TEXAS HILL COUNTRY on the EDWARDS PLATEAU
Home of two VERY RARE SONGBIRDS!
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Dates:
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Wednesday, 25 April through Sunday, 29 April 2007: 5 days and 4 nights.
All four nights are in Concan, one of the best birding spots in the region!
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We'll visit:
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The Texas Hill Country, famous for its Golden-cheeked
Warblers, Black-capped Vireos, Cave Swallow
colonies, and fantastic scenery.
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Lost Maples State Natural Area, one of the most scenic
locations in all of Texas. As an added bonus, it contains prime
habitat for Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped
Vireo, and the diminutive Green Kingfisher.
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The Frio Bat Cave, home of 12,000,000 Mexican
Free-tailed Bats. We'll witness the spectacle of the bats leaving
the nursery cave as they go out to hunt for the night.
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Additional areas and varied habitats such as Garner State Park
and the Nueces River, where we will find many exciting species
in beautiful locations.
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TEXAS HILL COUNTRY
25-29 April 2007
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Agenda
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1
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We will all meet around noon at the San Antonio Airport and begin our
adventure. Mature junipers are a source of nesting material for
Golden-cheeked Warblers; Black-capped Vireos nest in the
thick understory of ungrazed oak thickets. Our search for these two
birds will take us into some of the most beautiful landscape in all of
Texas. All four nights will be at Neal's Lodges in Concan,
where we have observed a male Black-capped Vireo singing
five feet from our cabin window and had the privilege of
watching a nesting pair feeding young as we gazed in awe
through the spotting scope! This elusive bird may also bathe at a
water drip at cabin # 61, along with many other species!
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2
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We'll spend most of the day birding the scenic Lost Maples State
Natural Area. Golden-cheeked Warbler nests here and may be
found with mixed flocks containing Yellow-throated Vireo,
Acadian Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, and a nice
assortment of additional songbirds. There will be Black
Phoebe along the creek where we'll also watch closely for Green
Kingfisher. Black-chinned Hummingbird is reliable at the
feeders and Zone-tailed Hawk and Common Raven nest here.
Twice we have found Mississippi Kites, and once a very
cooperative Sora. After a hearty Texas dinner at Neal's
Restaurant, we will re-focus our attention to another winged creature,
the Mexican Free-tailed Bat. We'll visit a nursery cave where
we can also expect great looks at 200 Cave Swallows that share
the same roost site. Then we'll watch in awe as 12
million bats emerge in the last hour of daylight. We're also
likely to see Red-tailed Hawks and other raptors feeding upon
the bats and possibly find a Ringtail, as we have in the past.
After dark we'll search for Chuck-will's widow and
Nine-banded Armadillo.
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Cave Swallow at its nest.
--Bob Schutsky
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3
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Dickcissels sing from the fields.
--Tom Amico
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We'll begin our day at the grounds of our lodge, some of the best
habitat there is for Black-capped Vireo. We're also likely to
find Bell's Vireo, Painted Bunting, and Hooded
and Scott's Orioles. Bald Cypress along the Frio River at
Garner State Park may yield some Neotropical migrants, plus
Yellow-throated Warbler and Bushtit. We are also likely
to see Dickcissel, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Lark
Sparrow, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, and Crested
Caracara. We'll return to Neal's Lodges and the late day calls of
Chuck-will's-widow and possibly Great Horned,
Barn, or Eastern Screech-Owl.
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4
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Once again this year we've added an extra day to the itinerary. We'll
utilize it to try for good looks at some of our target species and go
after any rarities that may be in the area. Perhaps there will be a
Green Violet-ear within easy driving range. If no rarities are
known, the Hill Country certainly has enough birds to entertain us for
the day. One year we birded the Uvalde area and found a myriad of
shorebirds, some nice sparrows, and five Eurasian
Collared-Doves.
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5
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We'll pack the van and head toward San Antonio for our flights home.
The drive to the airport may produce a pair of Harris's Hawks
as it has in the past. If you schedule a late afternoon flight
home, we'll have time to bird one or two good locations in San
Antonio.
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Leader:
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Bob Schutsky or John Puschock will lead our Texas Hill
Country Tour. Bob and John are veterans of numerous Texas tours and
have birded the Hill Country many times. They know how to find the
specialty birds of this beautiful area.
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Price:
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$1155 per person based upon double occupancy. Single accommodations
are available at an extra charge of $215.
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Includes:
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Expert guide service, lodging for all 4 nights, ALL meals, all
ground transportation within Texas, and entrance fees. ALL tips
are also included in the tour fee, except for anything that you may
wish to give to your tour leader(s).
Does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages or items of a
personal nature. Also not included is the cost of airfare to and from
San Antonio.
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Deposit:
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A $300 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance
is due 15 February 2007.
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Extra
Services:
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We offer the services of our exclusive
BIRD TREKS travel agent,
Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 21 years
of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact
her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail
lori@baileytravel.com.
By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free
telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist
you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.
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Refund &
Cancellation
Policy:
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With written notice more than 60 days prior to the first day of the
tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $75 service fee.
With 30- 60 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full
cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days
notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement
for your spot on the tour.
No partial refund can be given once a tour begins.
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip
cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or
illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the
following link to Access America or contact
BIRD TREKS for information
on obtaining this coverage.
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Robert M. Schutsky
216 Spring Lane
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
Phone: 717-548-3303
Fax: 717-548-3327
e-mail: info@birdtreks.com
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