Birding Trip – High Island for Migration – April 23rd & 24th Plus . . .

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Pack your binoculars, charge your cameras, and get ready for an unforgettable birding adventure! We’re heading to High Island on Wednesday and Thursday, April 23rd & 24th, and you won’t want to miss it. (Stick around till the end if you’re curious about a Saturday visit option!)

I’ll share all the fine details as we get closer to the date, but for now, let’s talk about the most urgent matter at hand—HOTEL RESERVATIONS. If you plan to sleep indoors like a civilized birder and not in your car, book a room NOW before they vanish faster than a warbler on a windy day!

Where to Stay?

The best (and closest) lodging options are in Winnie, TX, a mere 30-minute drive from the action. Most of us crash at the Comfort Inn, which has reasonable rates and, more importantly, is just a short walk from Tia Juanita’s—home to some of the finest food in Southeast Texas. Seriously, you won’t regret it.

Backup plan? If Winnie is booked up, your next best bet is Beaumont, about 20 minutes further east. Either way, you’ll want to reserve for Tuesday and Wednesday nights and check out Thursday morning before the birding festivities begin.

Where Will We Be Birding?

We’ve got a long list of potential hotspots, but time (and the whims of migrating birds) will determine our final itinerary. Expect to visit some of the following:

✅ Boy Scout Woods
✅ Smith Oaks
✅ Hooks Woods
✅ Sabine Woods (Tuesday afternoon for those arriving early)
✅ Anahuac
✅ Rollover Pass
✅ Bolivar Flats

We won’t hit them all, but we’ll follow the best sightings and recent reports to maximize our chances of spectacular bird encounters.

What’s the Damage? (a.k.a. Costs)

High Island Sanctuaries:

Day Pass: $10 per person (per day)
Seasonal Pass: $35 per person (unlimited access)

Sabine Woods:

FREE for Texas Ornithological Society members
$10 per day for non-members (pay via QR code at the welcome station)

Rollover Pass & Bolivar Flats:

Requires a $10 beach parking pass, available at real estate offices and businesses in High Island & Bolivar. You can also order one by mail:
Bolivar Beach Stickers

What About Saturdays?

We don’t officially schedule trips on Saturdays because, well…it’s a madhouse. Birders from across the globe flood the area, making it tough to enjoy the experience. However, I’ll be down there from April 13th through early May, so if you want to meet up outside the official trip dates, including weekends, just reach out!

How to Contact Me?

Send a message via the contact form on this site.
Or find me on Facebook and shoot me a message: MichaelMathewsPhotos.

More Info Coming Soon!

Expect detailed maps, tips, and insider info around early April. Until then, book your hotel, mark your calendar, and get ready for some legendary birding!

Can’t wait to see y’all out there!

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Author

MichaelM

I’m a proud East Texas native who once took the scenic route all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific—just to realize the Piney Woods was where I really belonged - near where I hear rumors of home.
Since planting my boots firmly back in East Texas in 2014, I’ve put my biology background to work first as a Texas Master Naturalist, then for three years I served as as the Trip Director for Tyler Audubon. I run several Facebook birding groups, several nature related websites, teach Nature Photography Workshops, lead Birding Field Trips, and, on any given day, you’ll likely find me wandering through the woods, camera in hand.
As an author, photographer, and lifelong naturalist, I believe in spreading the word about birds, wildlife and wild places so we can all appreciate—and protect—the world outside our windows. It's all part of the adventure, right?

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