West Texas Migration

Western Tanager © Barry Zimmer

A RELAXED & EASY TOUR

Experience the peak of western passerine migration, resident southwestern specialty birds, shorebirds, and butterflies at a relaxing pace out of one hotel.

September is arguably the most exciting time of the year to bird far west Texas and southern New Mexico. Migration is in full swing with flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and sparrows moving southward in ample variety and numbers. Oases and migrant traps attract these migrants, offering great opportunities to enjoy an array of birds from near and afar.

On this new Relaxed & Easy tour, we’ll observe a wide variety of birds with ranges restricted to the western half of the continent. Western, Dusky, Hammond’s, and Gray flycatchers are likely, as are Cassin’s, Plumbeous, and “Western” Warbling vireos; Lark, Brewer’s, and Clay-colored sparrows; Lark Bunting; Green-tailed Towhee; Yellow-headed Blackbird; Hooded and Scott’s orioles; Orange-crowned, Virginia’s, MacGillivray’s, Black-throated Gray, and Townsend’s warblers; Western Tanager; Black-headed and Blue grosbeaks; and Lazuli and Painted buntings. Likewise, shorebirds congregate in numbers at any body of water in this Chihuahuan Desert region. Upwards of twenty species are possible, including Black-necked Stilt; American Avocet; Long-billed Curlew; Stilt, Baird’s, Western, Pectoral, and Solitary sandpipers; and Wilson’s and Red-necked phalaropes. Although hummingbird migration is tapering down by mid-September, four species are possible (with a reasonable shot at Calliope).

Although this program is based around the spectacle of migration, there are many resident Southwestern specialty birds to draw our attention as well. Such goodies as Scaled and Gambel’s quail; Clark’s and Western grebes; Greater Roadrunner; White-throated Swift; Neotropic Cormorant; Burrowing Owl; Black and Say’s phoebes; Cave Swallow; Rock and Cactus wrens; Crissal and Curve-billed thrashers; Black-throated, Cassin’s, and Rufous-crowned sparrows; Canyon Towhee; and Pyrrhuloxia will all be targeted.

Finally, September is simply a superb time to find rarities in this region. These could include Eastern passerines, rare shorebirds or gulls, or early irruptive montane species. The possibilities are endless! All of this avian excitement will occur while using one hotel in El Paso, Texas as a base for our excursions.

This tour offers a wonderful introduction to western migration and southwestern resident species, and, as an added bonus, occurs at the peak time for butterfly diversity as well.

Good accommodations with no hotel changes; good food; easy to moderate terrain; short walks/hikes (a mile or less in distance) and roadside birding with one possible uphill hike in the Organ Mountains; warm weather conditions expected with some rain possible.

Scaled Quail © Barry Zimmer