Birding Level: Easy
Departure time: 6:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
La Perla Ranch

Target Birds: wintering waterfowl such as Bufflehead, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Canvasback, Cinnamon Teal, Wood Duck, Western Sandpiper, Horned Grebe, and other wading birds. Other birds include the Great-horned Owl, Scaled and Bobwhite quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Fox Sparrow, and all three kingfishers - Ringed, Green and Belted.

Our region of the state is one of the last bastions of large private ranches. One of our most popular trips is a visit to La Perla Ranch, prized for its habitat and plentiful birds that thrive near its sensational water features. The ranch's custom-made birding buggy, and lodge where we will break for lunch, are not to be missed!
​
At La Perla, you will have the rare opportunity to bird in one of the most scenic and historic ranches in South Texas. The ranch owners have invested significantly in trophy game management for all waterfowl, deer and professional bass fishing. The Tamaulipan scrub habitat is home to a variety of year-round and wintering species of birds, too.

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
El Corazon Ranch • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park • Lagoon at Ranchito Road

​Target Birds: Couch's Kingbirds, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Common Gallinule, Curved-bill Thrashers, wintering sparrows such as the Black-throated Sparrows, Common Pauraque, Lark Bunting, Sandhill Cranes, Cactus Wrens, Pyrrhuloxia, orioles, ducks, and raptors, such as Harris's Hawk and Crested Caracara.

El Corazon Ranch, the biggest ranch to be visited by the Festival, is located 12 miles east of Laredo on Highway 59. The 6,650 acres of stunning Tamaulipan brushland and multiple water features provide ample habitat for winterfowl.
​
​Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, a 500-acre park with a large lake, hosts waterfowl as well as American White Pelicans in the winter. Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Chipping Sparrows, and other typical monte (desert scrub or brush) birds can be found here as well.
​
Adjacent to the park are the Ranchito Road Lagoons that host nesting and roosting spots for dozens of unique and colorful birds. The lagoons also attract wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds. ​

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:30am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Vargas Ranch • Cigarroa Ranch • Rio Bravo • España Park

Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Gray Hawk, Altamira & Audubon's orioles, Plain Chachalaca, 3 species of kingfishers, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Lark and Savannah sparrows, and black-tailed gnatcatcher

​If your heart is set on capturing the beauty of our No. 1 bird, the Morelet's Seedeater, this trip is for you!

A new ranch addition to the Festival, the Vargas Ranch, features a bluff that affords a splendid view of the river in several directions. The Vargas Ranch has a rich historic past that is evident in its centuries-old buildings that are still standing, once known as the town of Dolores. A land grant from the crown of Spain to Jose Vazquez Borrego, a rancher in Coahuila, Mexico, it is one of many failed Spanish colonial ventures on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. Besides the scenic view from the bluffs, it is brushy and hilly. Be aware that this is rugged terrain with rocky, uneven paths and trails.

The Cigarroa Ranch, similar and in close proximity to the Vargas ranch, includes more river bluffs and brushy terrain, a great habitat for Rock and Cactus Wrens, Verdins, and soaring hawks.
​​
Rio Bravo, a small town south of Laredo, allows for a beautiful vista of cliffs on the Mexican side of the border, and a diverse avian population.

España Park, a south Laredo city park with walking trails and open vistas of the Rio Grande, attracts several of our targeted birds.

Birding level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Killam Ranch • Muller Pond

Target birds: Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Anhinga, Black-throated Sparrow, Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Great Horned Owl, Northern Flicker, all 3 Kingfishers, and ducks galore!

Killam Ranch has ranked as the top site for birds in the Laredo Christmas Bird Count for the past 10 years, making it an ideal field trip for birders. 2015 is the first year that Killam Ranch joined as a partner with the Laredo Birding Festival. Some of Laredo’s largest ponds and pastures are located on the Killam Ranch, and an array of waterbirds frequent the ranch: Northern Bobwhite, American White Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Ducks to name a few. ​​​

Birding level: Moderate to Intense
Departure time: 6:25 am
Estimated return time: 6 pm
Various sites

This is an incredibly popular trip that fills up fast. It's a day-long whirlwind smorgasbord of multiple locations and hotspots in neighboring Zapata County to target at least 100 bird species, including our prized Morelet's Seedeater. This will be a fast-paced trip whose goal is to visit the best of Zapata County ranches and historic towns. Birders might be able to set their own personal best-ever "Big Day" species tally.

​A Monte Mucho Audubon Society (MMAS) member will serve as an expert local guide that will determine and plan all trails, sufficient rest breaks, and lunch.

Birding level: Easy
Departure time: 5:30 am
Estimated return time: 3:00 pm
Salineño • Falcon State Park

Target Birds: Red-billed Pigeons, Muscovy Ducks, Gray Hawks, Scaled Quail, Cactus Wrens, Eastern Screech Owl, and other South Texas specialties.

​Heading south from Laredo and into neighboring Zapata and Starr counties, we will arrive at a breathtaking expanse of the river at Salineño, where the arid Tamaulipan brush country meets the lush riparian habitat of the Rio Grande river system. Just a few yards from the river, there is a feeding station where you will encounter close quarters with colorful avian gems under a vegetated canopy - Audubon's, Altamira & Hooded orioles, Great Kiskadee, Plain Chachalaca, Green Jay, and warblers, just to name a few.

