There’s nothing like a Sunday Funday on Bolivar Peninsula, and this one started early for me at the Bolivar Peninsula Tourism & Visitors Center and Bolivar Live Studio in Crystal Beach, Texas. Before most were even thinking about coffee, I was on my 2nd 16oz cup. Once a few shows were done for a week away, I started loading up my camera gear, grabbed a reheat on the coffee, and headed down Hwy 87 towards High Island.
The sunrise along Hwy-87 never disappoints. As I made my way up the peninsula, the first light of day peeked thru beachside homes on the Upper Texas Coast. Every trip looks different. Some mornings are painted sky, while others are softened by humidity—but they all remind me why I love calling this place home.
Making My Way to the Rookery
My destination was the rookery in High Island, owned and operated by Houston Audubon. It’s the ultimate birding location, not just on Bolivar Peninsula, but anywhere along the Texas coast if you ask me.
Once I arrived, it was a quick setup—camera, tripod, lens ready to roll. The morning air still had a chill, so I grabbed my jacket before heading to the canopy walk. As the sun slowly climbed, I could feel just a faint hint of warmth breaking through as I moved in and out of the shade.
Even before I reached the stairs leading down to the Rookery, the sounds told me it was going to be a good morning—wings flapping, birds calling, and constant motion in the distance.
Filming the Action Up Close
When I headed down the stairs and stepped up to the first of many platforms along the rookery’s edge, the view opened up in a way that still amazes me every single time. Egrets were starting to build their nests (or at least looking for sticks), and those colorful Roseate Spoonbills were lighting up the trees with shades of pink you almost wouldn’t believe if you didn’t see them for yourself.
I made my way from platform to platform, shooting as many clips as possible. Every angle offered something new—birds building nests, or just strutting their stuff like they owned the place.
“The sound and the view are truly unbelievable. I don’t know of anywhere else where you can watch birds nesting and raising their young once hatched this close and this naturally.”
Every time I spend at least an hour at the rookery in High Island, Texas, I leave feeling like a different person. Most will disagree, but I’m more relaxed, clearer minded, and recharged—at least for a few minutes.
The View Changes Every Trip
What keeps me coming back is how much it changes each trip. The light is different. The activity shifts. The trees fill in later in spring. The chicks grow. It’s like a brand-new view every time I round that corner and look across the rookery.
With the sun now up in the sky, I packed up and headed back down Highway 87 toward the office. By the time I got back to Crystal Beach, the peninsula was fully awake, with many weekend visitors heading home.
Back to Bolivar Live
Once inside the Bolivar Live Studio again, I grabbed another coffee and settled into editing mode—sorting clips, coloring as little as possible for a more natural look, putting clip after clip together, and adding in sponsors and music for the intro and exit. There’s something rewarding about watching the story come together from start to finish; I always watch it once or twice and make adjustments.
And just like that, my Sunday Funday was complete—all before noon.
Tomorrow morning, Monday 2/23/26 at 6 AM, we kick off the Birding on Bolivar 2026 show series on Bolivar Live. For the next 10-11 weeks, I’ll be traveling around Bolivar Peninsula, highlighting the awesome birding locations with Wyatt of the Houston Audubon, showcasing what makes this area world-renowned.
These mornings—sunrise drives, time at the rookery, capturing nature at its best—are more than just content for a show. They’re moments that remind me why I do what I do with Bolivar Live. And I can’t wait to share the next one with you.
Enjoy the show I put together from this morning’s trip to the Rookery!
