October in Texas is a birder’s dream. Migration is in full swing, the weather finally lets you wear a long-sleeved shirt without melting, and the birds themselves seem to know they’re putting on a show. I’ve been fortunate enough to bird across this big, beautiful state for years, and October is when Texas really struts its feathers.

Here are my top ten best places to bird in Texas during October—complete with personal notes, prized species, and a little humor (because birding without laughter is just staring at trees).

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1. Padre Island National Seashore (South Texas Coast)

October at Padre is all about shorebirds and raptors. I once watched a Peregrine Falcon blast through a flock of Red Knots like a missile—it missed, but my heart rate didn’t settle for an hour.

Why Go: Massive numbers of migrating shorebirds, plus raptors streaming south.
Prized Birds: Peregrine Falcons, Red Knots, American Golden-Plovers, Long-billed Curlews, Roseate Spoonbills.
Known For: Being one of the best coastal migration staging grounds in the U.S.

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2. High Island (Upper Texas Coast)

By October, the crowds are gone, but the birding is still solid. On one quiet afternoon, I had a Scarlet Tanager practically glow against the fall foliage—a fall bonus most folks miss.

Why Go: Southbound migrants still funnel through the wooded sanctuaries.
Prized Birds: Orioles, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, warblers (Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Pine).
Known For: Legendary sanctuaries like Smith Oaks and Boy Scout Woods.

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3. Hazel Bazemore Park (Corpus Christi Hawk Watch)

October is when the raptor show really peaks. I’ve stood here with my neck craned so long I thought about asking my chiropractor to sponsor the hawk watch.

Why Go: Tens of thousands of hawks pass overhead in a single day.
Prized Birds: Broad-winged Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Mississippi Kites, and the odd Zone-tailed Hawk sneaking along with vultures.
Known For: One of the largest raptor migrations in North America.

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4. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary (Bolivar Peninsula)

If mud, terns, and a million fiddler crabs sound appealing, this is paradise. I once counted over 1,000 American Avocets in a single sweep of my scope.

Why Go: Unparalleled shorebird numbers in October.
Prized Birds: American Avocets, Piping and Wilson’s Plovers, Long-billed Curlews, Reddish Egrets.
Known For: Being the mudflat mecca of the Texas Coast.

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5. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (Rio Grande Valley)

October means cooler mornings in the Valley, and the birds seem just as grateful as we are. I once had a Green Jay and a Blackburnian Warbler in the same binocular view—try finding that combo anywhere else in the U.S.

Why Go: A mix of tropical residents and migrants.
Prized Birds: Green Jays, Plain Chachalacas, Groove-billed Anis, Couch’s Kingbirds, migrant warblers and orioles.
Known For: The gateway to Rio Grande Valley specialties.

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6. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (Upper Coast)

October mornings here are magical. I’ll never forget watching a Least Bittern creep out of the reeds just as a Northern Harrier floated over the marsh.

Why Go: Rails, raptors, and migrating passerines.
Prized Birds: Soras, Virginia Rails, King Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Northern Harriers.
Known For: Marsh birding at its finest—with bonus alligators.

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7. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (Hill Country)

October here means crisp air, hawk flights, and warbler flocks. I once had Nashville Warblers practically dripping out of the oaks.

Why Go: Hawk migration plus a late surge of passerines.
Prized Birds: Broad-winged Hawks, Nashville Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos.
Known For: Birding with a backdrop of rolling Hill Country vistas.

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8. Davis Mountains State Park (West Texas)

By October, the Davis Mountains are a cool escape from the still-sweltering lowlands. I’ve seen Scott’s Orioles perched on century plants here like sentinels.

Why Go: West Texas specialties plus migrating raptors.
Prized Birds: Scott’s Orioles, Acorn Woodpeckers, Montezuma Quail, Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds.
Known For: Mountain birding with dark skies at night.

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9. South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center (SPI)

If Padre Island National Seashore is the wild side, South Padre is the birder-friendly side. The boardwalks here make for the easiest birding in Texas. I once watched a Clapper Rail strut across in plain view, like it forgot it was supposed to be secretive.

Why Go: Accessible coastal birding with guaranteed sightings.
Prized Birds: Clapper Rails, Reddish Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, warblers in the mangroves.
Known For: Easy birding, photography opportunities, and rare fall migrants.

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10. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Lower Rio Grande Valley)

October mornings here are unforgettable. I once flushed an Aplomado Falcon that flew right past my car window—yes, I nearly spilled my coffee.

Why Go: Valley specialties plus raptors and waterbirds.
Prized Birds: Aplomado Falcons, White-tailed Kites, Altamira Orioles, Green Jays, waterfowl arriving for winter.
Known For: One of the last strongholds for Aplomado Falcons in the U.S.

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Final Thoughts

October birding in Texas is a feast. From the raptor kettles at Hazel Bazemore to the Painted Buntings fueling up in High Island woodlots, this state puts on a migration show like no other. After decades in the field, I can say this: October is the month that makes you grateful to be a birder in Texas.

So, pack your binoculars, fill your thermos, and loosen your neck muscles—you’ll be looking up a lot. And when your non-birding friends ask what you did all weekend, just smile and say: “I went to Texas. And the birds showed up.”

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