Another stop will be Falcon State Park which will provide you with unparalleled views of shorebirds, sparrows, Rock Wrens, and Meadow Larks. Falcon State Park is situated on one of the largest and best bass fishing reservoirs in Texas.

FRIDAY ONLY
​Birding level: Moderate ​
​Departure time: 7:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Las Palmas Nature Trail • Zacate Creek • Slaughter River Trail • Riverbend (Paso del Indio Nature Trail and Lost Lakes)

​Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Ringed, Belted and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, Audubon's Orioles, Olive Sparrow, varied waterfowl, White-tipped Dove, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Zone-tailed Hawk, Plain Chachalaca, Black Phoebe, migrating shorebirds, and many more.

This trip showcases the best of Laredo's public birding hotspots along the river. It offers birders memorable views of the Rio Grande, an American Heritage River. 

The Paso del Indio Nature Trail - Laredo's oldest trail - boasts a diverse variety of habitats, from thick brush with bird-feeding stations beneath the trees to more open habitats and a lovely tree-lined path along the river.

​Lost Lakes, located along the bend of the river, are abandoned gravel pits whose water levels now rise and fall with the level of the river. Birders will have a chance to spot wintering waterfowl.

Birding level: Moderate to Intense
​Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Cielito Lindo and Espana Park

A newly opened site for birding, Cielito Lindo Lake in South Laredo has brushy pasture surrounding it and a large variety of waterfowl and South Texas native birds. The Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Red-billed Pigeon, Audubon’s Oriole, and Black-throated Sparrow are found there, plus wintering migrant birds traveling through. The lake has been secluded for years and will now offer bird aficionados the opportunity to identify a wide variety of birds, including possible sightings of the wild Muscovy Duck. This trip will also include an additional site visit to the Rio Grande, that will offer a river vista known to house the Morelet’s Seedeater, all three Kingfishers, and the highly prized Gray Hawk.

Birding level: Easy
Departure time: 6:40 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
The Max Mandel Municipal Golf Course (ADA accessible) • 180 Ranch • Muller Pond

Target birds: Mexican Mallard/Mottled Duck, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Harris's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gray Hawk, American Kestrel, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Morelet's Seedeater, Red-billed Pigeon, migrating Warblers, Black-necked Stilt, & Barn Owl.

​The Max Mandel Municipal Golf course is our latest discovery and addition to the Laredo Bird Festival. This location has stunning views of the Rio Grande River waterfront with over 270 acres of old growth mesquite tree and vast arroyos. Besides being the latest golfing destination, rare birds like the Morelet's Seedeater and Red-Billed Pigeon, are being reported here. The scenic landscape provides an ideal location for birders to enjoy the very best of Laredo.

​Experience splendor on the rio at the 180 Ranch! This riverfront property features old growth trees, grassy pastures, bushy tickets, and river frontage access. ​​​

Birding level: Easy to Moderate
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Manadas Creek Lake • North Central Park • Muller Park • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Target birds: Our prized Morelet's Seedeater and hundreds of bird species - such as the Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, orioles, Olive Sparrow, varied waterfowl, Long-billed Thrashers, Pyrrhuloxia, Mexican mallards, and much more - abound along these lovely natural areas.

Birders will witness the best of Laredo's birding hotspots along creek systems in central and north Laredo, which meander and soon feed the mighty Rio Grande.

​Manadas Creek Lake feeds a large pond that creates plenty of habitat for our prized birds and ducks.

North Central Park, operated by the City of Laredo, is a terrific birding hotspot. Over the years, eBird reports from February alone tally 100 species, including Pine Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Clay-colored Thrushes and many others. In addition to its accessible trails through both smaller brush-like trees and tall willows, North Central Park has a pond and small wetlands.

Muller Park offers another opportunity to possibly see the Ringed Kingfisher, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Osprey, and other birds who take advantage of the park's large, somewhat hidden, picturesque pond and surrounding vegetation.

Lake Casa Blanca State Park, a 500-acre park with a large lake, hosts waterfowl as well as American White Pelicans in the winter. Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Chipping Sparrows, Common Pauraque and other typical monte (brush) birds can be found here as well.

​Adjacent to the park are the Ranchito Road Lagoons that host nesting and roosting spots for dozens of unique and colorful birds. The lagoons also attract wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds, as well as Couch's Kingbirds, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Common Gallinule, and more.

Birding level: Moderate​
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rancho Rio Verde • La Bota Ranch

Target birds: Black-throated Sparrows, Gray Hawks and Cactus Wrens. Along the river, it's a birding paradise with Audubon's Orioles, Green Jays, Greater Roadrunner, woodpeckers (Golden-fronted, Ladder-backed, and sometimes Yellow-bellied Sapsucker), Black-crested Titmouse, and occasionally our prized Morelet's Seedeater.

​These two sites have stunning riverfront acreage and brush land habitat, marked by a unique set of cliffs.

Rancho Rio Verde is a 127-acre ranch with incredible terrain that includes tall riparian trees, cliffs and canyons, and thick stands of mesquite forest. Higher portions of the ranch resemble small canyons, delineating the ancient flood plains that are peppered with typical South Texas thick brush and cacti. It has been developed as a non-hunting wildlife preserve, and teems with deer, wild turkey, wild pig, javelina, bobcat, and the occasional puma.

