Texas In The Spring

I plan to visit Texas, starting in Port Arthur around 3/17 and hanging around the Gulf Coast area for a couple weeks. Around 4/1, I will head toward Amarillo, going through Hill Country for the bluebonnets and other wildflowers, allowing 1-2 weeks for this leg of the trip. Any advice on good birding and other wildlife, along with landscapes, will be appreciated.

Stan, There is a lot of places to visit. I'll dig up some information for you a little later when I get the time.

Stan, if you take a roundabout route along the coast, the southernmost part of Texas along the Rio Grande Valley (i.e. around McAllen) is quite famous in birding circles - many species seen nowhere else in the U.S. can be spotted there. Many local ranchers have taken advantage of this and offer rentals on very photographer-friendly bird blinds (many also incorporate bed & breakfasts).

Here are a few snippets of information I already had bookmarked:

http://www.imagesforco​nservation.org/Landown​erMembers

http://www.texasnature​photography.blogspot.c​om/

http://www.birdsasart.​com/bn171.htm

If you Google "South Texas Ranches Photography" (or anything similar) you will get lots of returns.

txcanon wrote in post #11856095
Stan, There is a lot of places to visit. I'll dig up some information for you a little later when I get the time.

Thanks, Brad. I'm sure you have some good stuff.

Jeff Dyck wrote in post #11856281
Stan, if you take a roundabout route along the coast, the southernmost part of Texas along the Rio Grande Valley (i.e. around McAllen) is quite famous in birding circles - many species seen nowhere else in the U.S. can be spotted there. Many local ranchers have taken advantage of this and offer rentals on very photographer-friendly bird blinds (many also incorporate bed & breakfasts).

Here are a few snippets of information I already had bookmarked:

http://www.imagesforco​nservation.org/Landown​erMembers

http://www.texasnature​photography.blogspot.c​om/

http://www.birdsasart.​com/bn171.htm

If you Google "South Texas Ranches Photography" (or anything similar) you will get lots of returns.

Thanks for the links, Jeff. I have some info on Lower RGV, but not sure I will go that far south. From what you say, it may be worth the extra travel.

OK Stan, I had a hard drive crash that erased my favorite bookmarks but here is what I dug up so far.

Brazos Bend State Park south of Houston is great place to visit.
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …dadest/parks/br​azos_bend/

Also Choke Canyon (although I haven't been there) south of San Antonio I hear is a good place to go.

If you are around the Port Aranzas, Rockport area, there is many places to visit for birding. The Port Aransas NWR is a great place. You can check out the Whooping Crane Tours. http://www.whoopingcra​netours.com/

The Hill Country has a lot of places too like Lost Maples Natural Area, and Garner State Park. There are lots of small Bed and Breakfast's to stay. Fredericksburg is great town to visit for shopping and attractions. I can't help with the Amarillo area except seeing Palo Duro Canyon.

Here are several links with information.

http://beta-www.tpwd.state.tx.us …wildlife/wildli​fe-trails/

http://www.worldbirdin​gcenter.org/

I found this link to be helpful also although it's in PDF format. http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …a/pwd_bk_p4000_​0000aa.pdf

txcanon wrote in post #11860649
OK Stan, I had a hard drive crash that erased my favorite bookmarks but here is what I dug up so far.

Brazos Bend State Park south of Houston is great place to visit.
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …dadest/parks/br​azos_bend/

Also Choke Canyon (although I haven't been there) south of San Antonio I hear is a good place to go.

If you are around the Port Aranzas, Rockport area, there is many places to visit for birding. The Port Aransas NWR is a great place. You can check out the Whooping Crane Tours. http://www.whoopingcra​netours.com/

The Hill Country has a lot of places too like Lost Maples Natural Area, and Garner State Park. There are lots of small Bed and Breakfast's to stay. Fredericksburg is great town to visit for shopping and attractions. I can't help with the Amarillo area except seeing Palo Duro Canyon.

Here are several links with information.

http://beta-www.tpwd.state.tx.us …wildlife/wildli​fe-trails/

http://www.worldbirdin​gcenter.org/

I found this link to be helpful also although it's in PDF format. http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …a/pwd_bk_p4000_​0000aa.pdf

Sorry about your crash, Brad. I've had it happen a few times, so I back up to an external drive. Hope you were able to recover everything.

I appreciate these helpful links. My plan definitely includes the Port Aransas, Rockport and all around Galveston. I've been to Fredericksburg a couple times (and loved it), may give Chappell Hill and Brenham a try (love Blue Bell Ice Cream).

Thanks much for all your help.

Stan

sparker1 wrote in post #11847296
I plan to visit Texas, starting in Port Arthur around 3/17 and hanging around the Gulf Coast area for a couple weeks.

Not far from Port Arthur:
http://www.houstonaudu​bon.org …MenuGroup/High+​Island.htm

and on the way to or from High Island:
http://www.fws.gov …/texas/anahuac/​index.html

Hill country wildflowers should be just about at peak, but it has been dry so I don't know what the show will be like this year. For landscapes and wildlife, you have to hit Palo Duro Canyon just outside of Amarillo.

Tim

sparker1 wrote in post #11861600
Sorry about your crash, Brad. I've had it happen a few times, so I back up to an external drive. Hope you were able to recover everything.

I appreciate these helpful links. My plan definitely includes the Port Aransas, Rockport and all around Galveston. I've been to Fredericksburg a couple times (and loved it), may give Chappell Hill and Brenham a try (love Blue Bell Ice Cream).

Thanks much for all your help.

Stan

Thankfully I didn't loose any photos (they're on backup), but I lost all my bookmarks.

I don't know if you are a history buff but San Jacinto monument and Battleship Texas is close to Galveston. I grew up on northwest corner of Galveston Bay.

