South Texas Winter Birding Hotspots – From Whooping Cranes to Rio Grande Valley Specialties
February 14-19, 2025
South Texas is where the Lone Star State’s birding is at its best. The Coastal Bend is home to overwintering Whooping Cranes, one of the world’s rarest birds, as well as waterfowl, waders, terns and more. The Lower Rio Grande Valley’s subtropical habitats provide for year-round specialties extending their range beyond Mexico, as well as wintering habitat for neotropical migrants rarely found north of here in winter and the southernmost habitat for larger migrants like Snow and Greater White-fronted geese.
Spend some time getting to know diverse landscapes from Rockport to the Rio Grande and from Santa Ana to South Padre Island. Each day will be filled at a variety of birding hotspots in search of Whooping Cranes, Green Jays, Altamira Orioles, Plain Chachalacas, parrots, raptors, and more. With more than 500 species recorded in the region, both expert and novice birders will find an array of avian delights.
Escape Colorado’s winter weather and join Front Range Birding Company & Reefs to Rockies for an unforgettable winter birding adventure in South Texas.
About Your Expedition Leader: Chip Clouse is a long-time bird tour leader and Reefs to Rockies’ Lead Naturalist Guide. He’s also ProStaff for Opticron Optics and Former Manager of Front Range Birding Company. Originally enamored with tooth and claw predators, his fascination with birds started by volunteering with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to monitor Peregrine Falcon nest sites. 
His fascination and love for birds was cemented once he saw his first Western Tanager while working for the Peregrine Fund in Oregon. Chip’s experience includes 20 years of bird research and project management experience in nine states and the Caribbean nation of Grenada, a Masters in Conservation Biology from Colorado State University, five years with the American Birding Association, two years as a rep with Novagrade Digiscoping adapters and stints guiding at 15+ different US birding festivals. Chip is excited to share his love of South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley birds this winter.
ITINERARY
Day 1 (Fri, Feb 14): Arrival to Corpus Christi and drive to Rockport ~ Afternoon arrival to Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP). Chip Clouse, our guide, will be arriving to Corpus Christi from Denver and will gather us together at Baggage Claim and then grab the rental van. Afternoon birding en route to Rockport to include Indian Point.
Meals: Lunch and Welcome Dinner
Please plan to arrive to Corpus Christi International Airport (CRP) by 1 pm today. We’ll assist with flight recommendations.
Day 2 (Sat, Feb 15): Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and McAllen ~ Our first full day in Texas begins with a guided boat tour out to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in search of overwintering Whooping Cranes. The Whooping Crane is the rarest crane species and one of the rarest birds in the world. In addition to cranes, expect to spot 30 to 60 different species during the 3.5-hr coastal birding boat tour. After lunch, continue to the Lower Rio Grande Valley with birding in Corpus Christi and beyond en route. Evening arrival to McAllen where we’ll stay the next two nights. One of our evenings in McAllen will include a stop at the local Green Parakeet roost.
Accommodations: Hampton Inn and Suites McAllen
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 3 (Sun, Feb 16): Rio Grande Valley Birding Hotspots ~ Full day of birding famed Valley birding hotspots including Bentsen – Rio Grande State Park, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center.
Accommodations: Hampton Inn and Suites McAllen
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
~~Bentsen – Rio Grande Valley ~ Birders across the nation know Bentsen as a treasure trove of “Valley Specialties” – tropical birds found nowhere else in the US. The 797-acre Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, together with over 1,200 acres of adjoining U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuge tracts, promises year-round nature adventures in the richest birding area north of the Mexican border.
~~Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge ~ Located at a crossroads of biodiversity, it is home to species such as Green Jay, Common Pauraque, Plain Chachalaca and Great Kiskadee, which reach the northern limit of their range in this area. At the same time, the refuge offers important habitat for birds from the Central and Mississippi flyways that funnel through the area on their way to and from Central and South America.
Day 4 (Mon, Feb 17): Hidalgo County Birding Hotspots ~ Full day of birding with stops dependent on recent sightings. Our primary stop will be Estero Llano Grande State Park – the jewel of the Valley in Chip’s eyes. Additional stops may include the Progresso Lakes Grain Silos, Progresso Sod Farms, and La Feria Nature Center. Evening arrival to Harlingen where we’ll spend the next two nights.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5 (Tues, Feb 18): Cameron County Birding Hotspots ~ Full day of birding at Cameron County birding hotspots including Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Laguna Vista Nature Trail, and several spots on South Padre Island. We’ll end our day of birding at Brownsville’s parrot roost.
Accommodations: Hampton Inn and Suites Harlingen
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Farewell Dinner
~~Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge ~ This Refuge occupies one of North America’s most biologically diverse regions and sees an impressive 400+ species of birds — a number that represents nearly half the total for the continent as a whole. Migrants skirt the Gulf to the east and the desert to the west to funnel through this Central Flyway starting point.
~~South Padre Island Convention Center and Laguna Madre Trail~ Boardwalks over marshes, gardens with drips, and adjacent tidal mud flats provide visitors up-close encounters with the variety of species that inhabit these wetland habitats. Permanent residents include Brown Pelican, Laughing Gull, herons, egrets, Clapper Rail, and American Alligator. Wintering species include Peregrine Falcon, Sora, Osprey, and Belted Kingfisher.
Day 6 (Wed, Feb 19): Harlingen Area Birding Hotspots ~ For our last day, we have time to visit area hotspots in search of species we haven’t seen prior to our afternoon flight home. Possible birding locations include Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, Dixieland Park, and Harlingen City Lake.