Jack, here's a link to interactive maps for birding in Texas. And if you have
time, you can purchase them as
well.https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/
Shirley
On Monday, February 10, 2020, 10:29:45 AM CST, Clay Taylor
<clay.taylor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ooops, small typo – “It looks like that you are more photo-orientedthan Bird
List driven,”….
Clay
From: texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On ;
Behalf Of Clay Taylor
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2020 9:47 AM
To: jackdaynes@xxxxxxxxx; Texas Birders <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [texbirds] Re: RFI: Destinations along the Rio Grande to Aransas NWR
Hi Jack –
Ok, I looked at your travel map and read the blog entry. Why bother with
paper maps at all? Because, some areas in W TX have no cell service, hence no
Google or Apple Maps on your phone. Back In The Day, I used to have about a
dozen different AAA maps of various Texas regions – if your local AAA does not
stock them, you might have to order them from AAA.
Better Yet - you can also order a complete map set for the Great Texas Birding
Trail – they are excellent!
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wildlife/wildlife-trails/how-to-purchase.phtml
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Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Great Texas Wildlife Trails
Explore the unique and beautiful regions of Texas through nine interactive
driving maps!
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When are you planning on coming to Texas? The one KEY detail that you omit in
your request and blog post is the DATES of your ramble. It makes a huge
difference when it comes to species lists, bird abundances, etc.
For instance – Big Bend has birds all year-round, of course, but the REALLY
desirable species for a North American Lister will be showing up in April -
Colima Warbler, etc. Feb – March birding in Big Bend holds out the prospect
of adding hard-to-get Western wintering species for a Texas Birder. All of
those species present would be FAR more common in CA, AZ and NM. As a CA
birder, you will of course find birds in Big Bend, but fewer and farther
between (and likely less exciting than) what you will encounter farther south
and east.
It looks like that you are more photo-oriented and Bird List driven, so for you
lots of close-up birds are more desirable than rare birds at a distance.
Correct?
So, unless you are planning on hiking Boot Springs Trail in mid to late April,
I would recommend that you to bypass Big Bend and stay on I-10 and head for the
TX Hill Country. The photo blinds at South Llano River State Park in Junction
are wonderful.
If you are too early in the year for the Golden-cheeked Warblers and
Black-capped Vireos, continue driving straight for the Lower RGV. That is
where you will hit pay-dirt for bird species, abundance, and
up-close-and-personal encounters at places like Salineno, Quinta Mazatlan,
Frontera Audubon, Estero Llano Grande SP, and the Birding Center at South Padre
Island.
20 years ago, the TexBirds listserv was the go-to resource for finding out what
was presently in TX, with over half the subscribers being non-resident. That
has drastically changed, as many (most?) traveling birders use eBird as their
planning resource and daily update to birds being seen (or NOT seen) at places
of interest. All of the books that you have purchased will show you the
desirable destinations, and eBird will populate those destinations with
it’s-here-now information.
If you are going to pass through Corpus Christi, let me know when, and if I am
free I can show you some great places for bird photography.
BTW – while you can see and photograph Whooping Cranes from a number of spots
on dry land, as a photographer you really need to go on one of the boat trips
out of Rockport / Port Aransas.
Feel free to contact me directly to discuss,
Clay Taylor
TOS Life Member
Calallen (Corpus Christi) TX
401-964-9064
From:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:texbirds-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On ;
Behalf Of Jack Daynes
Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2020 4:08 PM
To: Texas Birders <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [texbirds] RFI: Destinations along the Rio Grande to Aransas NWR
I’m getting closer to making good on my threat to hit the road in earnest.
Texas is calling. Given the books I will be travelling with mentioned in the
blog, I'm hoping those who know this great state might have a few favorite
destinations along the way I should look into.
https://shadetreeimaging.com/looking-forward-to-miles-and-miles-of-texas/
TIA,
--
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-- Jack --
==================================
<https://shadeTreeImaging.com/>
Wildlife Photography with
Emphasis on Birds
858-442-1907
==================================
I do not chase birds as much as I chase places.
I can enjoy the birds I meet, if I enjoy the place I meet them.
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Find me at the intersection of Anywhere and Everywhere
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https://shadetreeimaging.com/category/bird-destinations/san-diego-locations/
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