Coastal Birding

Sandhill Crane

-Grus Canadensis- Gray overall, with dull skin on the crown and lores; whitish chin, cheek and upper throat with blackish...

American Herring Gull

-Larus smithsonianus- Until recently the American Herring Gull was considered a subspecies of the European Herring Gull. Winters along US...

Semipalmated Plover

-Charadrius semipalmalus- Length 7.25 inchesWingspan 20 inchesWeight 2.2 ounces Name comes from the fact there is slight webbing between the...

Pyrrhuloxia

Pyrrhuloxia-Cardinalis sinualus This cousin to the Northern Cardinal is often mistaken for a female northern cardinal. Pyrrhuloxia has a thick,...

Snowy Egret

-Egretta thulas-Very active feeder in shallow water. Present in Texasduring March through October. Breeds on coastalislands March through August. Slender...

Whimbrel

-Numenius phaeopus- Longer-bodied and shorter-billed than similar long-billed curlew. Boldly striped crown and dark eye line also distinguishes from long-billed...

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

-Dendrocygna autumalis- The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is unique in appearance, rarely confused with other species. Grey face with white eye...

Gull-billed Tern

-Gelochelidon nilotica-Length: 14 inchesWingspan: 34 inchesOriginally Sterna nilotica, recently reclassified as Gelochelidon nilotica. Colonial breeder, nests in ground scrapes laying...

Great Blue Heron

-Ardea Herodias-Length: 46 inchesWingspan: 72 inchesWeight: 5.3 poundsLarge gray-blue heron with a black stripe extending above eye. White fore-neck is...

Painted Bunting

-Passerina Ciris- Length: 5.5"Wingspan: 8.75"Weight: 0.54 ozArrives in Texas from the south in April and nests across most of the...

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Gulf Coast Kitchen

Get all the latest coastal cuisine recipes from guides and authors.

Recipe of the month

Soft-Shell Crab Po’ Boys

Po’Boy style seafood sandwiches are always a treat no matter whether you use shrimp, oysters, or fresh catch-of-the-day fish fillets. ...

Hashbrown-Crusted Breakfast Casserole

Chicken-Fried Oysters with Pico Cream

Upcoming

Riding Out the Shift: From October’s High Tides to the Promise of Cold Fronts

Traveling with a “Baby” Shield