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
Yellow-green Vireo
Vireo flavoviridis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Neotropic Cormorant
Roseate Spoonbill
Tricolored Heron
Western Cattle-Egret
Great Egret
Broad-winged Hawk
White-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Eurasian Collared-Dove
White-winged Dove
Chimney Swift
Black Vulture
Purple Martin
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Carolina Wren
Northern Mockingbird
Orchard Oriole
Common Grackle
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 →