​At La Bota Ranch, the Morelet's Seedeater can be observed along the river cliffs. A wide range of bird species can be spotted in the varied South Texas habitat, which includes an assortment of raptors, sparrows, Eastern Bluebird, and wintering warblers, such as Orange-crowned, Pine, and Yellow-rumped species. ​​

​Birding Level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:25 a.m.
Estimated return time: 2:30 p.m.
Cabeza de Vaca Ranch ∙ San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary ∙ Zapata County Landfill

Target Birds: Muscovy Duck, Red-Tailed Hawk, White-Tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Great Kiskadee, Morelet’s Seedeater, kingfishers, Red-billed Pigeon, Green Jay, Plain Chacalaca, Chichuahuan Raven.

Let's go birding at our new Zapata County ranch. Cabeza de Vaca is located approximately 50 miles from Laredo and 4 miles south of Zapata, Texas. It was part of ranch founded in 1881 by Luis and Herlinda Trujillo Volpe. Legend has it that the Spanish explorer, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, passed through and camped here. It has several ponds that attract South Texas native and migrant bird species. There is plenty of brush to walk and to observe sparrows, hawks, falcons, kingbirds, etc. The small ranch house has restroom facilities.

The San Ygnacio Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary is a regular stop for birders. Nestled along the Rio Grande, giant cane makes a great habitat for the seedeater. Other resident specialties can also be seen here, including Red-billed Pigeons, White-tipped Doves, Green Jays, and Chachalacas.

The Zapata County landfill plays host to a variety of hawks, to include the Chihuahuan Raven.

NOTE: Some of these sites will be visited on Trip #5 (Zapata County Big Day) on Thursday.

​THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ONLY
Birding Level: Easy
Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rocking R6 Ranch

* This is a photography-exclusive trip.

​Target Birds: Harris’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, Audubon’s Oriole, White-tipped Dove, Green Jays, Black-throated Sparrows, and a variety of quail.

​Wildlife to spot will include White-tailed Deer, Javelina, feral hogs, and more.

The Rocking R6 Ranch is situated in Tamaulipan Thorn scrub country, just north of Laredo. Butch & Zita Ramirez's ranch provides wildlife photographers the very best camouflage blinds for those seeking South Texas wildlife in their natural settings.

Butch Ramirez is a professional photographer whose photos have graced numerous wildlife magazine covers. Additionally, a photo he took of a white-tailed deer in 2011 was selected as the design for the U.S.S. Illinois, sponsored by Michelle Obama. He will serve as your guide on this excursion.

Birding Level: Easy
Departure time: 6:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
La Perla Ranch

Target Birds: wintering waterfowl such as Bufflehead, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Canvasback, Cinnamon Teal, Wood Duck, Western Sandpiper, Horned Grebe, and other wading birds. Other birds include the Great-horned Owl, Scaled and Bobwhite quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Fox Sparrow, and all three kingfishers - Ringed, Green and Belted.

Our region of the state is one of the last bastions of large private ranches. One of our most popular trips is a visit to La Perla Ranch, prized for its habitat and plentiful birds that thrive near its sensational water features. The ranch's custom-made birding buggy, and lodge where we will break for lunch, are not to be missed!
​
At La Perla, you will have the rare opportunity to bird in one of the most scenic and historic ranches in South Texas. The ranch owners have invested significantly in trophy game management for all waterfowl, deer and professional bass fishing. The Tamaulipan scrub habitat is home to a variety of year-round and wintering species of birds, too.

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
El Corazon Ranch • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park • Lagoon at Ranchito Road

​Target Birds: Couch's Kingbirds, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Common Gallinule, Curved-bill Thrashers, wintering sparrows such as the Black-throated Sparrows, Common Pauraque, Lark Bunting, Sandhill Cranes, Cactus Wrens, Pyrrhuloxia, orioles, ducks, and raptors, such as Harris's Hawk and Crested Caracara.

El Corazon Ranch, the biggest ranch to be visited by the Festival, is located 12 miles east of Laredo on Highway 59. The 6,650 acres of stunning Tamaulipan brushland and multiple water features provide ample habitat for winterfowl.
​
​Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, a 500-acre park with a large lake, hosts waterfowl as well as American White Pelicans in the winter. Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Chipping Sparrows, and other typical monte (desert scrub or brush) birds can be found here as well.
​
Adjacent to the park are the Ranchito Road Lagoons that host nesting and roosting spots for dozens of unique and colorful birds. The lagoons also attract wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds. ​

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:30am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Vargas Ranch • Cigarroa Ranch • Rio Bravo • España Park

Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Gray Hawk, Altamira & Audubon's orioles, Plain Chachalaca, 3 species of kingfishers, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Lark and Savannah sparrows, and black-tailed gnatcatcher

​If your heart is set on capturing the beauty of our No. 1 bird, the Morelet's Seedeater, this trip is for you!

A new ranch addition to the Festival, the Vargas Ranch, features a bluff that affords a splendid view of the river in several directions. The Vargas Ranch has a rich historic past that is evident in its centuries-old buildings that are still standing, once known as the town of Dolores. A land grant from the crown of Spain to Jose Vazquez Borrego, a rancher in Coahuila, Mexico, it is one of many failed Spanish colonial ventures on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. Besides the scenic view from the bluffs, it is brushy and hilly. Be aware that this is rugged terrain with rocky, uneven paths and trails.

