6:30 am - 2:00 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

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 and perhaps some early neotropical migrants. Also possible are alligator, deer and Sanbar.

8:00 am - 10:30 am
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Tres Palacios and Coon Island Bays are in the upper reaches of West Matagorda Bay and characterized by shallow, mostly brackish water, oyster reefs and spartina marshes. These shallow bays harbor a host of waterfowl, herons, egrets, grebes, loons, gulls, terns and shorebirds. The marshes are home to the Clapper Rail and Seaside Sparrow, and there is a good chance for American Oystercatchers. This fully guided, 2.5 hour tour is aboard a very stable 21-ft pontoon boat; life jackets provided. 

11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Tres Palacios and Coon Island Bays are in the upper reaches of West Matagorda Bay and characterized by shallow, mostly brackish water, oyster reefs and spartina marshes. These shallow bays harbor a host of waterfowl, herons, egrets, grebes, loons, gulls, terns and shorebirds. The marshes are home to the Clapper Rail and Seaside Sparrow, and there is a good chance for American Oystercatchers. This fully guided, 2.5 hour tour is aboard a very stable 21-ft pontoon boat; life jackets provided. 

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Tres Palacios and Coon Island Bays are in the upper reaches of West Matagorda Bay and characterized by shallow, mostly brackish water, oyster reefs and spartina marshes. These shallow bays harbor a host of waterfowl, herons, egrets, grebes, loons, gulls, terns and shorebirds. The marshes are home to the Clapper Rail and Seaside Sparrow, and there is a good chance for American Oystercatchers. This fully guided, 2.5 hour tour is aboard a very stable 21-ft pontoon boat; life jackets provided. 

7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

The 7,063-acre Clive Runnells Mad Island Marsh Preserve was part of an expansive coastal wetlands and upland prairie system which, 60 years ago, stretched nearly unbroken along the mid- and upper-Texas Gulf Coast. Today, the Preserve includes brackish and fresh water wetlands, coastal prairie, ag fields and some thorn scrub along the ICW. Birds that are expected on this trip are ducks, cranes, waders, rails, shorebirds, wrens, raptors and sparrows. We might also see an Alligator.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Matagorda Marina at 189 CR 255

Dog 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.

7:00 am - 9:30 am
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Join us for some fun and relaxing birding right in Palacios. The Palacios Marine Ag Research site offers wetlands, thorn scrub and views of the bay. Who knows what we’ll find. The Trull Marsh and Palacios Prairie Wetland host sparrows, Clapper Rail, waders and various shorebirds. The Palacios Port and Bay front should have lingering ducks, loons, pelicans, shorebirds, gulls, terns and Purple Martins. And we might be fortunate enough to spot the resident Monk Parakeets!

6:30 am to 10:00 am
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Oyster Lake is a shallow, brackish lake that lies just north of the IntraCoastal Waterway on the east side of West Matagorda Bay. Here, there are salt marshes, a large saline flat and views of both Matagorda Bay and Oyster Lake. Birds that are expected on this trip are ducks, cranes, waders, gulls and terns, shorebirds and a chance for raptors and passerines along Oyster Lake Road. Who knows, a Clapper Rail or Seaside Sparrow might even treat us to a rare look.

6:30 am to 10:00 am
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

The 'Western Roads' are anchored by W STP Road that runs along the western boundary of the South Texas Project (STP) nuclear plant and by S Citrus Road that runs beside wetlands and a turf farm. These quiet, largely gravels roads contain a nice mix of hedge row, fish farm, ag, turf farm and wetland habitats. This is ‘car birding’ at its finest. Birds that are expected on this trip are ducks, waders, shorebirds, pipits, passerines and raptors with a good chance for Bald Eagle.

6:30 am to 10:00 am
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

The Matagorda County Birding Nature Center (MCBNC) covers 34 beautiful acres along the Colorado River in Bay City. It has six botanical gardens and three major eco-systems dominated by the riparian corridor along the river.  This habitat variety provides refuge for a wide variety of birds from Pileated Woodpeckers, to Barred Owls to nesting Bald Eagles. Passerines migrating up the river corridor provides lots f excitement for visiting birders. Neighboring Le Tulle Park has lots of mature Live Oaks that provide an additional opportunity for resident and migrating passerines.

7:00 am - 12:00 pm
Meet at Matagorda Marina at 189 CR 255

Dog 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.

6:30 am to 2:00 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

The 7,063-acre Clive Runnells Mad Island Marsh Preserve was part of an expansive coastal wetlands and upland prairie system which, 60 years ago, stretched nearly unbroken along the mid- and upper-Texas Gulf Coast. Today, the Preserve includes brackish and fresh water wetlands, coastal prairie, ag fields and some thorn scrub along the ICW. Birds that are expected on this trip are ducks, cranes, waders, rails, shorebirds, wrens, raptors and sparrows. We might also see an Alligator.

6:30 am to 2:00 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

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 and perhaps some early neotropical migrants. Also possible are alligator, deer and Sanbar.

6:30 am to 12:00 pm
Meet at The Point, 608 1st St., Palacios, TX

Jackson County, like many coastal counties, has quite 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, passerines and other interesting birds in late March. This stop will involve some light walking on flat ground. The next is the east shore of Carancahua Bay, including a large fish farm that attracts lots of gulls, terns, shorebirds. We might also have a chance for thorn scrub birds like Long-billed Thrasher.