Travel along some of the most beautiful and rugged roads in West Texas where wide horizons and constantly changing landscapes are an essential part of the experience. Experience Texas Hill Country bird specialties including the endemic Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. Marvel at the nightly flight of millions of Mexican Free-tailed Bats from the Frio Bat Cave. Spot species typically found in South Texas including Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Audubon’s Oriole, Ringed Kingfisher, Morelet’s Seedeater, and Olive Sparrow. Experience the wonderful breathtaking scenery and the protected wilderness Big Bend National Park offers. Focus on many of West Texas’ most sought-after birds including Lucifer Hummingbird, Varied Bunting, Montezuma Quail, Common Black-Hawk, Gray Hawk, Crissal Thrasher, Elf Owl, Scott’s Oriole, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, among many others. Beyond the birds, this tour offers a deep sense of place—quiet desert mornings, vast open spaces, star‑filled skies, and the feeling of exploring a region that remains largely untouched.

The tour package includes: Expert guiding service Ground transportation during the tour Entrance fees to parks/preserves Accommodations as stated in the itinerary It does not include meals, travel expenses including but not limited to airfare to and from the tour destination, travel insurance, extended stays (before and/or after the tour), alcoholic beverages, gratuities, and items/expenses of personal nature. About Meals:  Some of the hotels on this tour include complimentary breakfast. Depending on the day’s route, breakfasts and lunches will be combination of quick “grab and-go” fast food or sit-down at a casual cafe with dinners at a local restaurant. Evenings are left open so you can choose from the restaurants near our lodging or explore local dining on your own. You are always welcome to join us for dinner. Joining the group is completely optional; your tour leader will share where they’re heading for dinner so you can join if you’d like. We will carry light snacks and water daily.

TROY HIBBITTS

This tour is rated moderate and is best suited to participants who are comfortable with full days in the field and light to moderate walking in a range of outdoor conditions. Daily walking typically totals 2–3 miles, spread across multiple stops rather than completed all at once. Most walking is on established trails, boardwalks, dirt roads, and flat or gently rolling terrain, though some areas may include uneven surfaces, rocky ground, or sandy washes. Days usually begin with breakfast at the hotel, followed by field departure between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. Birding continues through the morning and late afternoon, with a midday lunch break and return to the hotel around 5:00–6:00 p.m. Dinner is typically at local restaurants. Daily field time generally ranges from 7 to 10 hours, depending on weather, bird activity, and travel distances. The pace is relaxed, with frequent stops for observation, photography, and rest. Participants should be prepared for warm temperatures, sun exposure, dry conditions, and gradual elevation changes, particularly in the Davis Mountains and Big Bend region. Optional evening outings for nocturnal birding may extend some days. The Colima Warbler expedition day includes an optional strenuous hike. Participants who prefer a less demanding experience will have alternative birding options.

While we cannot guarantee sightings of the birds listed below, we believe that encountering these species is quite likely during this tour. Golden-cheeked Warbler Black-capped Vireo Lucifer Hummingbird Lucy's Warbler Varied Bunting Common Black Hawk Montezuma Quail Gray Hawk Chihuahuan Meadowlark Crissal Thrasher Elf Owl Scott's Oriole Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Yellow-headed Blackbird Painted Bunting Black-chinned Sparrow And many more!