The Cigarroa Ranch, similar and in close proximity to the Vargas ranch, includes more river bluffs and brushy terrain, a great habitat for Rock and Cactus Wrens, Verdins, and soaring hawks.
​​
Rio Bravo, a small town south of Laredo, allows for a beautiful vista of cliffs on the Mexican side of the border, and a diverse avian population.

España Park, a south Laredo city park with walking trails and open vistas of the Rio Grande, attracts several of our targeted birds.

Birding level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Killam Ranch • Muller Pond

Target birds: Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Anhinga, Black-throated Sparrow, Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Great Horned Owl, Northern Flicker, all 3 Kingfishers, and ducks galore!

Killam Ranch has ranked as the top site for birds in the Laredo Christmas Bird Count for the past 10 years, making it an ideal field trip for birders. 2015 is the first year that Killam Ranch joined as a partner with the Laredo Birding Festival. Some of Laredo’s largest ponds and pastures are located on the Killam Ranch, and an array of waterbirds frequent the ranch: Northern Bobwhite, American White Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Ducks to name a few. ​​​

Birding level: Moderate ​to Intense
​Departure time: 6:40 am
Estimated return time: 6:00 pm
Various Sites

​This trip offers a day-long whirlwind smorgasbord of Laredo and Webb County birding hotspots. This is a fast-paced trip whose goal is to visit as many birding spots in search of 100+ bird species. Birders might be able to set their personal best-ever "Big Day" species tally. An expert Laredo guide will determine and plan all trails, sufficient rest breaks, and lunch. Different habitats will be explored along local city trails, ponds and private ranches. Walking distances and time spent at each site will be kept to a minimum.

Birding level: Easy
Departure time: 5:30 am
Estimated return time: 3:00 pm
Salineño • Falcon State Park

Target Birds: Red-billed Pigeons, Muscovy Ducks, Gray Hawks, Scaled Quail, Cactus Wrens, Eastern Screech Owl, and other South Texas specialties.

​Heading south from Laredo and into neighboring Zapata and Starr counties, we will arrive at a breathtaking expanse of the river at Salineño, where the arid Tamaulipan brush country meets the lush riparian habitat of the Rio Grande river system. Just a few yards from the river, there is a feeding station where you will encounter close quarters with colorful avian gems under a vegetated canopy - Audubon's, Altamira & Hooded orioles, Great Kiskadee, Plain Chachalaca, Green Jay, and warblers, just to name a few.

Another stop will be Falcon State Park which will provide you with unparalleled views of shorebirds, sparrows, Rock Wrens, and Meadow Larks. Falcon State Park is situated on one of the largest and best bass fishing reservoirs in Texas.

​Birding level: Moderate ​
​Departure time: 6:30 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rio Grande • Manadas Creek

​Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Ringed, Belted and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, Audubon's Orioles, Olive Sparrow, varied waterfowl, White-tipped Dove, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Zone-tailed Hawk, Plain Chachalaca, Black Phoebe, migrating shorebirds, and many more.

This trip showcases the best of Laredo's public birding hotspots along the river. It offers birders memorable views of the Rio Grande, an American Heritage River. 

The Paso del Indio Nature Trail - Laredo's oldest trail - boasts a diverse variety of habitats, from thick brush with bird-feeding stations beneath the trees to more open habitats and a lovely tree-lined path along the river.

​Lost Lakes, located along the bend of the river, are abandoned gravel pits whose water levels now rise and fall with the level of the river. Birders will have a chance to spot wintering waterfowl.

Birding level: Moderate
​Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Cielito Lindo and Espana Park

A newly opened site for birding, Cielito Lindo Lake in South Laredo has brushy pasture surrounding it and a large variety of waterfowl and South Texas native birds. The Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Red-billed Pigeon, Audubon’s Oriole, and Black-throated Sparrow are found there, plus wintering migrant birds traveling through. The lake has been secluded for years and will now offer bird aficionados the opportunity to identify a wide variety of birds, including possible sightings of the wild Muscovy Duck. This trip will also include an additional site visit to the Rio Grande, that will offer a river vista known to house the Morelet’s Seedeater, all three Kingfishers, and the highly prized Gray Hawk.

Birding level: Easy
Departure time: 6:40 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
The Max Mandel Municipal Golf Course (ADA accessible) • 180 Ranch • Muller Pond

Target birds: Mexican Mallard/Mottled Duck, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Harris's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Gray Hawk, American Kestrel, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Ringed Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher, Morelet's Seedeater, Red-billed Pigeon, migrating Warblers, Black-necked Stilt, & Barn Owl.

​The Max Mandel Municipal Golf course is our latest discovery and addition to the Laredo Bird Festival. This location has stunning views of the Rio Grande River waterfront with over 270 acres of old growth mesquite tree and vast arroyos. Besides being the latest golfing destination, rare birds like the Morelet's Seedeater and Red-Billed Pigeon, are being reported here. The scenic landscape provides an ideal location for birders to enjoy the very best of Laredo.

​Experience splendor on the rio at the 180 Ranch! This riverfront property features old growth trees, grassy pastures, bushy tickets, and river frontage access. ​​​

Birding level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Los Lazos • Los Milagros
*Description Pending

Birding level: Moderate​
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rancho Rio Verde • La Bota Ranch

Target birds: Black-throated Sparrows, Gray Hawks and Cactus Wrens. Along the river, it's a birding paradise with Audubon's Orioles, Green Jays, Greater Roadrunner, woodpeckers (Golden-fronted, Ladder-backed, and sometimes Yellow-bellied Sapsucker), Black-crested Titmouse, and occasionally our prized Morelet's Seedeater.

