Birding Highlights – 2022
Our Birding Highlights 2022 recap features seven new life birds and our top 10 birding moments from across the U.S. and Canada. A year full of surprises.
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February 5, 2023
Santa Ana NWR
Birding South Texas: Chasing the Rare Bat Falcon at Santa Ana NWR
A rare Bat Falcon drew us to Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, leading to long days, early mornings, and an unforgettable sighting at Santa Ana NWR.
April 30, 2022
Aransas Bay
Texas Whooping Cranes and King Ranch – February 2019
A three‑day February getaway to Texas delivered everything we hoped for: a five‑raptor morning at Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR, a Barred Owl surprise at Cibolo, a lively walk at Mitchell Lake, and unforgettable views of 19 Whooping Cranes at Aransas Bay. We wrapped up with a spectacular tour of King Ranch’s Santa Gertrudis Unit, adding Green Jays, Olive Sparrow, Least Grebes, and a finale of Sprague’s Pipits. Trip totals: 116 species, 44 year birds, and one lifer.
April 7, 2019
Big Year Reflection: The Journey to 500
Our 2015 Little Big Year pushed us across deserts, mountains, coastlines, and countless miles of weekend travel. Along the way we met incredible guides, discovered unforgettable places, and learned just how much you can accomplish with planning, persistence, and a love for birds. We ended the year with 519 species—and a lifetime of memories.
January 13, 2017
On the border
November 06 – Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
Our third Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival delivered excellent birding across South Texas, from Sabal Palm Sanctuary and Estero Llano Grande to King Ranch and Harlingen’s evening parrot roosts. A welcoming community, expert guides, and incredible species diversity make this festival unforgettable.
November 12, 2016
April 8 – From California to the Texas Coast
A spring migration trip to California followed by a spontaneous dash to Texas added 16 year birds and moved our 2015 list from 176 to 192 by April 11. These back‑to‑back trips marked the moment our Little Big Year truly began to take shape.
April 8, 2016