Birding and Beers

There’s a reason the Lower Rio Grande Valley of far southern Texas is considered one of the country’s premier birding destinations. This remarkable region, where several major biomes converge and over 500 bird species have been recorded, is home to dozens of vibrant regional specialties found nowhere else north of the U.S.–Mexico border. We’re talking about icons like the plain chachalaca, buff-bellied hummingbird, great kiskadee, and green jay.

This four-day trip celebrates the Valley’s incredible birdlife while also sampling its growing craft beer scene. In addition to tropical residents and rare vagrants, the region boasts a surprising number of microbreweries, each offering its own lineup—from crisp lagers and hoppy ales to rich porters and smooth stouts.

Scheduled for early February, the trip offers a relaxed pace as we explore renowned birding hotspots such as Estero Llano Grande, Bentsen-Rio Grande, and Santa Ana, along with a handpicked selection of local breweries. Accommodations are at the historic Alamo Inn B&B, featured in the Netflix documentary Birders.

This is a trip for those who love birds, enjoy good beer, and appreciate great company. We’ll take our time, savor the sights and sounds of the Valley, raise a glass or two, and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from shared passions. Join Reefs to Rockies for a special Birding & Beers experience in South Texas!

Some people regard Nebraska as flyover country – a state to be missed as you move from one coast to the other. We wholeheartedly disagree.

Every March, Nebraska becomes home to one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in North America. More than half a million Sandhill Cranes, the world’s largest congregation of cranes, converges on the Platte River Valley in Nebraska. Joining the Sandhill Cranes are another 20 million birds – waterfowl, shorebirds, and the endangered Whooping Crane. They stop to rest and refuel in the adjacent Rainwater Basin before continuing further north to their summer breeding grounds. So many birds are here during spring migration that vast expanses of open sky are filled with sounds of flapping wings and a chorus of calls.

At the same time, male Greater Prairie-Chickens gather at ancient breeding grounds and compete for the chance to mate in Nebraska’s prairie grasslands. Their raucous displays include stomping, booming, whooping, and sparring. With exposed tail coverts and balloon-like air sacs flashing orange and yellow, few performances in the bird world are more memorable than this dawn dance of chickens.

We’ll spend three days exploring Nebraska’s wildlife hotspots. We have strategically selected areas away from crowds so that we have the time and space to truly enjoy these wildlife spectacles in true Reefs to Rockies style. We’ll travel in a custom American safari van with a conversion pop-top and spacious seating. This is not the traditional passenger van you may have traveled in on past trips. This one-of-a-kind vehicle has been specially designed by two wildlife biologists to allow for optimal viewing. It makes a perfect ‘blind’ and there’s ample room for everyone to view at the same time. Get ready for Spring Magic in Nebraska!

The western edge of the Black Hills often goes overlooked, and that’s exactly why we love it. Far from the crowds, this quiet corner of northeastern Wyoming offers some of the best prairie and sagebrush birding in the region, with rolling grasslands, big skies, and abundant wildlife. This is our favorite stretch of the Black Hills—not the pine forests and tourist towns most people picture, but wide-open spaces where ferruginous hawks soar, lark buntings dance, and pronghorn roam with young at their heels.

Join Reefs to Rockies for a 4-day safari-style adventure through the sagebrush-steppe, grasslands, and forests of northeastern Wyoming and southwestern South Dakota. Our focus is on immersive birding experiences in places few others go. You’ll have the chance to see a variety of grassland specialists—from longspurs and curlews to shrikes, sparrows, and possibly sage-grouse—along with forest species associated with the region’s ponderosa pine woodlands. We’ll also venture into South Dakota in search of one of North America’s most iconic mammals: a free-roaming herd of bison, one of the largest in the world.

And yes, there will be beers. This trip is part of our popular Birding & Beers series, so we’ve built in time to sample a few local craft brews, including a visit to a Newcastle tavern that keeps a rotating lineup of Wyoming beers on tap.

We’ll travel in comfort and style in the Roaming Bison, a custom-built American safari van complete with a pop-top roof and spacious seating. Designed by two wildlife biologists, this one-of-a-kind vehicle offers 360-degree views and functions as a perfect mobile blind—ideal for birding on the move, with plenty of space for everyone to observe without crowding.

Whether you’re chasing lifers, soaking in prairie sunsets, or toasting the day’s sightings with a pint in hand, this trip promises wide-open skies, great birds, wild herds, and good company—all off the beaten path.