Audubon's Oriole photo
by Bill Schmoker
Plain Chachalaca photo
by Bill Schmoker
Black-crested Titmouse photo
by Bill Schmoker
Brief Itinerary
Trip Description
Cave Swallow photo
by Bill Schmoker
These winter trips concentrate on the region from the Gulf
coast upriver to Falcon Lake, and sometimes as far as San
Ygnacio, if White-collared Seedeaters are being reported.  
Typical trips involve three or four nights in McAllen, which is
well-situated as a base for reaching most of the major
regional birding sites. With an added two nights closer to
the coast, you will have plenty of time to visit all the prime
habitats in the area.  

Target birds on this trip include Least Grebe, Neotropic
Cormorant, Mottled Duck, Hook-billed Kite, Gray Hawk,
White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, Aplomado Falcon,
Plain Chachalaca, White-tipped Dove, Green Parakeet,
Red-crowned Parrot, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Common
Pauraque, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Ringed Kingfisher,  
Green Kingfisher, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Northern
Beardless-Tyrannulet, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Brown
Jay, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Tropical
Parula, White-collared Seedeater, Olive Sparrow, Altamira
Oriole and Audubon's Oriole.  

This is a great time of year to look for Mexican strays such
as Red-billed Pigeon, Tamaulipas Crow, Gray-crowned
Yellowthroat, Golden-crowned Warbler, Crimson-collared
Grosbeak, Blue Bunting and other surprises that seem to
arrive each winter.  

Trips are offered in late January and February.
Brief Overview of the Trip
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher photo
by Bill Schmoker
Painted Bunting photo
by Bill Schmoker
Texas Tropics:  Rio Grande Valley Winter Break
Texas Tropics:
Rio Grande Valley Winter Break
More Details on This Trip
Day 1:  Arrival into McAllen; Late PM birding at Quinta
Mazatlan, or other McAllen area birding sites.
Day 2:  Birding upriver between McAllen and San Ygnacio,
and including Falcon State Park and Dam, Salineño,  
and more.
Day 3:  Morning at Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park.  
Additional birding sites in the afternoon based upon rare
bird sightings, and this might include Frontera Audubon, or
Alan William’s yard in the Pharr.
Day 4:  Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in morning.  
Afternoon birding at Estero Llano Grande State Park.  
Sunset visit to a parrot roost at a Brownsville park.
Day 5:  Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for
morning birding.  Afternoon birding to be determined based
on regional reports.  Birding to Brownsville.
Day 6: Birding South Padre Island and Boca Chica
Beach.  Afternoon transfer to McAllen.
Day 7:  Departure for home.
White-faced Ibis photo
by Bill Schmoker
Please call Charles (in the USA at 720-320-1974 or toll free at 888-203-7464) or Ian
(in the UK at 07719-052820), and/or email info@pibird.com. Also feel free to click
here.