Just returned from a two week trip to High Island, Texas, which is located
on the upper Gulf Coast near Louisiana. This is one of our favorite spots
for spring migrants, and we have visited this area several times. This year
we decided to "park" in High Island for our full two weeks, and take day
trips; must be a sign of old age when you just don't want to have to pack up
and move every day!

Two weeks in one spot seems far too long but, with the diversity of the
area, together with the ever-changing waves of spring migrants, the time
ended much too soon. Thirty-three species of warblers crowned the trip, but
the many sea- and shorebirds along the Gulf Coast, the wonderful variety of
water birds in the vast marshes of the area, the early nesters in the Piney
Woods, and many other kinds of migrants, made every day a fresh adventure.
What a great place for birds... and together with the many gorgeous plants,
fifteen species of butterflies, numerous snakes, turtles, alligators,
mammals and even fireflies, all in 80 degree weather, April in east Texas
has to be one of the classic wildlife experiences in America north of
Mexico.

Probably our most memorable hours were in a little preserve south of Port
Arthur, Texas, owned by the Texas Ornithological Society. There, a nice
grotto ("motte" in Texas) of big old oak trees provides rest and food for
weary migrants which have just crossed the Gulf from the Yucatan Peninsula
of Mexico. A moderate north wind one day must have tired the migrating
birds, because the area was absolutely hopping with activity. In less than
3 hours, we enjoyed 22 species of warblers, not to mention many other
migrants. At one moist spot near a pond, we had 7 different species of
"ground warblers" hopping on the ground all at the same time in a space
about twice the size of my office cubicle. And of course the bigger birds
like the tanagers, orioles, Cardinals and jays and the little buntings added
constant splashes of color and exciting sounds to the lovely verdant woods.

This year I took the camcorder, and used it extensively. We're pretty
pleased with the results, and now we can enjoy the Texas & Louisiana coast
all year.

No offense... but not really glad to be back!

Dave Nunnallee
dnun461 at ecy.wa.gov
Bellevue, WA