the wonder of bird migration in Texas for yourself.

15-16 The last morning is a relaxed affair checking the migrants

at High Island, before we leave for our flight back to the UK, arriving on Day 16.

“The bat exodus at the Frio caves is one of the true wonders of the natural world. Ten million

Free-tailed Bats pour out, in a relentless torrent of pattering wings. Red-tailed and Swainson’s Hawks take swipes at the bats, as the river

of tiny bodies twist into the evening sky. It’s a must see!” Darren Rees

Days 1-2 Fly to Houston, 3 hour transfer, plus next day boat trip in Aransas Bay 2 nights at Inn at Fulton Harbor

Days 3-5 Birding enroute to McAllen Two full days exploring Lower Rio Grande at Santa Ana NWR, Bentsen State Park, Laguna Atascosa NWR 3 nights at Alamo Inn

Day 6 Birding drive to Zapata 1 night at Oso Blanco Hotel

Days 7-9 Transfer to scenic hill country Two full days birding including Lost Maples State Park and evening visit to Rio Frio bat cave 3 nights at Neals Lodges

Day 10 Transfer east, 1 night at Holiday Inn Sealy

Days 11-14 Transfer to High Island via Attwater NWR and Brazos Bend State Park Three full days exploring Boy Scout Woods, Smith Oaks, Anahuac NWR, Bolivar Flats, Sabine Woods 4 nights at Gulfway Motel

Days 15-16 Transfer to Houston for overnight flight back to UK, arriving Day 16

David and Franky Perry: Green Jay, Heronry, Yellow-throated Warbler, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Upland Sandpiper Roy Atkins: Vermilion Flycatcher

Outline Itinerary