Birding in and around Houston (1 Viewer)

[Jynx]

I am coming to Houston (staying there) for what is essentially a family trip in the first week of April. I may have one or two days free. Can anybody point me to info on birding in the city and maybe a bird guide that they can recommend for a day or two out. Thanks in advance.

 

[BeesWing]

Brazos Bend State Park, Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges, and Bolivar Flats & High Island would be the first things to look at. Brazos Bend would be the best place to bring the family, Bolivar Flats & High Island would be best for birds, though are lacking in scenery and are likely to be very crowded. Houston Audubon Society site will give you info about where to go in the city. Try reading TEXBIRDS listserver for info on what's going on rare bird wise. If you are on the west side, Google Katy Prairie Conservancy for excellent birding locations.

San Bernard NWR, Katy Prairie and Brazos Bend SP are least affected by last year's hurricane.

You are lucky to be coming at such a good time!

New TEXBIRDS server, to avoid confusion:
http://lists.texbirds.org/texbirds.html

 

[Jynx]

Many thanks BW. Some good entry point info :t:

 

[Steve Gross]

The American Birding Association's "A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast" by Weeks and Cooksey is a great resource.

You picked a great time to visit Houston. Migration will be in full swing.

If you have species you'd specifically like to see, please let me know and I'll make location suggestions.

 

[DDolan1075]

Hey Jynx. I just got back from these locations, and I think you will enjoy them. I actually posted 7 posts on my trip with lots of pictures if you are interested. I am actually thinking of going back either tomorrow or monday, either that or I will go to the vicinity of High Island. High Island got the brunt of Hurricane Ike and the fresh water areas got flooded with saltwater from the tidal surge killing a lot of the plants and wildlife that survive on that water.

http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/DDola...nal+Wildlife+Refuge++Day+1+(Part+1+of+7).html

Here is a list of the entries. Remember that blogs post most recent first so go to the above location and page forward.

Summary of trip to Brazoria county and Hornsby Bend (Part 7 of 7)
- Valentines Day at Hornsby Bend (Part 6 of 7)
- Friday the 13th (Day 3) GABC and Hornsby Bend (Part 5 of 7)
- Day 2 Brazos Bend (Part 4 of 7)
- Day 2 San Bernard (Part 3 of 7)
- Day 2 Brazoria (Part 2 of 7)
- Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge Day 1 (Part 1 of 7)


I am not familiar with any guides but there are some strong birders who might be willing to take you out. Just ask. As a new birder, myself, I probably wouldn't be a good option. I would do a seperate post with that question specifically. Good luck

 

[Jynx]

Many thanks DD

 

[DDolan1075]

Hey Jynx,

I went to Brazos Bend and San Bernard yesterday. The ducks numbers are way down. There were no geese. I had much better success with San Bernard than with Brazos Bend in terms of passerines. I will post another entry into my blog (hopefully without the mistakes this time) soon, but I am exhausted. I spent the whole day yesterday from before sunup until after sundown walking and my feet are killing me. I did spend about two hours in the middle of that in my car driving between locations and doing a quick trip around the lakes at San Bernard.

Highlights of the day included the large number of common yellowthroats, increased number/activity of Barred Owls (only saw one but heard about 6), seeing just about all of the different types of Egrets and Herons in one day. There was one part of the trip that was really interesting. I saw a Hooded Warbler that was sticking around for pictures for a significant amount of time.

I saw the back end of a Kingfisher that seemed unusual to me. I thought that it looked larger and its call seemed different. As it was flying away from me I could not get a look at the front of it and I could not get pictures of it either. I was unfamiliar with the differences, but I suspect that it could be a Ringed Kingfisher, but I don't think that they are seen there. I will have to do some research on that one.

If I were you, I would probably spend my time at the Brazoria and Brazos Bend location when you come.

 

[Jynx]

All very useful info thanks. We will be staying in downtown Houston at the Hyett. Nearby are Sam Houston and Sabine Parks in walking distance. These could be good for migrants I suppose. Never having visited before are there any safety issues in this area, beyond normal sensible precautions?

 

[BeesWing]

I used to ride my bike in Sam Houston park a lot, it was usually fairly quiet on weekend mornings. Weekdays, there will be lots of joggers out. Downtown Houston has a much nicer feel to it than a few years ago. Many more people on the streets now that there are so many condos close in to town. We still have our fair share of homeless people, but with a mix of people around you should feel safe on the streets.

If you do go to Brazos Bend State park, try to get there early (it opens at 7 on weekends) and park in the lot to your left, just past the gate where you pay the fee. Walk around 40 Acre Lake and you should see most local waders plus rails. If you continue straight on the trail past the observation tower, you will go through a wooded area that should be good for warblers and vireos and woodpeckers. You can continue to loop around Elm Lake before returning. Scan Elm Lake for Vermilion Flycatchers. As the day warms up, you will see alligators. You should see lots of hawks. It’s a very birdy park most of the time.

ETA: You can find a list of current bird sightings here: http://www.brazosbend.org/

 

[JeffMoh]

Lots of choices

A lot depends on whether you're going to have your family with you while birding. If so, Brazos Bend State Park is your best bet. It's at most a 45-minute drive from downtown, there are plenty of big birds (e.g., herons, egrets, anhingas, whistling ducks) that kids can enjoy, plus lots of alligators in April. It's okay but not great for other birds. Walk around 40 Acre Lake and then park again at Elm Lake and walk around that. The swampy areas beside the trails are very different landscape from anything you get in the UK. There's a small nature center with snakes in cages, soft drinks and sweets.