Check out Moody Gardens in Galveston. http://www.moodygarden​s.com/

Anahuac NWR is another wildlife area that is on the east side of Galveston Bay.

I think you will like Brenham. It has a nice downtown district. It's a pretty drive through Brenham to the Hill Country in the Spring. I've been through the Blue Bell Creamery a bunch of times. My grandparents lived in Brenham for over 20 years.

Stan, If you have specific questions I can help you with give me a pm. I've got a bunch of information. We love to travel a lot and have been to many places in Texas except the panhandle and far west Texas.

Brad

sparker1 wrote in post #11847296
I plan to visit Texas, starting in Port Arthur around 3/17 and hanging around the Gulf Coast area for a couple weeks. Around 4/1, I will head toward Amarillo, going through Hill Country for the bluebonnets and other wildflowers, allowing 1-2 weeks for this leg of the trip. Any advice on good birding and other wildlife, along with landscapes, will be appreciated.

That is a lot of driving. As you know, Texas is big, 300 road miles from Port Arthur to Port Aransas, another 180 to McAllen.

Near Port Arthur: Sabine Woods, Anauhac NWR, McFaddin NWR and High Island are all good birding spots, although you are a bit early for the warbler migration. Hurricane Ike damaged every one of these locations. Highway 87 is not open to High Island! Perhaps you know all this already.

In the Hill Country, I would suggest Lost Maples SP for a Texas speciaility, the Golden-cheeked Warbler and also some nice limestone cliff scenery:
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …dadest/parks/lo​st_maples/
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …olden_cheeked_w​arbler.pdf

Bluebonnets should be quite showy by April 1:
http://www.texfiles.co​m …as/Feb03/routes​/index.htm
If you're into gardening: http://www.wildseedfar​ms.com/

I second the Palo Duro Canyon suggestions: http://www.palodurocan​yon.com/
I recently learned that, early in her life, Geogia O'Keefe taught at West Texas State Normal College in Canyon and that she derived some of her inspiration from the Palo Duro.

If you do travel to Port Aransas, this boat and captain are extemely capable: http://www.whoopingcra​netours.com/5.html

I will be visiting Lost Maples SP myself this spring, 25 years in Texas and I have never seen nor photographed a Golden-cheeked Warbler. Best of luck to you on your Texas trip.

txcanon wrote in post #11862222
Thankfully I didn't loose any photos (they're on backup), but I lost all my bookmarks.

I don't know if you are a history buff but San Jacinto monument and Battleship Texas is close to Galveston. I grew up on northwest corner of Galveston Bay.

Check out Moody Gardens in Galveston. http://www.moodygarden​s.com/

Anahuac NWR is another wildlife area that is on the east side of Galveston Bay.

I think you will like Brenham. It has a nice downtown district. It's a pretty drive through Brenham to the Hill Country in the Spring. I've been through the Blue Bell Creamery a bunch of times. My grandparents lived in Brenham for over 20 years.

Stan, If you have specific questions I can help you with give me a pm. I've got a bunch of information. We love to travel a lot and have been to many places in Texas except the panhandle and far west Texas.

Brad

Thanks again, Brad. You've added a lot to my list.

Orogeny wrote in post #11861720
Not far from Port Arthur:
http://www.houstonaudu​bon.org …MenuGroup/High+​Island.htm

and on the way to or from High Island:
http://www.fws.gov …/texas/anahuac/​index.html
Hill country wildflowers should be just about at peak, but it has been dry so I don't know what the show will be like this year. For landscapes and wildlife, you have to hit Palo Duro Canyon just outside of Amarillo.

Tim

Thanks for the helpful info, Tim. I'd not heard of High Island and it sounds really good.

mikeivan wrote in post #11867381
That is a lot of driving. As you know, Texas is big, 300 road miles from Port Arthur to Port Aransas, another 180 to McAllen.

Near Port Arthur: Sabine Woods, Anauhac NWR, McFaddin NWR and High Island are all good birding spots, although you are a bit early for the warbler migration. Hurricane Ike damaged every one of these locations. Highway 87 is not open to High Island! Perhaps you know all this already.

In the Hill Country, I would suggest Lost Maples SP for a Texas speciaility, the Golden-cheeked Warbler and also some nice limestone cliff scenery:
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …dadest/parks/lo​st_maples/
http://www.tpwd.state.​tx.us …olden_cheeked_w​arbler.pdf


Bluebonnets should be quite showy by April 1:
http://www.texfiles.co​m …as/Feb03/routes​/index.htm
If you're into gardening: http://www.wildseedfar​ms.com/

I second the Palo Duro Canyon suggestions: http://www.palodurocan​yon.com/
I recently learned that, early in her life, Geogia O'Keefe taught at West Texas State Normal College in Canyon and that she derived some of her inspiration from the Palo Duro.

If you do travel to Port Aransas, this boat and captain are extemely capable: http://www.whoopingcra​netours.com/5.html

I will be visiting Lost Maples SP myself this spring, 25 years in Texas and I have never seen nor photographed a Golden-cheeked Warbler. Best of luck to you on your Texas trip.

Mike, I appreciate the info. Some of these I knew of, others are new to me. In our motor home, we expect to drive long distances, but we have an appointment in Albuquerque that may limit our travels in Texas.

Head over to Sabine Pass and go down to Texas Point. If you can get someone with a boat you can make it out into Keith Lake, Johnson Lake (and all the other lil lakes out there in Sabine Pass).

Nocturnus wrote in post #11901572
Head over to Sabine Pass and go down to Texas Point. If you can get someone with a boat you can make it out into Keith Lake, Johnson Lake (and all the other lil lakes out there in Sabine Pass).

Thanks for that. I'll give it a try.