​These two sites have stunning riverfront acreage and brush land habitat, marked by a unique set of cliffs.

Rancho Rio Verde is a 127-acre ranch with incredible terrain that includes tall riparian trees, cliffs and canyons, and thick stands of mesquite forest. Higher portions of the ranch resemble small canyons, delineating the ancient flood plains that are peppered with typical South Texas thick brush and cacti. It has been developed as a non-hunting wildlife preserve, and teems with deer, wild turkey, wild pig, javelina, bobcat, and the occasional puma.

​At La Bota Ranch, the Morelet's Seedeater can be observed along the river cliffs. A wide range of bird species can be spotted in the varied South Texas habitat, which includes an assortment of raptors, sparrows, Eastern Bluebird, and wintering warblers, such as Orange-crowned, Pine, and Yellow-rumped species. ​​

Birding Level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:25 a.m.
Estimated return time: 2:30 p.m.
Cabeza de Vaca Ranch ∙ San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary ∙ Zapata County Landfill

Target Birds: Muscovy Duck, Red-Tailed Hawk, White-Tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Great Kiskadee, Morelet’s Seedeater, Kingfishers, Red-billed Pigeon, Green Jay, Plain Chacalaca, Chichuahuan Raven

Let's go birding at our new Zapata County ranch. Cabeza de Vaca is located approximately 50 miles from Laredo and 4 miles south of Zapata, Texas. It was part of ranch founded in 1881 by Luis and Herlinda Trujillo Volpe. Legend has it that the Spanish explorer, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, passed through and camped here. It has several ponds that attract South Texas native and migrant bird species. There is plenty of brush to walk and to observe sparrows, hawks, falcons, kingbirds, etc. The small ranch house has restroom facilities.

The San Ygnacio Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary is a regular stop for birders. Nestled along the Rio Grande, giant cane makes a great habitat for the seedeater. Other resident specialties can also be seen here, including Red-billed Pigeons, White-tipped Doves, Green Jays, and Chachalacas.

The Zapata County landfill plays host to a variety of hawks, to include the Chihuahuan Raven.

NOTE: Some of these sites will be visited on Trip #5 (Zapata County Big Day) on Thursday.

​THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ONLY
Birding Level: Easy
Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rocking R6 Ranch

* This is a photography-exclusive trip.

​Target Birds: Harris’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, Audubon’s Oriole, White-tipped Dove, Green Jays, Black-throated Sparrows, and a variety of quail.

​Wildlife to spot will include White-tailed Deer, Javelina, feral hogs, and more.

The Rocking R6 Ranch is situated in Tamaulipan Thorn scrub country, just north of Laredo. Butch & Zita Ramirez's ranch provides wildlife photographers the very best camouflage blinds for those seeking South Texas wildlife in their natural settings.

Butch Ramirez is a professional photographer whose photos have graced numerous wildlife magazine covers. Additionally, a photo he took of a white-tailed deer in 2011 was selected as the design for the U.S.S. Illinois, sponsored by Michelle Obama. He will serve as your guide on this excursion.

Birding Level: Easy
Departure time: 6:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
La Perla Ranch

Target Birds: wintering waterfowl such as Bufflehead, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Canvasback, Cinnamon Teal, Wood Duck, Western Sandpiper, Horned Grebe, and other wading birds. Other birds include the Great-horned Owl, Scaled and Bobwhite quail, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Fox Sparrow, and all three kingfishers - Ringed, Green and Belted.

Our region of the state is one of the last bastions of large private ranches. One of our most popular trips is a visit to La Perla Ranch, prized for its habitat and plentiful birds that thrive near its sensational water features. The ranch's custom-made birding buggy, and lodge where we will break for lunch, are not to be missed!
​
At La Perla, you will have the rare opportunity to bird in one of the most scenic and historic ranches in South Texas. The ranch owners have invested significantly in trophy game management for all waterfowl, deer and professional bass fishing. The Tamaulipan scrub habitat is home to a variety of year-round and wintering species of birds, too.

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
El Corazon Ranch • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park • Lagoon at Ranchito Road

​Target Birds: Couch's Kingbirds, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Common Gallinule, Curved-bill Thrashers, wintering sparrows such as the Black-throated Sparrows, Common Pauraque, Lark Bunting, Sandhill Cranes, Cactus Wrens, Pyrrhuloxia, orioles, ducks, and raptors, such as Harris's Hawk and Crested Caracara.

El Corazon Ranch, the biggest ranch to be visited by the Festival, is located 12 miles east of Laredo on Highway 59. The 6,650 acres of stunning Tamaulipan brushland and multiple water features provide ample habitat for winterfowl.
​
​Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, a 500-acre park with a large lake, hosts waterfowl as well as American White Pelicans in the winter. Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Chipping Sparrows, and other typical monte (desert scrub or brush) birds can be found here as well.
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Adjacent to the park are the Ranchito Road Lagoons that host nesting and roosting spots for dozens of unique and colorful birds. The lagoons also attract wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds. ​

Birding level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:30am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Vargas Ranch • Cigarroa Ranch • Rio Bravo • España Park

Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Gray Hawk, Altamira & Audubon's orioles, Plain Chachalaca, 3 species of kingfishers, Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Lark and Savannah sparrows, and black-tailed gnatcatcher

​If your heart is set on capturing the beauty of our No. 1 bird, the Morelet's Seedeater, this trip is for you!

