Dates: April 24-27, 2026

Leaders: Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis

E-bird

Total Species: 140 birds

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Overall Summary

For those who wanted to expand their opportunities to see migrants beyond the 50th Anniversary Celebration, we offered this short coastal extension. Our first stop was in some drying rice fields along Fairview Road where a growing flock of Buff-breasted Sandpipers had been accumulating over recent days. We counted a remarkable 320 birds there, some of which were performing their courtship wing flash displays! Moving on to the coast, a stop at Bob Road produced an abundance of Seaside Sparrows, many offering close views, and we also saw multiple flocks of Dickcissels passing by. A visit to Bolivar Flats offered some fabulous shorebird studies. First, the pools along Rettilon Road harbored side-by-side dowitchers, yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpiper, and both Eastern and Western subspecies of Willet. Also, close comparisons of Least, Semipalmated, and Pectoral sandpipers. Out on the beach, highlights included Piping and Snowy plovers, and six species of terns. We also found a pool that was a classroom in heron feeding behavior: Reddish and Snowy egrets and Tricolored Heron, all feeding actively chasing fish; and Great Egret and Little Blue Heron being more stoic with a sit-and-wait feeding style.

The next morning, we explored East End Lagoon and East Beach in Galveston. Here, we had additional excellent shorebird studies, including good looks at the animated feeding style of Wilson’s Plover. Out on the beach, a real highlight was driving right up to a roosting flock of terns including Royal, Sandwich, Common, and Forster’s, as well as Black Skimmers. A few Magnificent Frigatebirds in the area were also fun to see. At Galveston Island State Park, we enjoyed a displaying pair of White-tailed Kites, and some migrating raptors including Broad-winged and Red-tailed hawks, both uncommon on the barrier island. We paid our respects to the Eskimo Curlew statue, commemorating the last documented sighting of the species back in 1962. A nearby grove of trees harbored a number of passerines including Baltimore and Orchard orioles, Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee and Yellow warblers, and two spectacular Painted Buntings. At Settegast Road, we stumbled upon a mini-fallout of Blue Grosbeaks (20) along with multiple Eastern Kingbirds and a single Western Kingbird.

We began our final morning on the Galveston waterfront, where a Burrowing Owl had taken up residence. We then headed to the marshes around Port Bolivar. Here, with a little patience, we had good views of Nelson’s Sparrow, a Mottled Duck with chicks, and incredible views of a Clapper Rail with chicks. At Fort Travis, we watched Cliff Swallows at their nests and had nice comparisons of Long-billed Curlew alongside Hudsonian Whimbrel. Before departing the coast, we made one last stop at Boy Scout Woods, where we enjoyed a perched Common Nighthawk, and found a few songbird migrants including Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s thrushes. On the way back to Houston, we made a stop at Sheldon Lake State Park where a small population of Limpkins has become establishes. Their loud calls echoed through the swamp, and one came into view nicely for us.

Day-by-Day Summary

April 24 - 7:30 am meeting in the lobby of the MCM Elegante Hotel in Beaumont; Fairview Road rice fields; High Island (Boy Scout Woods); Bob Road; Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary; Fort Travis Seashore Park; night at Hampton Inn & Suites, Galveston.

April 25 - East End Nature Preserve and East Beach; Galveston Island State Park; Settegast Road; night at Hampton Inn & Suites, Galveston.

April 26 - Galveston waterfront; Port Bolivar; Fort Travis Seashore Park; High Island (Boy Scout Woods); Sheldon Lake State Park; night at North Houston Marriott.

April 27 - Departures from Houston.

Wildlife Seen: 

MAMMALS:

Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Swamp Rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus)

Coyote (Canis latrans)

Heard Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

AMPHIBIANS & REPTILES:

Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)

Heard Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis)

Heard Green Treefrog (Dryophytes cinereus)

Heard Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella)

Heard American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Heard Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

BUTTERFLIES:

Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes)

Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)

Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)

Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)

Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)

Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Queen (Danaus gilippus)

Gallery