Spring in South Texas: Hill Country Extension

Golden-cheeked Warbler © Barry Zimmer

Experience the Texas Hill Country at its finest with birds and wildflowers at their peak on this short extension to our Spring in South Texas tour.

Our prime targets will be the two Hill Country specialties, the range-restricted Black-capped Vireo and the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler, here at the heart of their small ranges. Other possibilities include Zone-tailed Hawk; Crested Caracara; Green and Ringed kingfishers; Couch's Kingbird; Black Phoebe; Vermilion Flycatcher; Great Kiskadee; Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay (declining); Cave Swallow; Canyon and Rock wrens; Long-billed Thrasher; Yellow-breasted Chat; Olive and Cassin's sparrows; Hooded, Audubon's, and Scott's orioles; and Tropical Parula among others. In addition, we will visit a bat cave with an estimated ten million plus Mexican Free-tailed Bats emerging at dusk in one of the great natural history spectacles ever! This very birdy and pleasant area provides a wonderful conclusion to our Spring in South Texas tour or a quick getaway on its own.

Nice accommodations; easy short hikes and roadside birding; visit to a bat cave.

Black-capped Vireo © Barry Zimmer