Birding and Beers

Join us for a morning at Bluff Lake Nature Center in Denver, a fantastic spot to explore a variety of habitats and enjoy some fall birding. The trails are unpaved gravel, and we’ll plan to walk about 1.5 miles at a relaxed pace. Migrants are still moving through, so we’ll have a chance to see a mix of warblers, sparrows, and other songbirds, along with resident rails, herons, and kingfishers.

We’ll meet at the Havana Pedestrian Entrance at Florence Way and Havana Street, near the west end of the lake, at 8 AM.

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!