I'm posting this now because I know some of you are relatively fresh from doing a trip like this.
My wife and I are planning a spring birding trip to South Texas next year (roughly south of the arc from Del Rio through Austin to Houston). We're not big shore bird fanatics, though we'll be stopping at Aransas, so we're mostly interested in passerines. Tentatively, we're looking at the March-April time frame, and hopefully a couple of weeks. I'd like advice on the best time (I know it's always something of a crap shoot). I've also created a personal map on Google Maps, and if you know any really good sites I'd love it if you'd put a marker in and list the likely species. You can even stick a picture in, I believe.
Look at this website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/coastal/
The time frame you mention is one of the best birding seasons in Texas, as large numbers of migrant birds are returning to the USA. Many places along the Texas Gulf Coast are migrant traps where returning birds stop to rest after crossing the gulf, see reference above for these locations. High Island would be at the top of my list for a place to visit. The best time to visit any of these migrant traps is immediately after a cold front pushes through from the north and into the gulf. These conditions can cause the "grounding or fall out" of very tired little birds that stay around the area for a day or more...which provides great viewing and photography opportunities.
If you are going to Texas for a photography trip. You should consider spending part of your trip in the Hill Country Region. The area mosty west of Austin. The area was selected by The Images for Conservation Fund as the location of the 2006 Pro-Tour of nature photography. It has also been selected for the Spring 2009 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) regional event.
In addition to numerous public places the shoot, the region is served by The Texas Hill Country Nature Photography Alliance www.hillcountryphoto.org. Info can also be found on the ICF website at http://www.imagesforconservation.org/travel/region/hill+country.
The alliance is a group of conservation minded landowners who offer outstanding nature photography on their properties. In total we own and manage 24000 acres in central Texas.
Please visit the websites for more infomation or feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Bob Petersen
www.thepetersenranch.com
830-833-0958
Discussion
2 repliesI'm posting this now because I know some of you are relatively fresh from doing a trip like this.
My wife and I are planning a spring birding trip to South Texas next year (roughly south of the arc from Del Rio through Austin to Houston). We're not big shore bird fanatics, though we'll be stopping at Aransas, so we're mostly interested in passerines. Tentatively, we're looking at the March-April time frame, and hopefully a couple of weeks. I'd like advice on the best time (I know it's always something of a crap shoot). I've also created a personal map on Google Maps, and if you know any really good sites I'd love it if you'd put a marker in and list the likely species. You can even stick a picture in, I believe.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=113395941025740449574.0004484217b0e65dc7534
Thank you all
Look at this website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/wildlife_trails/coastal/
The time frame you mention is one of the best birding seasons in Texas, as large numbers of migrant birds are returning to the USA. Many places along the Texas Gulf Coast are migrant traps where returning birds stop to rest after crossing the gulf, see reference above for these locations. High Island would be at the top of my list for a place to visit. The best time to visit any of these migrant traps is immediately after a cold front pushes through from the north and into the gulf. These conditions can cause the "grounding or fall out" of very tired little birds that stay around the area for a day or more...which provides great viewing and photography opportunities.
Hope this helps.
Dick Lee
If you are going to Texas for a photography trip. You should consider spending part of your trip in the Hill Country Region. The area mosty west of Austin. The area was selected by The Images for Conservation Fund as the location of the 2006 Pro-Tour of nature photography. It has also been selected for the Spring 2009 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) regional event.
In addition to numerous public places the shoot, the region is served by The Texas Hill Country Nature Photography Alliance www.hillcountryphoto.org. Info can also be found on the ICF website at http://www.imagesforconservation.org/travel/region/hill+country.
The alliance is a group of conservation minded landowners who offer outstanding nature photography on their properties. In total we own and manage 24000 acres in central Texas.
Please visit the websites for more infomation or feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Bob Petersen
www.thepetersenranch.com
830-833-0958