Busy-Birding

04/11/2026

An annual migrant - one of the last to arrive and breed - at Lost Maples State Natural Area.

-- Acadian Flycatcher is often heard before it is seen with its famous call that sounds like, "ker-ship!" This rare visitor doesn't show up often, have you ever caught a glimpse?

04/10/2026

What a long journey it's been for this Monarch seen at Lost Maples yesterday. Found 43 bird species including the recently arrived Ruby-Throated Hummers, Yellow-breasted Chats and Black-capped Vireos. A Northern Harrier was seen flying high above the East Ridge as well. Always great finds!

04/06/2026

This Black-throated Sparrow gives a big SHOUT-OUT to the BEST bird blinds in Texas. Enjoy close looks at great birds at South Llano River State Park in Junction TX.

An ideal destination for those starting out birding, bird photography or testing out new camera equipment or settings. All the credit goes to the wonderfully knowledgable and friendly volunteers who keep the blinds stocked year-round!

We love it there and are happy to share to best places for the recently arrived Black-capped Vireos, Golden-Cheeked Warblers and more!

https://busy-birding.com/trip-reports -llano-river-sp-junction-tx

04/02/2026

White-tailed Hawk : more common near the coast but this is one of a pair that soared directly above us in Uvalde.

Book a Target 100 Challenge tour and see what you can find.

https://busy-birding.com/target-100-challenge

04/02/2026

Another returning species : Yellow-crowned Night Herons have set up their annual rookery on the Guadalupe River. Plus beautiful blooms at Riverside Nature Center Association. This is what makes spring so GREAT !

03/26/2026

Got Golden Cheeks?

Found this beauty at Lost Maples SNA today on our guided walk !

03/23/2026

Where in Bandera County is this?

We've been busy leading Spring Migration tours in this premiere birding spot of the WORLD. Join one of our back-to-back tours at this location combined with an secret nearby gem (shhh! don't let the secret out about Uvalde....ooopps!). As spring migrants fly in, our 2-day Hill Country/Uvalde trips are rapidly approaching 80 species.

Check out our trip reports at www.Busy-Birding.com

03/16/2026

64 species in one day; Uvalde birding is always a win!
With the first of the spring migrants just starting to arrive, it only gets better with time. Book YOUR tour with us now!

For past trip reports, trip details and more : www.Busy-Birding.com

03/14/2026

Try our 3 Pop Quizzes : How did you do?

After all, just because it's Spring Break doesn't mean you can't discover and learn new things. To encourage a life-long role as Citizen Scientist, we even assigned "homework" to ID all Spring Break vultures : Black or Turkey Vulture ?

We were proud to be a part of Bandera's Frontier Times Museum Spring Break WILD AMERICA! Ready to unleash your wild side? Explore the captivating world of birds with Laura Levy from Busy Birding, meet Texas native animals with Becky Etzler from the Kerrville Nature Center, and discover the majesty of Texas trees and plants with David Goree from San Antonio Parks & Recreation. But wait—there's MORE! Don’t miss the 45-minute show by Happy Tails , featuring porcupines, cavies, pythons, boas, alpacas, and even foxes! With tons of activities and crafts, this day will be an absolute blast for kids of all ages!

Don’t let this epic spring break celebration pass you by! Dive into a week where history, culture, and community collide in spectacular fashion! Let’s create unforgettable memories and honor the incredible journey of America together!

03/13/2026

They're Back! 2 Golden-Cheeked Warblers on our Lost Maples SNA nature tour yesterday. 35 species total including Eastern Screech Owls (heard in 2 separate locations), Ash-Throated Flycatcher, White Tipped Dove, and a Red-Tailed Hawk carrying a big stick presumably for nesting.

Also saw tiny 2 claret cup cactus each with two perfect red early blooms.

First Day of Spring is March 20th....but birds don't read calendars. Spring Migration is under way!

03/03/2026

Uvalde County, right next door to Bandera County, offers EXCELLENT birding! Combined, these 2 areas make a 100+ species in a day...or more comfortably in 2 days ... a great goal.

Mark your calendar to join us for our TARGET 100 CHALLENGE, scheduled for the May 10-11 in celebration of Global Big Day. Details to follow soon!

Meanwhile, enjoy a few highlights from our latest trip!

03/01/2026

Spring has SPRUNG!

FOS (first-of-season) hummer in Concan, TX on 2/28
FOS (first-of-season) hummer in Medina, TX on 3/1
Mountain Laurels blooming in Medina, TX on 3/1
Can you smell its Grape Koolaid scent from your screen?
.. and it'll only get better as more birds migrate in along with butterflies, dragonflies etc attracted to the waves of blooming wildflowers :>