High Island
Texas · Southeast
Easy
April-May
$10 per person daily; $35 annual pass
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
High Island is a legendary spring migration hotspot on the upper Texas coast where exhausted trans-Gulf migrants make landfall. During fallout conditions following cold fronts, the oak mottes at Boy Scout Woods and Smith Oaks can drip with colorful warblers, tanagers, and buntings.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Fish Crow
Corvus ossifragus
Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Eurasian Collared-Dove
White-winged Dove
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Killdeer
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Blue Jay
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
House Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
Northern Cardinal
Birding Tips
- 1
Fallouts occur when north winds meet trans-Gulf migrants in April
- 2
Visit Smith Oaks rookery for nesting Roseate Spoonbills and herons
- 3
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 4
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
- 5
Check the tide schedule — shorebirds are most active during falling and low tides
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Anahuac NWR
- Bolivar Flats
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Texas Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Texas →