Bird Photography at the Texas City Dike
When I lived in Texas, I spent a large portion of my free time looking for new birdwatching and wildlife photography destinations. One Sunday morning, I traveled to Texas City because I’d heard there were great birding locations nearby. I made my way to the Texas City Dike in hopes of finding an American oystercatcher. Unfortunately, this was the one and only time I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this marvelous bird sanctuary. This page features all of my Texas City Dike photos.
The Texas City Dike stretches 5.3 miles into Galveston Bay and is often referred to as the world’s longest man-made fishing pier. This unique fishing pier attracts thousands of fishermen and beachgoers each year. What many people don’t realize, however, is that it’s also one of the best places for bird photography in the Greater Houston area.
During my visit, I spent several hours driving along the dike and making pit stops along the way. At one of my first stops, I photographed an American oystercatcher wading in the surf looking for crustaceans. A few stops later, I found a black skimmer resting on the beach and grabbed my camera to snap a couple of photos. Finally, at my last stop, I had the chance to photograph a handful of pelicans. Both American white pelicans and brown pelicans were prominent during my visit. As I stood in admiration, I couldn’t help but notice the size of the American white pelican. It was almost twice the size of the brown pelican!
Help Keep Texas Beaches Clean
To conclude, the Texas City Dike offers some of the best birdwatching in Galveston Bay. Dozens of birds flock to the fishing pier throughout the year to feed on the small fish and crustaceans found there. A few common species include the American oystercatcher, black skimmer, and brown pelican. Occasionally, visitors may even encounter a stray cat or two.
Even though I created this page to showcase my Texas City Dike photos, I’ve listed a few additional resources below. To ensure birds and wildlife can safely resort to places like the Texas City Dike, it’s important to keep them clean. Adopting a Texas beach and participating in beach cleanups are just a few ways people can help out and volunteer. For more information, click the links below.