Day 1: Arrive to San Antonio International Airport (SAT) before 2 pm. After meeting everyone at the airport, we head west to Uvalde. The drive to Uvalde is about an hour and a half from San Antonio and crosses the northern end of the Tamaulipan thorn scrub habitat.  If time allows, we will bird some hotspots on the way to and around Uvalde before the tour orientation meeting and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Uvalde.   Day 2: Lost Maples State Natural Area, Uvalde National Fish Hatchery, and Frio Bat Cave. We drive north to Lost Maples State Natural Area to bird the park’s rugged canyons and along the serene Sabinal River.  Although the park is well known for its stand of Uvalde bigtooth maples and colorful fall foliage, the park’s scenic beauty can be enjoyed year-round. Here we have the opportunity to see Golden-cheeked Warbler, Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos, Yellow-throated Warbler, Green Kingfisher, Scott’s Oriole, and Common Raven. This is one of the few places where the ranges of Carolina and Canyon Wrens overlap; hearing them sing simultaneously offers a unique experience. Tropical Parula has also become somewhat regular in this area in recent years. We also visit the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery which consists of 93 acres of ponds, woodlands and open fields.  This is a great place to see species such as Bullock’s Oriole, Bell’s Vireo and any late migrant shorebirds. After enjoying an early dinner, we drive north to Concan to visit the Frio Bat Cave between 7 pm and 9 pm to witness the evening flight of millions of Mexican Free-tailed Bats leaving the cave for their feeding grounds. Also, at the bat viewing area we will possibly see Cave Swallows, Rock and Canyon Wrens and raptors hunting bats as they exit the cave. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Uvalde. Day 3: Kickapoo Cavern State Park and Fort Clark Springs to Del Rio. We begin the day with an early departure toward Kickapoo Cavern State Natural Area, a rugged and remote landscape situated at the western edge of the Edwards Plateau. This area marks a key ecological transition zone, where Hill Country habitats begin to blend into the drier environments of West Texas.  Our morning here is focused on locating Hill Country specialties such as the Golden‑cheeked Warbler and Black‑capped Vireo, along with other notable species including Varied Bunting, Painted Bunting, Gray Vireo, Zone‑tailed Hawk, Hutton’s Vireo, and Woodhouse’s Scrub‑Jay. Additional possibilities include Rufous‑crowned Sparrow, Canyon Towhee, and Bushtit, all of which are characteristic of this transitional habitat.   By midday, we make our way south toward Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville – this lush riparian corridor along Las Moras Creek, lined with mature pecan and live oak trees, creates a cool, shaded contrast to the morning’s dry uplands. This productive habitat supports a variety of species more typical of South Texas, and we spend time birding these grounds in search of Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Olive Sparrow, Green Kingfisher, Hooded Oriole, Long-billed Thrasher, and Lesser Goldfinch.  In the afternoon, we continue west toward Del Rio, located near the junction of the Edwards Plateau and the Trans‑Pecos region. As we approach, the landscape begins to open up, offering a preview of the more expansive desert environments to come later in the itinerary. Depending on time and conditions, we may make additional brief stops en-route to scan for birds or explore productive roadside habitats. By late afternoon, we arrive in Del Rio, where we settle in and prepare for the next stage of our journey into the Trans‑Pecos. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Del Rio. Day 4: Del Rio to Marathon. We begin the day birding the Del Rio area, located at the crossroads of the Edwards Plateau and the Trans‑Pecos. This region offers a rich mix of habitats, including brushy riparian corridors along the Rio Grande and open-desert-edge environments. Our morning will focus on productive local sites such as Vega Verde Road and areas near Lake Amistad, where we search for a variety of South Texas and border specialties. Target species may include Morelet’s Seedeater, Couch’s Kingbird, Harris’s Hawk, Ringed Kingfisher, Mexican Duck, and White-tipped Dove, along with a range of sparrows, buntings, and migrating songbirds. By late morning, we begin our journey west into the Trans‑Pecos. We will make strategic birding stops along the route, focusing on desert habitats, roadside water sources, and open grassland areas. These stops provide opportunities to encounter species such as Scissor‑tailed Flycatcher, Say’s Phoebe, Western Meadowlark, Lark Sparrow, Cassin’s Sparrow, and various raptors. Depending on conditions, we may also explore suitable locations for Scaled Quail or Burrowing Owl and keep watch for soaring species in the open skies. We arrive in Alpine by late afternoon or early evening, giving us time to settle in and prepare for the next stage of our journey into Big Bend. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, Alpine.   Day 5: Big Bend National Park: Panther Junction, Dugout Wells & Rio Grande Village.  