San Bernard NWR is 30-40 minutes further away but is much better for a range of birds. It's mainly an auto-tour with stops plus one nice boardwalk through a swampy area. It's not so much fun for nonbirders.

If you're on your own, a good trip would be a loop. Start with a 90-minute drive to High Island for migrants. (Skip Anahuac NWR because of damage by Huiiricane Ike.) Continue 30 minutes to Bolivar Beach for seaside birds; stop along the way at Rollover Pass for more seaside birds. Take the free ferry to Galveston and then drive west off the island to spend the afternoon at Brazoria NWR or San Bernard NWR or Brazos Bend State Park. It's a lot of driving but you'll see a lot of birds.

I've never heard of crime-related safety being an issue for birders in our area, though I guess it could be in certain areas of Houston itself. The driving is easy, except in rush hours on weekdays. Mosquitoes will be getting active so a strong repellent is advisable - 20% plus of DEET. You also need to watch where you put your feet: snakes shouldn't be much of an issue in April but fire ants and chiggers are very nasty.

BTW, I've seen other Brits encouraging their kids to go right up to alligators on paths at e.g., Brazos Bend. (Like those idiots who used to get out to picnic in the lion enclosure at Windsor Safari Park.) Not a good idea! The alligators are not tame.

If you look through my blog (www.jeffincypress.blogspot.com), you'll see photos and reports from the places I've mentioned.

Jeff

 

[Jynx]

Hi Jeff
many thanks for all the useful information. The "kids" are not an issue. The reason we are there is a 21st Birthday present for my son (and girlfriend) Wrestlemania 25. There you I said it, my friends don't believe it either, but its a fact so I will be able to get away birding on a couple of days.
I would really like to find a guide (not very confident on the wrong side of the road in the city) and I quite fancy the Attwater Prairie Chicken reserve. My U.S. list is up around 270 having visited FLA (3 times) AZ and CA, so I have seen all the big herons and stuff like that.

 

[HelenB]

I've been to both San Bernard NWR and Brazos Bend SP several times in the last 3 months, but not Brazoria NWR. I would second Brazos Bend as one of the best local hotspots for Houston visitors, and if you haven't already had a look at the Texas birding locations in the Opus section on BirdForum check them out via the URL links below.

I have been busy updating these pages recently, with more photographs and information, so have a look:

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brazos_Bend_State_Park

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/San_Bernard_National_Wildlife_Refuge

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brazoria_National_Wildlife_Refuge


For birding within the city of Houston, there are a couple of sanctuaries, which could be good. Check them out on the Houston Audubon website: http://www.houstonaudubon.org/index.cfm/CFID/26435137/CFTOKEN/2971240/MenuItemID/123.htm

Just saw you mention the Attwater Prairie Chicken reserve - if you actually mean the National Wildlife Refuge, it is very dry due to our ongoing drought and not very birdy - also, it's not possible to see the Prairie Chickens unless you get on a private field trip. Check out the Opus page for recent photos:
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Attwater_NWR

Here's the website for the the Nature Conservancy's Preserve in Texas City, where there might be a better chance of seeing the chickens:
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/texas/preserves/texascity.html

Hope this info is of some help.....

 

[HelenB]

Having re-read your last post, I see you are asking for guide recommendations. Try this website: http://www.birdingpal.org/tx.htm There are 8 people listed - I know or have heard of 4 of them.

I'll also ask a friend of mine if he could help you. I would offer to help myself, but we have family (with our first grandchild) coming to visit in the first week of April.

 

[Jynx]

Many thanks for the info Helen
ATB
Mike

 

[JeffMoh]

Edith Moore

Warblers are arriving, so High Island is certainly worth considering.

Just on the edge of downtown is the Edith L Moore Audubon sanctuary, which can be excellent for warblers. Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m. there are birdwalks led by Jim Hinson, a great and very helpful local birder.

Jeff

 

[Jynx]

Warblers are arriving, so High Island is certainly worth considering.

Just on the edge of downtown is the Edith L Moore Audubon sanctuary, which can be excellent for warblers. Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m. there are birdwalks led by Jim Hinson, a great and very helpful local birder.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff sadly we fly home Tuesday night.

ATB
Mike

 

[HelenB]

Mike,
Not sure when you are leaving the UK, but just remembered this little 4 acre park which could have some spring migrants and hummingbirds. It's called Russ Pitman Park and there's a Nature Discovery Center there. It's fairly near the center of Houston. Here's a website for maps and directions: http://www.naturediscoverycenter.org/rppark.html

Hope you have a good trip.

 

[davidh]

Helen mentions that it is not possible to see the Prairie Chickens at Attwater. I noticed that the reserve is holding their Attwater Prairie Chickien Festival this weekend (April 4-5). Would this be worth a visit ?

 

[BeesWing]

I went many years ago and saw Prairie Chickens (and a Short-eared Owl) but they've gone through some bad management and, more recently, severe drought, so it is hard to say. Maybe some has been in the last couple years?

 

[HelenB]

Helen mentions that it is not possible to see the Prairie Chickens at Attwater. I noticed that the reserve is holding their Attwater Prairie Chickien Festival this weekend (April 4-5). Would this be worth a visit ?

Yes, it is possible to see the chickens on the special trips organised for the festival weekend. The problem might be that all the very early tours are booked already, as the APCs are usually only on the booming grounds for a couple of hours first thing in the morning.

Here's a website for more info: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/attwater/docs/2009APCFestivalBrochure.pdf
The phone number is: 1-979-234-3021