Texas: The Upper Coast

There may be no better birdwatching in North America than what one may encounter on the northwestern shores of the Gulf of Mexico in spring.

Between mid-March and mid-May, masses of passerines wing north from their wintering grounds and a significant percentage of them pass through this corridor. Add to this both migrant and resident waterbirds including large numbers of herons and spoonbills, shorebirds of 30 or more species, and a profusion of gulls and terns, and it’s no wonder this area is as famous as it is.

Less predictable is what the weather can do to this migration pipeline. If the weather is fair or the winds blow from the south, the countless thousands of migrant thrushes, vireos, warblers and buntings that reach the coast after completing their lengthy trans-Gulf of Mexico migration move along and disperse among the more suitable forests in the interior. But, if they encounter rain or strong north winds before or as they reach the coast, large numbers may drop into the first isolated clumps of vegetation. Called a “fall out,” this phenomenon constitutes one of the great visible migration spectacles in North America and if it occurs during our stay, we’ll alter plans if necessary to bear witness.

Though the migrants alone would draw birdwatchers to this area, the area is rich in resident bird life, as well: nearby pine woods and cypress swamps are home to some of North America’s most sought-after breeding birds. Texas in April is simply full of birds.