LOWER RIO GRANDE, TEXAS
BIRDER'S
REUNION
(with naturalist and birding guide)
See also our post-trip following spring migration along the Texas coast - April 6 to April 29, 2014
Join others for a week of birding in one of North America’s best birding spots. Our Welcome Dinner and home base will be Mission-McAllen, one mile north of the Mexico border, just outside Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park. From here we will make day trips up and down the Rio Grande Valley, picking up local specialties such as Plain Chachalaca, Common Pauraque, Green Kingfisher, Green Parakeet, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Green Jay, Buff-throated Hummingbird, and Altamira Oriole. We may be in time for the arrival of nesting Elf Owls and Groove-billed Anis. Undoubtedly, a few rarities will make an appearance, such as Roadside Hawk, Rose-throated Becard, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, or Blue Bunting. Enjoy a Mexican Fiesta and a riverboat cruise on the Rio Grande.
You will enjoy our host park, Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort, voted not only the best campground resort in Texas, but also voted best in the USA. It is a good birding site in itself and for two recent years it hosted a US-rare Black-vented Oriole.
Sold your RV? No problem! You can stay in delightful casitas or cabins in the same resort. A casita is a 1-bedroom stucco home, beautifully decorated with tile floors & granite counter tops. It has a large bathroom with a tub. It has all major appliances (fully equipped with all linens & dishes). A cabin is a "park model" and more like a 1-bedroom mobile home. The bathroom has a shower but no tub. It is also equipped with dishes & linens.
We have been getting a great response for this reunion. Bert and Shari Frenz have been leading birding caravans since 2000, now 29 tours in total, birding throughout Mexico, Central America, Alaska, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. All along the way, they and their guests have become good friends. So, join your friends and past traveling birders for this reunion.
PRICE
Includes:
Price: $1190 per RV for two persons
or $1650 per cabin for two persons
or $1860 per casita for two persons
ITINERARY (subject to change)
| 1 | Arrival and opening party (Retama Village) |
| 2 | Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park & National Butterfly Center |
| 3 | Chapeña, Salineño, Falcon Dam, San Ygnacio |
| 4 | Rio Grande boat tour |
| 5 | Estero Llano Grande State Park |
| 6 | Frontera Audubon Center & Quinta Mazatlan |
| 7 | Santa Ana NWR & Anzalduas County Park |
| 8 | Parrot roosts, Allen Williams |
| 9 | Rare Bird Alert Hotspots; farewell party |
| 10 | Farewell |