A new ranch addition to the Festival, the Vargas Ranch, features a bluff that affords a splendid view of the river in several directions. The Vargas Ranch has a rich historic past that is evident in its centuries-old buildings that are still standing, once known as the town of Dolores. A land grant from the crown of Spain to Jose Vazquez Borrego, a rancher in Coahuila, Mexico, it is one of many failed Spanish colonial ventures on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. Besides the scenic view from the bluffs, it is brushy and hilly. Be aware that this is rugged terrain with rocky, uneven paths and trails.

The Cigarroa Ranch, similar and in close proximity to the Vargas ranch, includes more river bluffs and brushy terrain, a great habitat for Rock and Cactus Wrens, Verdins, and soaring hawks.
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Rio Bravo, a small town south of Laredo, allows for a beautiful vista of cliffs on the Mexican side of the border, and a diverse avian population.

España Park, a south Laredo city park with walking trails and open vistas of the Rio Grande, attracts several of our targeted birds.

Birding level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Killam Ranch • Muller Pond

Target birds: Cactus Wren, Pyrrhuloxia, Anhinga, Black-throated Sparrow, Ladder-backed and Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Great Horned Owl, Northern Flicker, all 3 Kingfishers, and ducks galore!

Killam Ranch has ranked as the top site for birds in the Laredo Christmas Bird Count for the past 10 years, making it an ideal field trip for birders. 2015 is the first year that Killam Ranch joined as a partner with the Laredo Birding Festival. Some of Laredo’s largest ponds and pastures are located on the Killam Ranch, and an array of waterbirds frequent the ranch: Northern Bobwhite, American White Pelican, Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Ducks to name a few. ​​​

​Birding level: Easy to Moderate
Departure time: 6:25 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
El Veleño Ranch • E. Buck • Zapata Hotspots

Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater,Red-billed Pigeon,Gray Hawk, Scaled Quail, Cactus Wren, Audubon's Oriole, Altamira Oriole, Black-throated Sparrow, and other South Texas specialties.

​Heading south from Laredo into neighboring Zapata and Starr counties, the Falcon International Reservoir (commonly known as Falcon Lake and Falcon Dam) and the County of Zapata provide access to an 84,000-acre water paradise, built in 1954. Our first stop here is a lovely winter Texan home directly on the reservoir shoreline.

Later in the morning, we'll travel to El Veleño Ranch. Several water features may allow views of various kingfishers, plus other waterfowl. The Tamaulipan scrub brush provides a home for an array of sparrows. Owned by Mr. Renato Ramirez, El Veleño was named one of the top three finalists for the 2010 Images for Conservation Fund (ICF) Pro-Tour of Nature Photography Contest: Borderlands of Laredo, Texas. Mr. Ramirez continues to work his ranch property as a true Texas vaquero.

If time permits, other area hotspots will be visited.

Birding level: Easy
Departure time: 5:30 am
Estimated return time: 3:00 pm
Salineño • Falcon State Park

Target Birds: Red-billed Pigeons, Muscovy Ducks, Gray Hawks, Scaled Quail, Cactus Wrens, Eastern Screech Owl, and other South Texas specialties.

​Heading south from Laredo and into neighboring Zapata and Starr counties, we will arrive at a breathtaking expanse of the river at Salineño, where the arid Tamaulipan brush country meets the lush riparian habitat of the Rio Grande river system. Just a few yards from the river, there is a feeding station where you will encounter close quarters with colorful avian gems under a vegetated canopy - Audubon's, Altamira & Hooded orioles, Great Kiskadee, Plain Chachalaca, Green Jay, and warblers, just to name a few.

Another stop will be Falcon State Park which will provide you with unparalleled views of shorebirds, sparrows, Rock Wrens, and Meadow Larks. Falcon State Park is situated on one of the largest and best bass fishing reservoirs in Texas.

​SATURDAY ONLY
Birding level: Moderate to Intense
Departure time: 6:30 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
180Ranch • Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course • River Islands • Santa Isabel

Target Birds: three kingfisher species, phoebes, White-collared Seedeaters (now Morelet's Seedeaters), Gray Hawks, warblers, ducks, herons and Osprey.

This birding by kayak trip will be a thrilling excursion by boat with 1- or 2-person kayaks, life vest, paddles and, if needed, water booties. For novice paddlers, two-person kayaks are available with an experienced paddler/guide assisting.

This aquatic adventure will begin at the 180 Ranch, which has extensive river frontage. We will continue our float under the scenic Max Mandel municipal golf course. Red-billed Pigeons are known to roost in the tall trees below the Max. One of the larger islands in the river, Las Islitas, will be visited for its shorebirds and mature vegetation. Continuing past another large island, we will finish at the historic Santa Isabel Creek.
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Trip time (on kayaks) is estimated at 3-4 hours.​

Birding level: Moderate
​Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Cielito Lindo and Espana Park

A newly opened site for birding, Cielito Lindo Lake in South Laredo has brushy pasture surrounding it and a large variety of waterfowl and South Texas native birds. The Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, Red-billed Pigeon, Audubon’s Oriole, and Black-throated Sparrow are found there, plus wintering migrant birds traveling through. The lake has been secluded for years and will now offer bird aficionados the opportunity to identify a wide variety of birds, including possible sightings of the wild Muscovy Duck. This trip will also include an additional site visit to the Rio Grande, that will offer a river vista known to house the Morelet’s Seedeater, all three Kingfishers, and the highly prized Gray Hawk.

