Birding the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas (Lifer Quest)

The Rio Grande Valley in South Texas is one of the top birding destinations in the United States. Join Ryan and Derek from Badgerland Birding on their first full day in the valley trying to find as many life birds as they can. This is a vlog style video includes clips from other videos and shows an entire day rather than focusing on one particular location or bird.

Video filmed in February, 2023

Gear Links (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases)

Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description

Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod

Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod

Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera

Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300

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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

Photo at 9:13, 10:38, and 10:51 by Alan Schmeirer

Birds in cover image are all public domain and edited by Alan Schmierer

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[Chris.Bentley.Wildlife]

The rio grande valley is incredible! Great video!

[thetakitoes]

It's so fun and interesting to hear birds described as lifers that are everyday backyard birds for me. I guess we're just blessed down here. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!

[fsocs]

What a great day! I'm looking forward to the next trip. 🐦🐧🦜🦤

[rayettajones]

NEVER disappointed in the videos you share.

(Thank you again for showing us birds that some of us will never be able to see.)

[kevinreichenbach]

I finally get to get down to RGV for the birding festival this year. Thanks for the video boys. This is the best plce to be for the fall migration 👍👍

[B_Machine]

I live in South Texas and travel hundreds of miles a week up thowards central/eastern Texas. Almost every time I make a drive, no joke, I see little birds flying at larger birds and pecking at them. I've even seen one land on the back of one and ride while pecking it. The little birds in the area are brave as heck.

[GreatGray]

The LRGV is great!
Thanks for the video!

[BOSS-jiqh]

Love your videos! They're always good. I'm always looking forward to your next videos.

[augthedog]

Love your videos! I can't wait for the next one.

[RoseGrace]

Cool white tail hawk. I’ll finally get down there in February. Thanks you guys for another great video.

[roygbiv]

I dont know if you noticed or not, the HAHA at 4:49 was ringed on both legs.

[whobble]

I live here and have seen some of these birds out of my apartment window. I've always known that this area is special for birding but haven't gotten into the hobby. This video is some motivation for me. Thank you.

[Florafauneando]

Very interesting place to do birdwatching. I found some species common in South America where I live, as the Great Kiskadee, a very common and widespread bird here. other common are Burrowing owl, Crested caracara, Turkey vulture and Harris's hawk

[NathanWebb-ch]

That was an interesting white-tailed hawk. My favorite hawk is the zone-tailed hawk.

[birdwatcher-ih]

Great birds. Thank you for your videos. We appreciate the information. On an earlier video, you showed that bird guide in CA that you hired. When we return there for another bird trip we are going to hire her to guide us to pick up some more lifers.

[carolshannon]

What a great video! That is definitely a place at which I'd love to go birding.

[nealroberson]

Very nice !! Hope to make it there one day !!! Keep the show coming 👊👊

[BeastOfTraal]

I just spent last week in South Texas had 71 species 23 lifers. I had 1 day with 13 lifers.

[naturephotographychallenge]

Great list of new birds to see! That Sanctuary looked really interesting! Lots to see & well organised. I'd love to see a Burrowing Owl (we don't have them in Australia). I know that frustration of getting a one second glimpse of the bird that you want to see. We had that problem just last weekend searching for a Painted Honeyeater. Saw it for 2 seconds & ended up with one blurry photo 🤣

[Beryllahawk]

Gorgeous area and great birds! I admit I would ALWAYS take the drive over a flight, partly because I despise airports (for many reasons) but also because driving through Texas is just chock full of great stuff. And I say this after having not been in the state for decades, but I have so many fond memories of driving all over western and central Texas to visit family in the summers when I was a kid - that kind of thing really stays with you, you know?
Point of fact had been discussing with a friend that lives up in your neck of the woods and telling them that (if we had the resources to do it) I'd be plenty happy to drive up there, and watching this video had me wishing I could jump in my vehicle and go to Texas too, haha! But travel isn't in the cards this year for me. The birds will be there whenever I'm able to go, right! :D