Rio Grande Valley Birding
Last updated: 27th April 2026
Introduction
- One of the best places to bird in the USA, especially for migrants in the spring and fall.
- Carrying mosquito/bug repellent, sunscreen and water is very important.
- The itinerary is quite packed and geared towards birding only, but feel free to modify it.
- During our first trip in April 2026, Hugh Ramsey Park and Resaca de la Palma didn’t have a lot of birds, so we added two more birding spots.
- Details for each spot are below the itinerary.
- If you wish, follow Rare Bird Alerts (from eBird) for Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
- We consciously decided to not do this for our first trip in April 2026.
Past Trips
Legend
- RGV: Rio Grande Valley
- WBC: World Birding Center (a collection of birding sites)
- SP: State Park
- NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
Itinerary
Day 0
- Leave Austin in the evening and reach McAllen at night. (6 hrs)
Day 1
- Drive (20 mins) from McAllen
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (WBC) (3.5 hrs)
- Drive (20 mins)
- Quinta Mazatlan (WBC) (2 hrs)
- Drive + lunch (20 mins + 15 mins for pickup)
- Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center (WBC) (2 hrs)
- Drive (30 mins)
- Santa Ana NWR (3.5 hrs)
- Drive (30 mins)
- Dinner at Ana Liz Taqueria (4-10 PM CT) (1.5 hrs)
- Drive (15 mins)
- Sleep in McAllen
Day 2
- Leave McAllen
- Drive (30 mins)
- Estero Llano Grande State Park (WBC) (3.5 hrs)
- Drive (30 mins)
- Hugh Ramsey Park (Harlingen Arroyo Colorado) (WBC) (1.5 hr)
- Drive + lunch (30 mins + 15 mins for pickup)
- Resaca de la Palma State Park (WBC) (2 hrs)
- Drive (30 mins)
- Sabal Palm Sanctuary (2 hrs) (USA border gate closes at 5 PM CT, so need to leave outermost sanctuary gate by 4:45 PM CT)
- Drive (20 mins)
- Sleep in Brownsville
Day 3
- Leave Brownsville
- Drive (10 mins)
- UTRGV Brownsville (1 hr)
- Drive (1 hr)
- South Padre Island (WBC) (9 hrs)
- Sea Turtle, Inc.
- Beach
- Return to Austin (7 hrs)
Locations
NOTE: Spots are listed in order from West to East.
- Santa Margarita Ranch
- Roma Bluffs WBC
- Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park (WBC)
- Tons of walking. Use park-provided tram to exit park from hawk tower.
- TPWD site
- Spots
- Nearby: National Butterfly Center–General & area North of Levee
- Old Hidalgo Pumphouse (WBC)
- Quinta Mazatlan (WBC)
- Edinburg Scenic Wetlands and World Birding Center (WBC)
- Site
- Edinburg Scenic Wetlands WBC (LTC 061)
- Closes at 6 PM CT
- Santa Ana NWR
- Frontera Audubon Center
- Estero Llano Grande State Park (WBC)
- Hanka Sod (former Superior Turf Farms) / Weaver rd.
- Hugh Ramsey Park (Harlingen Arroyo Colorado) (WBC)
- Resaca de la Palma State Park (WBC)
- (Joe & Tony) Oliveira Park, Brownsville
- UTRGV Brownsville (campus & resacas)
- Sabal Palm Sanctuary
- USA border gate closes at 5 PM CT, so need to leave outermost sanctuary gate by 4:45 PM CT
- Site
- Sabal Palm Sanctuary (LTC 058)
- South Padre Island (WBC)
- Site
- Spots
- Sea Turtle, Inc.
- Closes at 4 PM CT in April
- Beaches
- Lunch
- Blackbeards’ (seafood)
- Señor Donkey (Texan Mexican)
Google Maps
NOTE: The following maps don’t cover all the above spots.