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Difference between revisions of "Bolivar Peninsula" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Bolivar_Flats_SS.jpg|thumb|600px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br />Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary in April 2008, before the area was impacted by Hurricane Ike in Sept. 2008]]
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
Southeast Texas coast. Bolivar Flats is a coastal beach and mudflats and is the prime birdng spot on the peninsula.
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Southeast Texas coast. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is a coastal beach with mudflats and is the prime birdng spot on the peninsula.  The beach was extensively damaged by Hurricane Ike in Sept. 2008, but is open to visitors, now that the debris has been cleared.
  
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.
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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.
 
  
 
==Birds==
 
==Birds==
 
Long species lists are turned up here each month.
 
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.
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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.
  
 
===Notable Species===
 
===Notable Species===
 
''To do''
 
''To do''
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[[Image:Birds_Bolivar_Flats.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br />Birds on the shore at Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, April 2008]]
  
 
===Rarities===
 
===Rarities===
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===Areas of Interest===
 
===Areas of Interest===
''To do''
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*Every third Saturday a species count occurs at Bolivar Flats, sponsored by Houston Audubon, which is an excellent way for visitors to learn from local experts.  It begins at 8am at the ferry landing.
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*During Spring migration (mid-March to mid-May) there are volunteers, with spotting scopes, to help visitors with shorebird identification. 
 +
*Horshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary
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*Rollover Pass
  
 
===Access and Facilities===
 
===Access and Facilities===
 
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.
 
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
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'''Directions'''
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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 (ferry is free of cgarge). 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 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.
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From Fifth Street in [[High Island]], turn left onto Hwy. 124. Go to the stop sign. Turn right on to Hwy. 87 and it is about 25 miles to Retillon Road . 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.  
  
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.
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===Contact Details===
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Houston Audubon Society<br>
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440 Wilchester Blvd.<br>
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Houston, TX 77079<br>
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Tel: 713-932-1639 <br>
  
===Contact Details===
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''To do''
 
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
Link to Monthly Bird count lists:
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*[http://houstonaudubon.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/224/MenuSubID/22.htm Horseshoe Marsh]
 
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*[http://www.houstonaudubon.org/html/BolivarCount.xls Link to Monthly Bird count lists]
http://www.houstonaudubon.org/html/BolivarCount.xls
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*[http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&getLocations=hotspots&hotspots=L128925&bYear=1900&eYear=2007&bMonth=1&eMonth=12&reportType=location&parentState=US-TX&chartID=943732800&rowsPerPage=251 Link to 250+ species seen at Bolivar Flats (per eBird)]
 
 
 
 
Link to 250+ species seen at Bolivar Flats (per ebird)
 
[http://ebird.org/ebird/tx/GuideMe?cmd=decisionPage&getLocations=hotspots&hotspots=L128925&bYear=1900&eYear=2007&bMonth=1&eMonth=12&reportType=location&parentState=US-TX&chartID=943732800&rowsPerPage=251]
 
  
''Content and images originally posted by bernerjc''
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''Content and images posted by bernerjc and HelenB''
<!-- shorebirds bolivar flats -->
 
<gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
==Reviews==
 
==Reviews==
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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
 
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
  
[[Category:Texas]] [[Category:Locations]] [[Category:Missing Location Images]]
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[[Category:Texas]] [[Category:Locations]]

Revision as of 03:56, 30 March 2009

areas of

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Photo by HelenB
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary in April 2008, before the area was impacted by Hurricane Ike in Sept. 2008

Overview

Southeast Texas coast. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is a coastal beach with mudflats and is the prime birdng spot on the peninsula. The beach was extensively damaged by Hurricane Ike in Sept. 2008, but is open to visitors, now that the debris has been cleared.

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.


Birds

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.

Notable Species

To do

Photo by HelenB
Birds on the shore at Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, April 2008

Rarities

To do

Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

251 Species reported from Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary (see external link)

Other Wildlife

To do

Site Information

History and Use

To do

Areas of Interest

  • Every third Saturday a species count occurs at Bolivar Flats, sponsored by Houston Audubon, which is an excellent way for visitors to learn from local experts. It begins at 8am at the ferry landing.
  • During Spring migration (mid-March to mid-May) there are volunteers, with spotting scopes, to help visitors with shorebird identification.
  • Horshoe Marsh Bird Sanctuary
  • Rollover Pass

Access and Facilities

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 (ferry is free of cgarge). 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 and it is about 25 miles to Retillon Road . 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.

Contact Details

Houston Audubon Society
440 Wilchester Blvd.
Houston, TX 77079
Tel: 713-932-1639

Email: [email protected]

External Links

Content and images posted by bernerjc and HelenB

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

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