Explore one of America’s best birding destinations on this top-rated Texas Hill Country Birding and Nature tour. Amidst the open landscape of the Edwards Plateau region, we explore the verdant area surrounding Concan, Texas, and its mosaic of avian life.

We stay at one delightful lodge, so it’s an easy one-stop, unpack and relax tour, giving us ample time to soak in the area and its array of species and habitats.

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy for five nights at Neal’s Lodge, a longtime hotspot for birders and naturalists
• Search Golden-cheeked Warblers amidst Ashe Juniper at Lost Maples State Natural Area
• Witness millions of bats emerging from the Rio Frio Bat Cave
• See for captivating raptors including Swainson’s, Zone-tailed, and Harris’ Hawks
• Explore one of the Green Kingfisher’s few habitats in the United States
• Take in Hill Country’s kaleidoscope of butterflies; over 140 species have been spotted in the area

Trip Itinerary

Sat., Apr. 22: San Antonio | Concan

Welcome to Texas! Our group gathers at the San Antonio International Airport at 3:00 PM to begin our intriguing expedition into the Texas Hill Country. Some may want to arrive early to enjoy the Riverwalk and history of San Antonio on their own.

Straight from the airport we drive to Concan, Texas, a quiet community with an exciting abundance of Texas specialty birds that occur along the lush Rio Frio. Our route winds through Edwards Plateau, where crystal clear rivers have spent thousands of years cutting a path through gleaming limestone. Have binoculars and cameras ready, birds and blooms abound!
Roadside birds might include Swainson’s Hawk, Crested Caracara, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. We arrive at Neal’s Lodge, our comfortable accommodations in Concan. Built along the spring-fed Frio River, Neal’s Lodge is our home this week. We settle in, unpack once, and turn our focus to the Hill Country’s natural wonders.

Neal’s grounds host birds from the Eastern and Western U.S., as well as the Lower Rio Grande Valley. This area has been a bucket list destination for naturalists for decades. Accommodation at Neal’s Lodge (D)

Sun., Apr. 23: Uvalde | Ft. Inge | Fish Hatchery | Park Chalk Bluff

Today we head south to Uvalde. As we leave Concan, the habitat becomes noticeably more desert-like. Possible sightings on our drive include Harris’ Hawk, Bell’s Vireo, Bullock’s Oriole, and Crested Caracara.

Arriving in Uvalde, we find the remains of frontier-era Fort Inge, now a 42-acre protected park along the Leona River. The park features a 140-foot volcanic plug, whose dry slopes attract Cactus and Bewick’s Wrens, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Pyrrhuloxia. Along the Leona River, we find migrant and resident songbirds, and perhaps a Mississippi Kite.

A tour tradition is visiting Uvalde’s classic soda fountain for ice cream, shakes, and malts ? fun (and delicious)!

Next, we go west to the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery, where ponds attract a variety of shorebirds ? surprising migrants can show up at this time of year. From a permanent blind we spot Black Phoebe, species of waterfowl such as Black-bellied Whistling-Duck and Blue Winged Teal, and a host of dragonflies.

We then drive northwest to Park Chalk Bluff, where Tamaulipan Scrub vegetation cloaks hillsides along the Nueces River. Here we find Brown-crested Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, and Black-crested Titmouse in a stand of live oaks.

Along the River, we scan cottonwoods, pecans, and mulberries for Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo and Painted Buntings, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Orchard Oriole, and Blue Grosbeak. We have another chance to see tiny Green Kingfisher, secretive Ringed Kingfisher, and a vulture-mimic, the Zone-Tailed Hawk.

The park’s pecan grove may draw in migrants including Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and several warblers.
Accommodation at Neal’s Lodge (B,L,D)

Mon., Apr. 24: Neal’s Lodge | Rio Frio Bat Cave

This morning we get up early to bird the area around Neal’s Lodge. We comfortably observe several species as permanent feeding stations draw in some of the Hill Country’s best species. Clay-colored Sparrow are common at the “cattle guard feeder”—often joined by Black-throated, Lark, White-crowned and Chipping Sparrows. Three species of orioles are possible visitors, along with resident Olive Sparrow and Long-billed Thrasher.

