December birding: Texas or Florida?

Hey All; having a planning for the holiday break. Is there better birding in either range during the December time frame?

Having been a Winter Texan for 6 winters, I had plenty of action. But I was only in a relatively small area outside Corpus Christi. The great opportunity to photograph Whooping Cranes there is a big plus.
However, I would guess that maybe Florida has a wider variety. Pm Capt Bob. Bet a conversation with him will help in your decision.

Funny, living in Texas I don't think too much about the best spots for a lot of birds, I just head for where places I hear they are at the time I'm looking. I do like Aransas National Wildlife refuge near Port Aransas/Corpus Christi for shore birds and gators. Plus you have the Mustang and Padre Island in that area too.

I'm actually headed for Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico right after Christmas for sandhill cranes, canada and snow geese. And all the raptors that seem to follow them. I'll head to Corpus in February probably.

South of Houston is Brazos Bend state park that has birds and gators too.

But I'm thinking like the previous poster, Florida would have a wider variety in one place, if you can find that place.

Here's a link to my gallery from 2/2018. https://www.sammyersph​otography.com/Port-Aransas-Birding-2018

I’d think you’d get more variety in Texas. There’s all the national wildlife refuges along the gulf coast and the World Birding Center sites that stretch from South Padre Island to Roma, TX.

Even when it's slow here in Florida it's good.

.....and it is slow. Should start picking up here shortly. When are you planning?

We're starting to get some Pink Spoons back just now.

Snydremark wrote in post #18763912
Hey All; having a planning for the holiday break. Is there better birding in either range during the December time frame?

Oh, and if you pick Texas, let me know when and where. I'd love to have someone to shoot with that is just bird oriented. I'd try to meet you on the coast if I can get there. And if it is an area I know, then I'd show you around.

saea501 wrote in post #18764416
Even when it's slow here in Florida it's good.

.....and it is slow. Should start picking up here shortly. When are you planning?

We're starting to get some Pink Spoons back just now.

RMyers wrote in post #18764493
Oh, and if you pick Texas, let me know when and where. I'd love to have someone to shoot with that is just bird oriented. I'd try to meet you on the coast if I can get there. And if it is an area I know, then I'd show you around.

Thanks for the feedback, Everyone!

If we get down that way, we'll be using the Houston area as our jumping off point; I have some family to stop and check in with while we're there. I flew down there toward the end of summer and we ran down to Galveston for a bit, but didn't have a chance to really explore.

Rusty; I'll definitely ping you if we get this planned out. Thanks!

saea501 wrote in post #18764416
Even when it's slow here in Florida it's good.

.....and it is slow. Should start picking up here shortly. When are you planning?

We're starting to get some Pink Spoons back just now.

This. Florida is a bird haven. I need to get there more often.

I do want to get to some of those Texas ranches where the owner allows you to photograph on their land. If any of you Texans know of some good ranches, do tell.

Note: Both places offer great opportunities, just different species of birds.

Snydremark wrote in post #18763912
Hey All; having a planning for the holiday break. Is there better birding in either range during the December time frame?

Where did you end up going or are you there now?


The few times I've gone to Houston Texas, I always ended up at Brazos Bend State Park. You can get some great alligator shots, too. You can get as close as you feel comfortable to them. I've also been to a really small park area (can't remember the name now but it's near an old water mill or pump house, literally at the US-Mexico border - saw BP Agent at the fence) where I got some really nice lifers and saw more, but could not get the shot. It was in or near Rio Grande City.

Methodical wrote in post #18775362
Where did you end up going or are you there now?

The few times I've gone to Houston Texas, I always ended up at Brazos Bend State Park. You can get some great alligator shots, too. You can get as close as you feel comfortable to them. I've also been to a really small park area (can't remember the name now but it's near an old water mill or pump house, literally at the US-Mexico border - saw BP Agent at the fence) where I got some really nice lifers and saw more, but could not get the shot. It was in or near Rio Grande City.

Great info there; thank you! Unfortunately, my Dad lost his wife recently and we've repurposed the trip to go spend the holidays with him and help reduce the empty house feels . I will definitely be planning future trips to both locations, though.

Snydremark wrote in post #18775641
Great info there; thank you! Unfortunately, my Dad lost his wife recently and we've repurposed the trip to go spend the holidays with him and help reduce the empty house feels . I will definitely be planning future trips to both locations, though.

Sorry for the lost. Yeah, go spend the time with Pops.

Also very sorry to hear of his loss. You made the right choice.

To answer your question, I would recommend Texas. There are lots of specialty species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (green jays, chachalacas, kiskadee, white-tipped dove, altamira oriole, least grebe, olive sparrow, etc) and the wetlands will still attract tons of waders. I have NO doubt that Texas would provide a greater variety. The real question is where is the better photography.

If you do go to Florida and find yourself in the West Palm Beach area, do hit Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay. They are both excellent and offer tremendous photography. Those two locations turned what would have been an "eh" late-May Florida trip into a good trip. I do realize late May isn't prime visiting time but there you have it.

birder_herper wrote in post #18778131
Also very sorry to hear of his loss. You made the right choice.

To answer your question, I would recommend Texas. There are lots of specialty species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (green jays, chachalacas, kiskadee, white-tipped dove, altamira oriole, least grebe, olive sparrow, etc) and the wetlands will still attract tons of waders. I have NO doubt that Texas would provide a greater variety. The real question is where is the better photography.

If you do go to Florida and find yourself in the West Palm Beach area, do hit Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay. They are both excellent and offer tremendous photography. Those two locations turned what would have been an "eh" late-May Florida trip into a good trip. I do realize late May isn't prime visiting time but there you have it.

Awesome info; thank you! ߘ

birder_herper wrote in post #18778131
Also very sorry to hear of his loss. You made the right choice.

To answer your question, I would recommend Texas. There are lots of specialty species in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (green jays, chachalacas, kiskadee, white-tipped dove, altamira oriole, least grebe, olive sparrow, etc) and the wetlands will still attract tons of waders. I have NO doubt that Texas would provide a greater variety. The real question is where is the better photography.

If you do go to Florida and find yourself in the West Palm Beach area, do hit Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay. They are both excellent and offer tremendous photography. Those two locations turned what would have been an "eh" late-May Florida trip into a good trip. I do realize late May isn't prime visiting time but there you have it.

I will 2nd the Wakodahatchee Wetlands as that's a great place to photograph breeding birds so up close and personal. Also, check out the Brian Piccolo Park for the burrowing owls. A great place to photograph them. I even got a couple shots of some parakeets while at the park.

This is where I want to spend about 1 week traveling between the 9 birding spots along the Rio Grande.

Eric, This maybe a little late. I can't speak for Florida but Texas has great birding year round. Your best chance right now is to go to South Texas to places like the National Butterfly Center, Bentsen Rio Grande SP, Estero Llano Grande SP. Right now there are a couple rarities that have been showing up. You can also go to the coast around Rockport as Rog mentioned and take the Whooping Crane tour.

As Methodical mentioned above there are many photo ranches in south Texas. To name a few... Transition Ranch, La Lomita Ranch, Santa Clara Ranch, Laguna Seca Ranch, Rocking R6 Ranch and more.
Some are quite a bit more pricey than others. Hope this helps some.