Birding

January in Texas is crisp, cool, and full of birds. Migration may be quiet, but winter residents are everywhere, from massive goose flocks in North Texas to tropical specialties in the Valley. For me, January birding feels like hitting the reset button: no pressure to chase every rarity, just the joy of crisp mornings, big skies, and a checklist that still has plenty of boxes to tick. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During January, based on years of muddy boots, early mornings, and binoculars frozen to my face once in the Panhandle. (Yes, it…

December birding in Texas is like unwrapping gifts all month long. Migration has eased, but winter residents are in full swing, and the state transforms into a birder’s wonderland. Whether you want to see thousands of geese rising off a refuge at dawn or spy a Green Jay stealing the spotlight down south, Texas delivers. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During December, based on years of personal field notes, frosty mornings, and more cups of gas station coffee than I’d like to admit. 1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast) By December, Whooping Cranes…

By November, Texas birding feels like a Thanksgiving feast—plenty to choose from, all flavors represented, and you’ll probably overindulge. Migration is tapering, wintering birds are arriving, and the cooler weather makes long days in the field a joy instead of a sweat-soaked endurance test. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During November, based on years of personal treks, muddy boots, and binoculars permanently glued to my face. 1. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Central Coast) November means Whooping Cranes are back. Seeing them in person is like spotting royalty—tall, elegant, and rare. I once watched a…

October in Texas is a birder’s dream. Migration is in full swing, the weather finally lets you wear a long-sleeved shirt without melting, and the birds themselves seem to know they’re putting on a show. I’ve been fortunate enough to bird across this big, beautiful state for years, and October is when Texas really struts its feathers. Here are my top ten best places to bird in Texas during October—complete with personal notes, prized species, and a little humor (because birding without laughter is just staring at trees). 1. Padre Island National Seashore (South Texas Coast) October at Padre is…

August birding in Texas is like watching nature flip the switch from summer to fall. Sure, it’s still hotter than a jalapeño on a dashboard, but birds don’t mind—they’re already on the move. Shorebirds stage in massive flocks, early warblers trickle through woodlots, and swallows swirl like feathered tornadoes. If you think August is “too early” for migration, trust me—Texas proves otherwise. Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During August, built from years of sweaty treks, iced tea recovery sessions, and plenty of “just one more look through the scope” moments. 1. Bolivar Flats Shorebird…

July in Texas is… well, let’s be honest, it’s hot. Very hot. But that doesn’t mean birding stops. In fact, summer birding in Texas is a great time to slow down, savor breeding residents, and catch some early shorebird migration heading south again. (Yes, believe it or not, some birds already start fall migration in July—apparently, they don’t mind sweating either.) Here are my Top 10 Best Places to Bird in Texas During July, drawn from years of sweat-soaked fieldwork, early dawn wake-ups, and more refilled water bottles than I can count. 1. Big Bend National Park (West Texas) July…