South Padre Island

[Fergus]

I will be in South Padre Island , in January,  any 'hints' as where to 'bird' ?

[Pat Hodgson]

Not sure about on the island itself, other than this nature center, which I have not personally visited.  Are you renting a car?  You will be pretty close to Laguna Atascosa Nat. Wildlife Refuge, and Sabal Palm Grove Sanctuary, which are popular S TX birding locales.

[Pat Hodgson]

Sabal Palm appears to be closed, unfortunately.  But you may want to check here closer to your trip to see if they have any open hours - January is the busiest time so they may be able to reopen.

[Fergus]

yes, we are renting a car...is there any areas around Brownsville ? ?
thank you for your info...very much appreciated.

[worth]

Lots of great places to go birding in that area. I would suggest looking up "Great Texas Coastal  Birding Trails" on the internet, you'll get access to the Texas Birding Trail information which will describe lots of great places to go.
Dave

[Margaret]

I was in the Brownsville area, actually at McAllen, at this time 3 years ago - birding was terrific. I bought Ken Kaufman's Birds of N.America on my first morning at the Benson Rio Grand Valley Park as so many birds are specific to S. Texas only. The greenjays were gorgeous and then there were chacalacas, clay-coloured robins, doves - inca, white wing and white tipped (rare, S.Texas only,) and many others.
Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge; kiskadees, Couch's kingbirds, golden fronted woodpeckers. Stilts, dabbling ducks.
Quinta Mazatlan (closed Mondays). Lucked out on a long billed thrasher here. Many warblers and  woodpeckers.
Weslaco Estero Llano Grand State Park: good for wading birds - special for me here, white faced ibis (similar to glossy). Also vermilion flycatcher, often at Grebe Pond. At the alligator pond - both Green and Ringed kingfishers.
When you're in the area you will find pamphlets on many other areas.
As someone has pointed out, the Texas Coast Birding Trail is v. long. I've had good success in the Rockport area and of course the whooping cranes are in the Aransas area.
Enjoy.

[Twojugs]

Several good spots on the island, detailed here:

http://www.southpadreskycam.com/birding.htm

We had great birds at the Convention Centre on Orca Circle, which is almost the last building on the left going north. Great boardwalk out into the lagoon.

As mentioned, some of the best birding in the US is in this area. try looking-up the World Birding Centre Reserves and get a copy of the Texas Birding Trail guide.

Good luck

Tony