We begin the day in Alpine before setting out on a scenic drive into the heart of Big Bend National Park, one of the most spectacular and ecologically diverse regions in Texas. As we travel south toward Terlingua, the landscape opens into wide desert basins framed by volcanic uplifts and distant mountain ranges, an iconic introduction to the Chihuahuan Desert. Our first stop is Panther Junction, the central hub of the park and an excellent location to orient ourselves to the region’s birdlife. The surrounding desert scrub and landscaped areas often attract a mix of species, providing opportunities for early sightings of Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Black‑throated Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner, Crissal and Curve-billed Thrashers, and Verdin, along with potential migrants moving through the area.   Continuing eastward across the park, we make our way to Rio Grande Village. Situated along the Rio Grande, this area features a rich riparian corridor of cottonwoods, willows, and dense understory vegetation that provides a striking contrast to the surrounding desert. These lush habitats act as a magnet for birds, particularly during migration, when concentrations of warblers, flycatchers, and vireos may be present. This area is also one of the most reliable places in the park to encounter a variety of raptors, including Common Black and Gray Hawks. We will explore both the campground area and nearby trails, scanning the canopy and understory for a diverse mix of species that depend on this reliable water source in an otherwise arid landscape.   After exploring the Rio Grande corridor, we continue to Dugout Wells, a desert oasis where a spring-fed water source and shaded cottonwoods create ideal birding conditions. This dependable water feature attracts a wide range of birds and is often one of the most rewarding stops in the park. Here we search for species such as Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Scaled Quail, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Elf and Western Screech Owls, and various desert thrashers and sparrows. During migration, Dugout Wells can be especially active, with the potential for unexpected warblers and other transient species. By late afternoon, we arrive in Terlingua, our base for exploring the Big Bend region over the coming days. Nestled at the edge of the park, this historic desert community offers sweeping views and a distinctive West Texas atmosphere, an ideal place to relax and reflect after our first full day in the Chihuahuan Desert. Overnight: Big Bend Station, Terlingua.   Day 6: Terlingua and Big Bend National Park: Santa Elena Canyon & Cottonwood Campground.  We begin the day with an early departure from Terlingua, heading into the western reaches of Big Bend National Park to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures and peak bird activity. Our destination is Santa Elena Canyon, one of the most iconic and breathtaking landscapes in the Southwest. As the Rio Grande cuts through towering limestone walls rising over 1,500 feet, the canyon creates a cool, shaded microhabitat that contrasts dramatically with the surrounding desert. We explore the area along the river and adjacent desert slopes, where birding can be both scenic and productive. Possible species include Canyon Wren, Zone‑tailed Hawk, Pyrrhuloxia, and various migrants using the river corridor. We then continue to Cottonwood Campground, a lush riparian corridor along the Rio Grande characterized by mature cottonwoods and dense understory vegetation. The combination of water, shade, and structure attracts a diversity of species, offering opportunities to encounter Blue Grosbeak, Bell’s Vireo, Lucy’s Warbler, Yellow‑breasted Chat, Ash-throated and Vermilion Flycatchers, and Inca Dove. By late afternoon, we make our way back toward Terlingua, where we conclude the day with an exploration of the historic Terlingua Ghost Town. Once a mercury mining community, Terlingua now offers a unique blend of history, desert character, and sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. This relaxed setting provides an opportunity to unwind, enjoy the scenery, and reflect on the day’s experiences. Evening bird activity around the area may include Lesser Nighthawk and Common Poorwill, adding a fitting close to the day. Overnight: Big Bend Station, Terlingua.   Day 7: Big Bend National Park – Chisos Basin: Colima Warbler Expedition. One of the highlights of the Trans‑Pecos portion of this tour is our dedicated search for the Colima Warbler—a highly sought‑after species whose United States breeding range is restricted to a small portion of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. We begin early in the morning to take advantage of cooler temperatures and peak bird activity. As we ascend into higher elevations, the habitat transitions into oak‑pine woodland and canyon slopes—prime territory for Colima Warbler as well as a variety of other montane species. In addition to our primary target, we may encounter species such as Hepatic Tanager, Mexican Jay, Painted Redstart, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, White-throated Swift, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Rufous-crowned Sparrow among others. Overnight: Big Bend Station, Terlingua.   