Continuing to the pecan grove for more feeder watching, we look for Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting, Carolina Chickadee, Black-crested Titmouse, and various migrants.
Neal’s Lodge maintains hummingbird feeders throughout the grounds. These attract numerous Black-chinned Hummingbird, a few Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and the nectar-loving Hooded Oriole.

For lunch, we visit a delicious BBQ stand in Concan for tasty brisket and smoked turkey. After lunch we return to Neal’s Lodge for continued feeder watching.

After dinner, we take a short drive to the Rio Frio Bat Cave. Every night, 10-million or more Mexican Free-tailed Bats exit the cave to feed. If you haven’t experienced a bat cave emergence, you are sure to be mesmerized as the smoke-like river of bats emerges against the setting sun.

Local bat biologist Bain Walker joins us as we take in the sights and sounds of one of the largest gatherings of mammals in North America. Red-tailed and Swainson’s Hawk are likely visitors as they feed on the frenzy of bats.

Cave Swallow share the cave and we see them as they return to roost.
Accommodation at Neal’s Lodge (B,L,D)

Tues., Apr. 25: Lost Maples State Natural Area

Today we depart for Lost Maples State Natural Area, a 2,200-acre protected site straddling the serene Sabinal River. The park is famous for its Golden-cheeked Warbler, and is home to many other species.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, occasional Indigo Bunting, and Scott’s Oriole often greet us at the visitor center’s feeders. Along the Maple Trail, we walk through a limestone canyon populated with oak, sycamore, and relict Bigtooth Maple. We listen for the sweet, buzzing song of the park’s Golden-cheeked Warbler. We might also see Acadian Flycatcher, Yellow-throated and White-eyed Vireos, and Black-and-white Warbler.

Lost Maples hosts a stunning array of butterflies; over 140 species live in and around Concan. A previous trip recorded many species, including Nysa Roadside-Skipper, Red Admiral, Gulf Fritillary, and Pipevine, Spicebush, and Giant Swallowtail.

After a picnic lunch we hike along rivers and ponds, scanning the branches for Green Kingfisher, a striking species rarely found in the United States.
For dinner, we visit Lost Maples Café and its regionally famous pies.
Accommodation at Neal’s Lodge (B,L,D)

Wed., Apr. 26: Kerr Wildlife Management Area | Black-capped Vireo

Today we visit the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in the basin of the Guadalupe River. On the drive, we look for Blue Bonnets and Mealy Sage. The park is home to a large population of Black-capped Vireo, an endangered specialty of Central Texas. Finding them is our focus, though abundant wildflowers can prove a pleasant distraction!

Other species at Kerr WMA include Wild Turkey, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Common Ground-Dove, Summer Tanager, Field Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, and Painted Bunting.

Tonight we enjoy a final dinner and conversations, and then tally up the rich sightings from a week of birding the Texas Hill Country!
Accommodation at Neal’s Lodge (B,L,D)

Thurs., Apr. 27: San Antonio & Departures

We load our vans with Blue Jay watching overhead, and return to San Antonio. Some may wish to stay on to explore this historic city, home to the Alamo and a delightful Riverwalk.

We plan to arrive at the airport at 11:00 AM, so please plan your departure (or connecting flight to El Paso if you plan to go on our Texas Big Bend Tour, too) after 12:00 PM.
It’s always hard to say goodbye to new travel friends, but with Naturalist Journeys loyal clientele, we’re likely to travel together again.

Those continuing on our Texas Coast & Big Thicket journey can look forward to more amazing birds, fantastic scenery, and West Texas hospitality. Book the two tours and we’ll pay the air between them, up to $100!

Cost of the Journey

The cost of this journey is $2190 DBL / $2490 SGL, from San Antonio, TX, and includes all accommodations, meals as specified in the itinerary, group airport transfers, professional guide services, local park and other area entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. The cost is based on a minimum number of 6 participants, with fewer a small group surcharge (typically $100 – $300) may apply.