​Birding level: Moderate ​
​Departure time: 7:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Las Palmas Nature Trail • Zacate Creek • Slaughter River Trail • Riverbend (Paso del Indio Nature Trail and Lost Lakes)

​Target Birds: Morelet's Seedeater, Ringed, Belted and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, Audubon's Orioles, Olive Sparrow, varied waterfowl, White-tipped Dove, Clay-colored Thrush, Long-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Zone-tailed Hawk, Plain Chachalaca, Black Phoebe, migrating shorebirds, and many more.

This trip showcases the best of Laredo's public birding hotspots along the river. It offers birders memorable views of the Rio Grande, an American Heritage River.

The Paso del Indio Nature Trail - Laredo's oldest trail - boasts a diverse variety of habitats, from thick brush with bird-feeding stations beneath the trees to more open habitats and a lovely tree-lined path along the river.

​Lost Lakes, located along the bend of the river, are abandoned gravel pits whose water levels now rise and fall with the level of the river. Birders will have a chance to spot wintering waterfowl.

Birding level: Moderate to Intense (2.5 mile hike)
Departure time: 6:00 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Los Milagros Ranch • Los Lazos Ranch
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Target Birds: Chihuahuan Raven, Audobon Oriole, Scaled and Northern Bobwhite Quail, Turkeys, Harris's Hawk, Black-throated Sparrows, Verdin, Curved and Long-billed Thrashers, Least Grebe, Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren

Texas before it was Texas. Centuries before Spanish settlers arrived, Indians camped in this area, one of the few locations in the semiarid surroundings where surface water was dependable.

One of our newest ranches, the Los Milagros Ranch property of Alex & Liza Lopez is a working cattle ranch with varying elevations, providing breathtaking views of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico located over 100 miles from the border. Close to Mirando city and the near ghost town of Los Ojuelos, Texas, this site will provide birders with an abundant early settler history where the fruits and thorns of the South Texas cactus trade were the norm. Birding in Laredo provides a new meaning to those visiting this region of vanished communities and ghost towns. Ancient tales of Texas Rangers and Indians would all be worthy of a Hollywood movie.

​Los Lazos Ranch, winner of the borderlands photography competititon hosted by the Images for Conservation Fund (ICF), belongs to the Benavides family and dates back to 1879. It is a game-managed ranch with a wide variety of habitat that includes rolling hills and sandy loam soil. Stock tanks provide a perennial source of water.

Birding level: Moderate​
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Rancho Rio Verde • La Bota Ranch

Target birds: Black-throated Sparrows, Gray Hawks and Cactus Wrens. Along the river, it's a birding paradise with Audubon's Orioles, Green Jays, Greater Roadrunner, woodpeckers (Golden-fronted, Ladder-backed, and sometimes Yellow-bellied Sapsucker), Black-crested Titmouse, and occasionally our prized Morelet's Seedeater.

​These two sites have stunning riverfront acreage and brush land habitat, marked by a unique set of cliffs.

Rancho Rio Verde is a 127-acre ranch with incredible terrain that includes tall riparian trees, cliffs and canyons, and thick stands of mesquite forest. Higher portions of the ranch resemble small canyons, delineating the ancient flood plains that are peppered with typical South Texas thick brush and cacti. It has been developed as a non-hunting wildlife preserve, and teems with deer, wild turkey, wild pig, javelina, bobcat, and the occasional puma.

​At La Bota Ranch, the Morelet's Seedeater can be observed along the river cliffs. A wide range of bird species can be spotted in the varied South Texas habitat, which includes an assortment of raptors, sparrows, Eastern Bluebird, and wintering warblers, such as Orange-crowned, Pine, and Yellow-rumped species. ​​

Birding Level: Moderate
Departure time: 6:25 a.m.
Estimated return time: 2:30 p.m.
Cabeza de Vaca Ranch ∙ San Ygnacio Bird Sanctuary ∙ Zapata County Landfill

Target Birds: Muscovy Duck, Red-Tailed Hawk, White-Tailed Hawk, Harris’s Hawk, Great Kiskadee, Morelet’s Seedeater, Kingfishers, Red-billed Pigeon, Green Jay, Plain Chacalaca, Chichuahuan Raven

Let's go birding at our new Zapata County ranch. Cabeza de Vaca is located approximately 50 miles from Laredo and 4 miles south of Zapata, Texas. It was part of ranch founded in 1881 by Luis and Herlinda Trujillo Volpe. Legend has it that the Spanish explorer, Alvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, passed through and camped here. It has several ponds that attract South Texas native and migrant bird species. There is plenty of brush to walk and to observe sparrows, hawks, falcons, kingbirds, etc. The small ranch house has restroom facilities.

The San Ygnacio Bird & Butterfly Sanctuary is a regular stop for birders. Nestled along the Rio Grande, giant cane makes a great habitat for the seedeater. Other resident specialties can also be seen here, including Red-billed Pigeons, White-tipped Doves, Green Jays, and Chachalacas.

The Zapata County landfill plays host to a variety of hawks, to include the Chihuahuan Raven.