Day 8: Christmas Mountain Oasis to Fort Davis. We begin the day with an early visit to the remarkable Christmas Mountains Oasis, one of the most unique and productive private birding locations in the Big Bend region. With spring‑fed water features, shaded feeding stations, and native vegetation, the site attracts an impressive diversity of birds that can be observed at close range. The oasis is especially well known for its hummingbird activity, and we will spend time enjoying opportunities to observe and photograph species such as Lucifer, Black‑chinned, and Broad‑tailed Hummingbirds. In addition, the feeders and surrounding desert scrub may host Varied Bunting, Pyrrhuloxia, Black‑throated Sparrow, Ladder‑backed Woodpecker, Green-tailed Towhee, Verdin, and Curve-billed Thrasher.  After a rewarding morning, we depart the Big Bend area and begin our drive north toward the Davis Mountains, traveling through the small high‑desert town of Alpine. This scenic route provides a gradual transition from the low desert basins into higher elevations, with noticeable changes in vegetation and birdlife along the way. We will make select stops as conditions warrant, watching for open‑country species and raptors while enjoying expansive views of the surrounding landscape. Following a midday pause in Alpine for lunch and a brief break, we continue into the Davis Mountains, one of Texas’s “sky islands.” Rising above the Chihuahuan Desert, these mountains support cooler temperatures and a mix of oak, juniper, and pine habitats that harbor a distinctly different assemblage of species. If time allows in the late afternoon, we will explore accessible areas around Fort Davis, where the combination of elevation and habitat diversity may produce species such as Acorn Woodpecker, Canyon Towhee, Phainopepla, and Common Black and Zone-tailed Hawks. Overnight: Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis.   Day 9: Davis Mountains, Balmorhea State Park & Wetlands. Today is dedicated to exploring the diverse habitats of the Davis Mountains followed by an afternoon visit to the desert oasis of Balmorhea. We begin the morning in the Davis Mountains and will focus on a combination of scenic drive routes and accessible trails around the Fort Davis area, where we search for characteristic montane species such as Western Bluebird, Bushtit, Scott’s Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, Canyon Towhee, Elf Owl, Black‑headed Grosbeak, and Montezuma Quail. The open slopes and ridgelines also provide excellent vantage points for scanning for raptors, including Zone‑tailed Hawk and other soaring species. Around midday, we descend from the mountains and make our way toward Balmorhea State Park and Lake, where a dramatic change in habitat awaits. Centered around one of the world’s largest spring‑fed swimming pools, Balmorhea and its surrounding wetlands create a true oasis in the Chihuahuan Desert. Here we explore the park and nearby wetland areas, where we may encounter species such as Black Phoebe, Osprey, Western and Clark’s Grebes, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Mexican Duck, Belted Kingfisher, White-faced Ibis among a variety of migratory shorebirds. Overnight: Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis.   Day 10: Fort Davis to El Paso.  We begin the day with an early departure from Fort Davis, heading west across the wide‑open landscapes of the Trans‑Pecos toward El Paso. This drive offers a classic West Texas experience, with expansive desert basins, distant mountain ranges, and vast skies stretching in every direction. As we travel along this remote corridor, we will make strategic birding stops at promising locations, including roadside pullouts, desert scrub habitats, agricultural edges, and areas with available water. Depending on conditions, we may look for birds such as Say’s Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Lark Sparrow, Cassin’s Sparrow, Horned Lark, and Loggerhead Shrike, Scaled Quail and other desert specialties. By midday or early afternoon, we arrive in El Paso, a major gateway city on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. If time allows, we will spend the remainder of the day birding one or more of the city’s well‑known hotspots, where desert, riparian, and urban-edge habitats converge. We may visit a combination of different locations including Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, Franklin Mountains State Park, Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site, and/or Ascarate Park. These areas provide a final opportunity to add new species and experience yet another facet of desert birding, often with a mix of water‑associated species, desert residents, and migrants. Overnight: Holiday Inn Express, El Paso.   Day 11: Tour Conclusion & Departures. Our final morning in El Paso offers a relaxed conclusion to our journey across West Texas. Depending on departure schedules and group interest, there may be an opportunity for optional early morning birding at a nearby location. By early afternoon, participants will be at the departure airport, concluding our incredible birding tour across West Texas. Participants may arrange departure flights after 2 pm.