Songbird- Birds of the Hill Country Saturday April 25, 2026
Description
Birds of the Hill Country with Shelia Hargis and Cheryl McGrath
Balcones Songbird Tours offer expertly guided, intimate access to the refuge and serve as one of our largest annual fundraisers. All proceeds directly support refuge management and conservation efforts.
This tour will show off the gorgeous birds and the gorgeous scenery of the Texas Hill Country. The focus will be on those species that breed on the refuge such as Ash-throated Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Black-capped Vireo, Lesser Goldfinch, Grasshopper Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel, and others. We might also get lucky and see and/or hear Golden-cheeked Warblers. In addition to identifying the birds, we'll pay attention to their behavior to see if we can detect breeding activity. And, if we encounter any migrating birds, we'll look at them too!
We'll visit one, possibly two, tracts of Balcones Canyonlands NWR that aren't open to the public. We will meet at Doeskin Ranch and carpool from there. We will walk for most of the morning, sometimes on dirt roads and sometimes across grassland areas. Walking will be on uneven, rocky ground at times.
Space is limited, so register soon to secure your spot.
Time: 7:00AM - 12:00PM
Meeting Location: Doeskin Ranch Trailhead at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge - 10645 Farm to Market Rd 1174, Bertram, TX 78605
Note: Attendees will meet at Doeskin and carpool to specifc birding area on th refuge not normally open to the public. Restrooms are located at Doeskin meeting location. Please take note, Doeskin meeting location is different than Headquarters location that other tours are meeting at. This location will ensure you are birding early!