NOTE: Some of these sites will be visited on Trip #5 (Zapata County Big Day) on Thursday.

​Birding level: Easy​ to Moderate
Departure time: 6:45 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
Manadas Creek Lake • North Central Park • Muller Park • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Target birds: Our prized Morelet's Seedeater and hundreds of bird species - such as the Ringed and Green Kingfishers, Green Jays, orioles, Olive Sparrow, varied waterfowl, Long-billed Thrashers, Pyrrhuloxia, Mexican mallards, and much more - abound along these lovely natural areas.

Birders will witness the best of Laredo's birding hotspots along creek systems in central and north Laredo, which meander and soon feed the mighty Rio Grande.

​Manadas Creek Lake feeds a large pond that creates plenty of habitat for our prized birds and ducks.

North Central Park, operated by the City of Laredo, is a terrific birding hotspot. Over the years, eBird reports from February alone tally 100 species, including Pine Warblers, White-eyed Vireos, Clay-colored Thrushes and many others. In addition to its accessible trails through both smaller brush-like trees and tall willows, North Central Park has a pond and small wetlands.

Muller Park offers another opportunity to possibly see the Ringed Kingfisher, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher, Osprey, and other birds who take advantage of the park's large, somewhat hidden, picturesque pond and surrounding vegetation.

Lake Casa Blanca State Park, a 500-acre park with a large lake, hosts waterfowl as well as American White Pelicans in the winter. Pyrrhuloxia, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Chipping Sparrows, Common Pauraque and other typical monte (brush) birds can be found here as well.

​Adjacent to the park are the Ranchito Road Lagoons that host nesting and roosting spots for dozens of unique and colorful birds. The lagoons also attract wintering waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds, as well as Couch's Kingbirds, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, Common Gallinule, and more.​

Birding level: Moderate to Intense
Departure time: 6:40 am
Estimated return time: 6 pm

​Birding level: Moderate to Intense
Departure time: 6:25 am
Estimated return time: 6 pm

This is an incredibly popular trip that fills up fast. It's a day-long whirlwind smorgasbord of multiple locations and hot spots in neighboring Zapata County to target at least 100 bird species, including our prized White-collared Seedeater. This will be a fast-paced trip whose goal is to visit the best of Zapata County ranches and historic towns. birders might be able to set their own personal best-ever "Big Day" species tally.

A Monte Mucho Audubon society (MMAS) member will serve as an expert local guide that will determine and plan all trails, sufficient rest breaks, and lunch.

​Birding level: Moderate to Intense
Departure time: 6:25 am
Estimated return time: 6 pm

This trip offers a day-long whirlwind smorgasbord of Laredo and Webb County birding hotspots. This is a fast-paced trip whose goal is to visit as many birding spots in search of 100+ species. Birders might be able to set their bersonal best-ever "Big Day" species tally. Different habitats will be explored along city trails, ponds and private ranches. Walking distances and time spent at each site will be kept to a minimum.

​A Monte Mucho Audubon Society (MMAS) member will serve as an expert local guide that will determine and plan all trails, sufficient rest breaks, and lunch.

Birding level: Moderate to Intense
​Departure time: 6:30 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm
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This birding by kayak trip will be a thrilling excursion by boat with 1- or 2-person kayaks, life vest, paddles and, if needed, water booties. For novice paddlers, two-person kayaks are available with an experienced paddler/ guide assisting.

​This aquatic adventure will begin at the historical La Bota Ranch and end approximately 6 miles downriver at Markley Street, above the Laredo Community College campus. Trip time (on kayaks) is estimated at 3-4 hours, and concludes with a side trip to the Paso del Indio Nature Trail.

Birds to see could include three kingfisher species, phoebes, White-collared Seedeaters, Gray Hawks, warblers, ducks, herons and Osprey. Midway, the trip features a passage up Manadas Creek which not only has resident birds but also unique geologic and botanical sights.

Birding level: Moderate to Intense
​Departure time: 6:30 am
Estimated return time: 2:00 pm

This birding by kayak trip will be a thrilling excursion by boat with 1- or 2-person kayaks, life vest, paddles and, if needed, water booties. For novice paddlers, two person kayaks are available with an experienced paddler/ guide assisting.

This aquatic adventure will begin at the 180 Ranch, which has extensive river frontage. We will continue our float under the scenicMax Mandel municipal golf course. Red-billed Pigeons are known to roost in the tall trees below the Max. One of the larger islands in the river, Las Islitas, will be visited for its shorebirds and mature vegetation. Continuing past another large island, we will finish at the historic Santa Isabel Creek.

Birds to see could include three kingfisher species, phoebes, White-collared Seedeaters, Gray Hawks, warblers, ducks, herons and Osprey.

Trip time (on kayaks) is estimated at 3-4 hours.

Birding Level: Easy
​Departure time: 6:15 am
Estimated return time: 2:30 pm

* This is a photography exclusive trip.
Rocking R6 Ranch

​Target Birds: Harris’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, Audubon’s Oriole, White-tipped Dove, Green Jays, Black-throated Sparrows, and a variety of quail. Wildlife to spot will include White-tailed Deer, Javelina, feral hogs, and more.

The Rocking R6 Ranch is situated in Tamaulipan Thorn scrub country, just north of Laredo. Butch & Zita Ramirez's ranch provides wildlife photographers the very best camouflage blinds for those seeking South Texas wildlife in their natural settings.