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Nature Trip Blog
Category Archives: Trip Reports
“Living the Lifers” in South Texas: April 2016
Our annual 10 day adventure to South Texas is timed to blend the Gulf of Mexico spring migration phenomenon with excursions through the distinctive sub-tropical habitats of the Rio Grande Valley to observe unique wildlife, especially the avifauna that exists no where else in the U.S.
Birds such as the stunning Green Jay, the plucky Altamira Oriole, the secretive Olive Sparrow and over 25 other specialties are possible. The Rio Grande Valley, with its wonderful variety of habitats, is the only place many of these birds can be seen in the U.S.
In April 2016 we experienced some of the best diversity we’ve had in years on “A South Texas Adventure” detecting 232 species of birds including 26 neo-tropical warbler species. A slightly earlier than typical start to the tour allowed us to find 30 shorebird species We also enjoyed many, many butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and mammals and relatively robust bloom as the 10 year drought has subsided in South Texas.
Click here for the Trip Report of “A South Texas Adventure April 2016”
Click here for the April 9-18, 2017 tour details
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Altamira Orioles add color to A South Texas Adventure
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- Altamira Orioles add color to A South Texas Adventure
Birding Formosa – October 2015 Trip Report
Spectacular Taiwan from sea level to 10,000+ feet above Guided by Richard Chen (birding@taiwan), Eddie Bartley & Noreen Weeden On this ten day birding adventure with a focus on the 20 plus endemic bird species we explored the exotic and bountiful natural beauty of Taiwan from city parks and lowland marshes through marble gorges to…… Continue Reading
GGAS member post on “A South Texas Adventure” 2015 Nature Trip
Trip participants on “A South Texas Adventure” (April 2015) Nature Trip post a blog on the Golden Gate Audubon Society web site. Click here to read all about it: A South Texas Adventure 2015 GGAS Blog… Continue Reading
A summer week in the Sierra Valley: “the weirdest drought”
Noreen and I have been joining Bob Lewis and Rusty Scalf each June to lead GGAS “Birds of the Sierra” classes so long we cant really remember when the first one was and it is always one of the highlights of our year. The places we visit in Sierra and Plumas counties are some of…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: Jinshan and the visitor from Siberia
This evening we would end up in a downtown Taipei hotel but first Stone and Richard had a special treat in mind. We headed to the north coast to the fishing village (a small city, really) of Jinshan noted for its Qing-era architecture. It was near noon when we arrived in the bustling village center…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: Babbling about Wulai
This afternoon was spent traversing north to Wulai, a popular hot springs resort town and another great place for birds. Upon arrival we took a brief walk from our guest house and quickly added a number of good birds to our trip list: Plain Flowerpecker, Bronzed Drongo and very colorful Varied Tits. Other species present…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: Serpent Eagles rule!
Crested Serpent Eagles (Spilornis cheela) are the most conspicuous of raptors seen on the island. Throughout the mountains from low to high we often heard and regularly saw this mostly dark broad-winged eagle catching a thermal or deeply flapping. Today we had time for a visit to the Xindian–Guanhsin Wetland area, one of the primary drinking…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: getting the 411, birding the Lowlands
Ah, the benefits of modern communications. On or about December 16, 2014 a critically endangered according the the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN), Siberian Crane showed up seemingly out of nowhere in a northern Taiwan wetland, the island’s first ever record of this species. Our guides (who had seen the juvenile bird numerous…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: flying monkeys and other mammalian curiosities
Early spring in the mountainous reaches of Taiwan where we spent much of our time on this trip, is still a bit too cool for many reptiles and butterflies. We were surprisingly lucky with mammals sightings: all three tree squirrels and wonderful looks at flying monkeys…err, one of three flying squirrel species on the…… Continue Reading
Taiwan Recon: tale of the Pheasant trail
Our very knowledgeable guides brought us much good fortune, at times extraordinarily so. We spent a fair amount of time waiting and wishing for a glimpse or longer of three endemic ground birds: The Taiwan Hill Partridge, Mikado and Swinhoe’s Pheasants to magically appear out of the forests. There are a few well known locations along…… Continue Reading