Snapshot:
When you bird Below the Dam, you are truly birding on the border! We are excited to be able to share the unique opportunity to bird right along the Rio Grande River on this part of the Amistad National Recreation Area that is closed to the public. Participants will walk a dirt road (about 1.5 miles) birding in both the U.S. and Mexico (with your binoculars only, we will not be crossing into Mexico!). Amistad Reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in Texas and spans the U.S./Mexico border. Fed by the Pecos, Devil, and Rio Grande rivers, the reservoir provides irrigation water for local farmers and ranchers. Over 200 species of birds have been documented at Amistad Reservoir. Due to its proximity to Mexico, there is a chance to catch sight of species whose ranges rarely cross into the U.S.
Trip Date:
Friday, April 28
Departure Time: 6:30 AM
Trip Fee: $145
Guide: Brandon Nooner
Birding Buddy: Barbara Pankratz
Travel and Facilities:
Target Birds:
Morelet’s seedeater, rock wren, canyon wren, olive sparrow, Cassin’s sparrow
Bryan’s Birdy Bulletin
The thick vegetation beneath limestone bluffs along the wide Rio Grande here provide a unique habitat and spectacular scenery on this property that is not easily accessible to the general public. The paths we will be walking here traverse the border between arid Tamaulipan thornscrub and the riparian zone of the river which is dominated by cane, mesquite, and hackberry. Because of the uniqueness of this habitat, its proximity to the border, and how few birders get to visit here, new and exciting discoveries are sure to be made on any visit! I suspect this area could be a good place to find a stray Morelet’s seedeater, white-tipped dove, or something even more exceptional!