Spring migration was gaining momentum, and a planned trip to California — followed by a last‑minute dash to Texas — pushed our Little Big Year into high gear. From coastal specialties to desert birds and early migrants, these two trips added a burst of new species and set us on the fast track toward our April goal.
California and Texas might seem worlds apart, but for a birder on the move, they both offer incredible opportunities. My recent travels took me to both states, and each stop offered a unique glimpse into the world of migratory birds.
Hummingbird Heaven in California
A recent work trip landed me in California, with a hotel near Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach. My delight was immediate when I saw over 50 hummingbirds buzzing around the blooming bottle brush trees. The spectacle was incredible.
After a client presentation, my colleague and I enjoyed dinner on the Redondo Pier. While taking in the ocean air, I spotted dozens of Brandt’s Cormorants mixed in with the gulls and pelicans. The next morning, I convinced my coworker, Jack Emery, to make one last stop at Polliwog Park before we headed to the airport. Even though Jack wasn’t a birder, he was completely mesmerized by the hummingbirds. He’s been back to the park a few times since, but he agrees it was nothing like that first day.
Texas: A Last-Minute Migration Trip
With migration slowing down in Florida, Mike started monitoring eBird and the Weather Channel for potential migration fallout along the Texas Gulf Coast. When a storm system started brewing, we booked a last-minute flight from Tampa to Houston for a weekend of birding.
High Island: The Epicenter of Migration
We drove east to High Island, a celebrated bird sanctuary, and arrived to find dozens of birders already on-site. Houston Audubon and Tropical Birding had arranged for top guides to give free tours during the busy migration season, and we were thrilled to join in.
Our first tour of the day took us through the Boy Scout Woods, where we spotted an Inca Dove, a Chimney Swift, and a vibrant Summer Tanager. Next, we visited the Hooks Woods Sanctuary, which gave us some great views of an Acadian Flycatcher and a Northern Waterthrush, along with Kentucky, Tennessee, and Cerulean Warblers.
After a delicious barbecue lunch prepared by the members of St. Matthews Methodist Church, we joined a guided tour to the coast. At Rollover Pass, we found Bonaparte’s and Franklin’s Gulls, as well as Least, Black, and Common Terns. The real highlight, however, was spotting a lifer Seaside Sparrow, which appeared just after we saw a White-Tailed Kite and a Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher.
We squeezed in one more stop at High Island’s Smith Woods before dark. It was a flurry of activity with a mixed flock that included Blue-winged, Blackburnian, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-throated Warblers. The High Island Sanctuary definitely lived up to its reputation. It’s a place every serious birder should experience at least once, and we’re already planning to go back.
Galveston Island: An Underrated Gem
We caught the ferry to Galveston Island just before dark and checked into the Harbor House Hotel on Pier 21. There are a variety of excellent restaurants on Pier 21, and we had an amazing seafood dinner at Willie G’s. The next morning, we walked the pier, spotting herons and gulls near the local fishing boats.
We soon discovered that Galveston is a highly underrated birding spot. Driving south along the beach, we turned onto 8 Mile Road/Sportsman Road, and we found almost 40 different bird species in the flooded fields and marshlands. Our next stop was a small sanctuary called Lafitte’s Cove, which was absolutely packed with warblers, orioles, and grosbeaks. We counted an incredible 37 species in this tiny spot!
With a flight to catch, we made one last stop on Galveston Beach, where we found a lone Gull-billed Tern among a variety of other shorebirds.
In less than 48 hours, we saw an incredible number of birds. Nothing compares to the Gulf Coast of Texas or Florida during spring migration.
California and Texas delivered exactly what we needed — a mix of regional specialties, early migrants, and a few surprises along the way. We started April at 176, and these back‑to‑back trips pushed us to 192 by April 11. With 482 Lower 48 life birds already under our belt, that meant only six of those were lifers — but with the momentum from April’s travel, I finally believe we are doing a Little Big Year.
Trip Totals: 83 species • 16 year birds • 0 life birds
2015 Totals: 176 year birds • 5 life birds
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