Clear Creek winds its way from Clear Lake through League City in Galveston County, providing beneficial freshwater riparian edge habitat to a wide variety of bird species and other wildlife. This pre-festival trip explores some of the hidden gems in the Clear Lake Loop of the Upper Texas Coast – Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, beginning with the beautiful Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center. We’ll hike along the trails there looking for spring migrants such as Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, Painted and Indigo Bunting, Summer Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a variety of warblers and vireos. Lingering winter migrants including White Pelican and Osprey are also possible, as well as residents such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Great Blue and Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, egrets, and other waders.
We’ll then caravan a short distance to another hotspot along Clear Creek, where we’ll have lunch and check for Boat-tailed Grackle, Pileated Woodpecker, Cooper’s Hawk, and other harder-to-find species. (Map will be provided to participants.) We will also see other coastal wildlife throughout the trip, such as deer, alligators, swamp rabbits, nutria, and turtles.
Bring: water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray. Hiking boots or waders recommended if we’ve had wet weather prior to the trip.
Driving directions to the meeting site will be emailed prior to the festival.
Photo: Gary Seloff