The cost does not include transportation to or from your home to San Antonio, or items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone charges, porterage, maid gratuities, or beverages from the bar.

Travel Details

Please plan to make air travel plans only after the minimum group size has been met. We will send you a confirmation email as soon as the trip has been confirmed.

Plan to arrive in San Antonio no later than 2:00 PM on April 22 to gather by 3:00. Since San Antonio is a fun city with a lot of historical interest and the Riverwalk, we have planned the journey so you can enjoy a weekend there either before or after as part of your vacation if you wish. Plan to depart after NOON on April 27.

Items of Note

Special Offer!
If you opt to pair this Texas Hill Country tour with our Texas Coast tour and we’ll reimburse your connecting flight up to $100. Talk to us for details.

Browse below for trip reports and species lists from past versions of this and other tours from this destination.

• Pat Lueders
  

  Pat Lueders has been leading birding trips in the St. Louis area and Midwest for over 10 years. A love of traveling has taken her to many countries of the world and most of the US, often with Naturalist Journeys' trips. When not out birding, she is the coordinator of volunteers for a number of Citizen Science projects partnering with many agencies including U.S. Fish & Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Audubon, National Trumpeter Swan Society, and Missouri Department of Conservation. Pat serves on the boards of St. Louis Audubon & Audubon Society of Missouri and is on a bird banding team.

  Other trips with Pat Lueders

  • Texas Coast & Big Thicket
    April 14 - 22, 2023
  • Southeast Arizona
    May 2 - 11, 2023
  • Oregon's Malheur NWR & Woodpecker Wonderland
    May 17 - 26, 2023
  • Arizona Monsoon Madness
    Birding & Nature in a Season of Wonder!
    August 2 - 9, 2023
  • Birding New Zealand
    Kiwis, Keas, Kakas & More!
    October 31 - November 16, 2023
  • Christmas Week at the AWNC
    December 20 - 27, 2023, w/Tobago extension
• Kirsten Hines
  

  Kirsten’s love of nature blossomed with early childhood explorations of emerald rainforests, sea star-filled tidepools, and wildflower-strewn mountains in Washington State. This paired with a love for travel when her family translocated to the Philippines where she lived from ages 8-18. Kirsten’s natural history explorations of the world expanded in college, graduate school and beyond as she studied Augur buzzards in Kenya, magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos Islands, poison-dart frogs in Costa Rica, rock iguanas in the Bahamas, kangaroos, bowerbirds, and fairy wrens in Australia, and myriad plants and animals in Florida where she worked as a biologist until a camera tweaked the trajectory of her career. Seven continents and 56 countries later, Kirsten now bases out of Florida and Maryland as a wildlife photographer, writer, speaker, nature guide, photography instructor, and conservationist.
  Kirsten’s writing and photography have appeared in numerous online and print publications, including six of her own books on Florida’s nature and history, starting with the award-winning gardening reference Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens and most recently Everglades National Park. Her upcoming photo-illustrated books include the coffee-table book Wild Florida: The Animals of the Sunshine State and the field guide Birds of Florida. Kirsten’s images have also been featured in photography showcases, public art programs, and in solo and juried group exhibitions. With over 20 years of experience leading nature and photography trips and workshops, Kirsten’s goal is to inspire enthusiasm for the natural world among diverse audiences. She is a founding member of Phoebes Birding, which connects women through nature, member of the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group and North American Nature Photography Association, and a board member of Tropical Audubon Society and Audubon Florida.
  

  Other trips with Kirsten Hines

  • Photography Seminar
    Oregon's Woodpecker Wonderland
    June 7 - 12, 2023
  • Seeking the Tropics
    A South Florida Wildlife Photography Workshop
    November 29 - December 5, 2023
  • Seeking the Tropics
    A South Florida Wildlife Photography Workshop
    December 7 - 13, 2023