This winter we offered a trip to escape the cold, partnering with Field Guides Inc to travel to southern Texas. We spent this week long tour birding in The Rio Grande Valley which is, in the words of our guide Doug Gochfeld, “One of the most iconic birding destinations in the United States, with a great mix of migrants from the north, regional specialties, and a slew of charismatic Mexican species whose ranges just barely make it across the river and into Texas.” And it didn’t disappoint! We wrapped up the tour with 188 species, including US rarities like Blue Bunting and Rose-throated Becard, plus memorable experiences like time at an evening parrot roosts and mind-blowing numbers of whistling-ducks. These tours offer a chance to support Maine Audubon by travel with like-minded birders (Mainers are the best people to bird with…) in exotic locations (supporting ecotourism) and see beautiful and amazing birds!
A full trip report was put together by Doug G, including all the species we saw and some eye candy of a few highlights: https://fieldguides.com/triplists/rgr18p.html
Start planning for 2019…
With the success of our South Texas Trip, we are happy to announce a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in March 2019! This location offers easy birding in a diverse area of Mexico with “a rich archaeological and cultural heritage, short drives to numerous birding areas, and the possibility of seeing more than twenty Mexican endemics.” You can access the itinerary, read past trip lists, and get information on registering here: https://fieldguides.com/oax19p.html. I hope you’ll consider escaping Maine’s winter next year and joining us for another great week of birding!
As an incentive, here is a shot of a Russet-crowned Motmot that our guide, Cory Gregory, got during a tour to Oaxaca this year:
