2027 Birding Tours

A True Gem — The Powderhorn Ranch Wildlife Management AreaTime TBA | Calhoun County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.Operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Powderhorn Ranch contains saltwater wetlands that offer important, year-round habitat for shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl. Elsewhere, extensive woodlands and freshwater wetlands as well as restored coastal prairie provide critically important “fall-out areas” for migrating songbirds, particularly during spring migration when, exhausted from their flights across or around the Gulf of Mexico, birds use these areas to rest and refuel. Birds that are expected on this trip are ducks, herons, egrets, gulls, terns, shorebirds, wrens, roadrunner, warblers, vireos and buntings. Also possible are alligator, deer and Sanbar.Going Mad for Birds at The Nature Conservancy Mad Island Marsh PreserveTime TBA | Matagorda County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.The Mad Island Marsh Preserve is ground-zero for the nation-leading Matagorda County Christmas Bird Count and hosts over 300 species of birds. The sprawling prairie, fresh and brackish water marshes and thorn scrub habitats host a variety of waders, rails, shorebirds, lingering sparrows and wrens and newly arriving neotropical migrants. We might also see an Alligator, or three! The Preserve is normally closed to regular public access so this is a great opportunity to bird this special property. Car-birding and light walking, ending with your sack lunch at Mad Island Lodge overlooking Mad Island Lake.Over the River and through the Woods to...Prairies, Beaches and Turf Farms - Matagorda County Hot SpotsTime TBA | Matagorda County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.The tour features a majority of the Matagorda County Birding Hot Spots; places like Chinquapin Road, Matagorda Beach, Hanson Turf Farm, Oyster Lake and the Birding Center. We'll visit coastal prairie, beaches, mudflats, turf farms, riparian corridors and more. Though the home of the nation-leading Matagorda County CBC, it's safe to say that Matagorda County, outside of CBC season is an under-birded county. This trip will give participants an appreciation of the avian richness and diversity found in Matagorda County. Shorebirds like Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper and American Golden-Plovers are very likely on this trip. Colorful neotropical passerines will also figure prominently. We have an excellent chance of seeing over 100 species. Expect a fast-paced trip with car-birding and moderate walking.Matagorda Bay Foundation Dog Island PreserveTime TBA | Matagorda County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 6 | Meeting Point TBADog Island is a 900-acre property that was once part of the relic landmass of the original Colorado River Delta. The island is separated from the mainland by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and is located adjacent to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. Mad Island Marsh WMA. It is accessed via a short boat ride from Matagorda harbor. The island's habitats include wooded uplands, tidal wetlands, fringing oyster reef and a small freshwater lake. Participants will be able to view all habitats from a four-mile loop through the upland area. Expect shorebirds, ducks, waders, sparrows and perhaps passerines on this unique tour.Experience STP, STPTime TBA | Matagorda County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 12 | Meeting Point TBAThe South Texas (Nuclear) Plant is truly a Super Terrific Property for birding. The team that surveys it for the nation leading Matagrda County Christmas Bird Count routinely reports as many 150 species for the day. The 7000 acre cooling reservoir is a big part of that production as is the 5000 acres of varied habitat overall. This is truly a unique experience since the property is only open for a select few fortunate birders, due to the sensitive nature of it's operations. Participants on this trip will sign release waivers and receive a safety briefing prior to being guided around the property by STP (birders) exployees. Car-birding and light walking.

