Anahuac Loop Birding Trail
White Memorial Park, located on Turtle Bayou, hosts an impressive selection of eastern woodland birds, Hairy Woodpeckers and Brown-headed Nuthatches are seen infrequently, and Pine, Swainson's, and Hooded warblers nest here as well as in the surrounding forests. Prothonotary Warblers are often seen along Turtle Bayou in the summer. Season: Migrations, Summer
Wallisville Reservoir is an interesting area offering an opportunity to view Anhingas, White Ibis, Little Blue Herons, and Roseate Spoonbills. All Seasons
Anahuac Pumping Station, offers a nature trail along the levee that impounds Lake Anahuac with public parking available at the beginning of the levee and foot traffic allowed during daylight hours. The trail is borderd by woodlands, fresh and brackish marshes, and the open waters of Trinity Bay and Lake Anahuac. All Seasons
Fort Anahuac Park, is a city park bordering Lake Anahuac with trees that should be checked during migrations for landbirds. Season: Migrations
Double Bayou Park, is another small tract that should be inspected for landbirds during migrations. Season: Migrations
Smith Point and James H. Robbins Memorial Park. Smith Point is one of the most isolated and undeveloped coastal peninsulas left along he Texas coast. The marshes and open grasslands along FM 562 are productive throughout the year. Robbins Park, with its observation platform, offers an unobstructed view of Trinity Bay. Look for Magnificent Frigatebirds in summer and fall, both species of pelican, and an assortment of gulls and terns. The oak mottes (isolated stands of trees) along Hawkins Camp Road attract migrant landbirds in spring and fall. Season: All Seasons
Candy Abshier WMA is famous for the daily hawk watches that are conducted here from early August to November. No autumn trip to the Texas coast is complete without joining one of these coastal hawk watches for a day. In addition to the tens of thousands of Mississippi Kites, Broad-winged Hawks, Swainson's Hawks, falcons, and accipiters that are seen annually, unusual species such as Swallow-tailed Kite are often reported from these watches. The oaks in Candy Abshier WMA attract migrant landbirds, and Henslow's Sparrows have wintered in the grassy fields near the observation platform. Season: Migrations (especially Fall), Winter
Anahuac NWR (Main Entrance) is one of the premier waterfowl refuges on the Texas coast. Greater Whitefronted and Snow goose flocks (with a few Ross' mixed in) crowd the marshes and wet fields throughout the winter. During various seasons you can view Empidonax Flycatchers, Least Bitterns, American Bitterns, Marsh Wrens, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Common Moorhens, Purple Gallinules, Shorteared Owls, Sprague's Pipits and all of the regular rails in the U.S. - Clappers, Kings, Virginias, Soras and Yellow rails. Season: All Seasons
Anahuac NWR (East Bayou Tract) offers a 1.5-mile nature trail along the east side of East Bay Bayou. The woods along the bayou offer another excellent opportunity to look for landbirds in migration. In addition, the refuge maintains a series of wet fields for shorebirds near the entrance to this tract. Hudsonian Godwits, Buff-breasted Sandpipers and White-rumped Sandpipers are regularly seen here in spring. Season: Migrations, Winter
For more information about this birding trail, contact the Anahuac Area Chamber of Commerce at 409-267-4190.
Bolivar Loop Birding Trail
TXDOT High Island Roadside Park, is a rest stop that has been landscaped and offers and nature trail and information kiosk with a map of the various Houston Audubon Society High Island sanctuaries. The is a good reference point for finding directions to the other sanctuaries. Before leaving, however, be sure to bird the trees in and around the park. Season: Migrations
HAS Smith Oaks Bird Sanctuary. Spring migration in Smith Oaks is one of the most remarkable wildlife spectacles in the world. Vireos, warblers, tanagers, orioles and buntings swarm these trees as they complete their non-stop journey across the Gulf of Mexico. The heron rookery in Claybottom Pond on the north side of Smith Oaks offers close looks at egrets, herons and spoonbills. Season: Migrations
HAS Eubanks Woods Bird Sanctuary offers an opportunity to see migrants at eye level in the young oaks. Season: Migrations
HAS S.E. Gast Red Bay Sanctuary is perched on the western edge of High Island, and offers both woodland birding and a view of the coastal prairie that surrounds the salt dome. The small willow-lined pond at the entrance to this sanctuary is a wonderful spot to look for migrants. Season: Migrations
HAS Boy Scout Woods Bird Sanctuary. Interesting migrants may show anywhere in these woods; unusual gulls are often seen along the beach and ducks in the pond. Season: Migrations
Rollover Pass. Scaup, mergansers, and occasionally scoters and Oldsquaw are seen in the nearshore waters along this stretch of the coast. At low tide, tens of thousands of shorebirds, gulls and terns will feed and roost here. In addition, the spoil islands in East Bay support significant colonial waterbird rookeries. Season: All Seasons
Yacht Basin Road crosses an interesting coastal marsh. Whimbrels and Long-billed Curlews are often seen on the sand flats in migration, and Clapper Rails, Willets and Seaside Sparrows breed in the cordgrass marsh. Season: All Seasons
HAS Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. Tens of thousands of gulls, terns, and shorebirds feed here at low tide. Several thousand American Avocets spend the winter on the flats, joined by over 100 Piping Plovers. Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows winter in the cordgrass, and Peregrine Falcons frequently stoop on the shorebird flocks out on the flats. Do not miss visiting this site. Season: All Seasons
Fort Travis Seashore Park. Groove-billed Anis have been consistently seen in the thick shrubs around the park entrance. The trees and shrubs at this location may hold migrants that you have otherwise missed along the coast. Season: Migrations
Frenchtown Road offers a look at Oystercatchers during low tide. Season: All Seasons
For More Information About Bolivar Loop, contact the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-386-7863 or visit the Houston Audubon Society Website:
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