Bolivar Flats is A coastal beach and mudflats and is the prime birdng spot on the peninsula.
Other nearby spots on the tip of Bolivar peninsula (all west of Retillon Rd) are also birdy including French town Road, Fort Travis Seashore park, ferry landing at tip of peninsula.
Every third saturday a species count occurs sponsored by Houston Audubon at 8AM starting at the ferry landing which is an excellent time for visitors to learn from local experts.
Long species lists are turned up here each month. For example 100 species were seen in 4 of the last 12 months. Minimum number of species was 73. Each monthly count was only over a 3 hour period in a relatively small area by less than 10 participants.
Link to Monthly Bird count lists:
http://www.houstonaudubon.org/html/BolivarCount.xls
You can drive right up to the ocean's edge on the flats themselves but be careful or you'll get stuck in the mud.
Directions
From Houston take I-45 South to Galveston. In town I-45 turns into Broadway. Follow Broadway to Seawall Boulevard. Turn left on Seawall. Turn left on Ferry Road to the terminal. You will exit the ferry on Hwy. 87. Follow this for 3.7 miles to Retillon Road. Turn right and drive to the beach. Turn right on the beach and drive on the beach to the vehicular barricade where you may park.
From Fifth Street in High Island, turn left onto Hwy. 124. Go to the stop sign. Turn right on to Hwy. 87. Retillon Road is about 25 miles. Turn left on Retillon and drive to the beach. Turn right on the beach and drive on the beach to the vehicular barricade where you may park. Content and images originally posted by bernerjc
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Reviews
bernerjc's review
top spot on the Upper Texas Coast for shorebirds. free. Only downside is hard to get to from Galveston /Houston. Must take car ferry which is fast in winter but has long waits in the spring/summer during middle of day