Matagorda Bay Foundation Dog Island Preserve 2.0Time TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: Bill Balboa | Max 6 | Meeting Point TBADog Island is a 900-acre property that was once part of the original Colorado River Delta landmass, sitting at the confluence of the Intracoastal Waterway and Matagorda Bay. Formed as a spoils bank from material dredged to create that stretch of the Waterway, it was later placed in trust by the Matagorda Bay Foundation to preserve its pristine accreted wetlands and dense, varied vegetation. Reached by a short boat ride from Matagorda harbor, the island's wooded uplands, tidal wetlands, fringing oyster reef and small freshwater lake are all visible from a four-mile loop trail. Expect shorebirds, ducks, waders, sparrows and perhaps passerines.Second Chance at A True Gem — The Powderhorn Ranch WMATime TBA | Calhoun County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.Sleep in a little and still catch Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's 17,351-acre Powderhorn Ranch — one of the largest remaining undisturbed tracts of native coastal prairie in Texas, with over 11 miles of tidal bay frontage along Matagorda Bay and Powderhorn Lake. Saltwater wetlands offer year-round habitat for shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl, while extensive woodlands, freshwater wetlands and restored coastal prairie provide critical "fall-out" areas for songbirds exhausted from crossing the Gulf. Expect ducks, herons, egrets, gulls, terns, shorebirds, wrens, roadrunner and perhaps some early neotropical migrants — also possible: alligator and deer.Carancahua Haunts and Tejano WetlandsTime TBA | Jackson County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.Jackson County has diverse habitats and the interesting birds that inhabit them. The Formosa Tejano Wetland is 245 acres of ponds, wetlands, woodlands and coastal prairie, typically holding shorebirds, waders and passerines in late March, with light walking on flat ground. Next up is the east shore of Carancahua Bay, including a large fish farm that draws gulls, terns and shorebirds, plus a chance at thorn-scrub birds like Long-billed Thrasher. This is one of the better trips for spotting the strikingly graceful Swallow-tailed Kite. Mostly car-birding with light walking.Otra vez! - Over the River and through the Woods to...Prairies, Beaches and Turf Farms - Matagorda County Hot SpotsTime TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.A repeat of this popular tour, hitting the majority of Matagorda County's birding hot spots — Chinquapin Road, Matagorda Beach, Hanson Turf Farm, Oyster Lake and the Birding Center — through coastal prairie, beaches, mudflats, turf farms and riparian corridors. Outside Christmas Bird Count season, Matagorda County is an under-birded gem, and this trip shows off its avian richness. Buff-breasted, Baird's and Upland Sandpipers and American Golden-Plovers are all likely, along with colorful neotropical passerines. Fast-paced, car-birding with moderate walking.Going Doubly Mad for Birds at The Nature Conservancy Mad Island Marsh PreserveTime TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.This is round 2 at the Mad Island Marsh Preserve, ground-zero for the nation-leading Matagorda County Christmas Bird Count and host to over 300 species of birds. The sprawling prairie, fresh and brackish water marshes and thorn scrub habitats host a variety of waders, rails, shorebirds, lingering sparrows and wrens and newly arriving neotropical migrants. We might also see an Alligator, or three! The Preserve is normally closed to regular public access so this is a great opportunity to bird this special property. Car-birding and light walking, ending with your sack lunch at Mad Island Lodge overlooking Mad Island Lake.

Experience STP, STP 2.0Time TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 12 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.A second, rare chance to visit the South Texas (Nuclear) Plant - truly a Super Terrific Property for birding. The team that surveys it for the nation leading Matagrda County Christmas Bird Count routinely reports as many 150 species for the day. The 7000 acre cooling reservoir is a big part of that production as is the 5000 acres of varied habitat overall. This is truly a unique experience since the property is only open for a select few fortunate birders, due to the sensitive nature of its operations. Participants on this trip will sign release waivers and receive a safety briefing prior to being guided around the property by STP (birders) exployees. Car-birding and light walking.Oyster Lake and The Bridge to NowhereTime TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.Oyster Lake is a shallow, brackish lake just north of the Intracoastal Waterway on the east side of West Matagorda Bay, with salt marshes, a large saline flat and views of both the bay and the lake. Expect waders, gulls and terns, shorebirds, and a chance at raptors and passerines along Oyster Lake Road — who knows, a Clapper Rail or Seaside Sparrow might make an appearance. Car-birding and light walking.Shrimp Capital of Texas — Palacios Hot SpotsTime TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.Fun, relaxing birding right in Palacios. The Palacios Marine Ag Research site offers wetlands, thorn scrub and bay views; the Trull Marsh and Palacios Prairie Wetland host sparrows, Clapper Rail, waders and shorebirds; the Palacios Port and bay front should have lingering ducks, loons, pelicans, shorebirds, gulls, terns and Purple Martins. We'll also probe local migrant traps for colorful spring migrants — this trip averages over 70 species.Shorebird Haven at the Harrison RanchTime TBA | Matagorda County | Easy | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.The Harrison Ranch sits about 8 miles northwest of Palacios on Slone Road and has been in the Harrison family for almost 100 years, after originally being farmed by Japanese rice farmers in the 1920s. Almost 200 acres of the original ranch have been converted into shallow ponds managed for waterfowl and shorebird habitat, surveyed by Ducks Unlimited and the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program. At different times of year, expect extensive flocks of teal, pintails, shovelers, scaups and mallards, plus migrating shorebirds including yellowlegs, dowitchers, stilts, lesser sandpipers, plovers, avocets, herons and bitterns — this ranch is the only known host to every species of plover found in the US. Adjacent pasture and fence-row thickets may add buntings, grosbeaks and orioles, and a nearby Bald Eagle nest rounds things out. Moderate walking — bring a scope.Colorado River Roaming at the Birding Nature Center and LeTulle ParkTime TBA | Matagorda County | Moderate | Guide: TBA | Max 15 | Meet in the parking lot adjacent to The Point Grocery at 608 First St.The Matagorda County Birding Nature Center covers 34 acres along the Colorado River in Bay City, with six botanical gardens and three major ecosystems dominated by the riparian corridor. This habitat variety shelters everything from Pileated Woodpeckers to Barred Owls to nesting Bald Eagles, and passerines migrate up the river corridor. Neighboring LeTulle Park's mature live oaks add another stop for resident and migrating passerines.