It’s an exciting time for birders on Galveston Island!

Our migratory friends from Central and South America are beating wings across the Gulf of Mexico for a stop on the island while area birders just participated in the annual FeatherFest Birding & Nature Photography Festival that happened April 18-21.

The birding festivalwas preceded by a Photo Contest, where serious and casual photographers show off their best shots and compete for the Grand Prize.  The Grand Prize winner was just announced.  For more contest details, click here

The 2024 winning photos plus more are below, if you are looking for some inspiration.

If you are heading to the island for some of the action, check out our Birding Guide for information on What You Might Find, Where To Look, and When To Come.

2024 Winners

Migrating Baltimore Oriole

This Baltimore Oriole photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston County.  It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Mockingbird on a Fence Post

This Northern Mockingbird photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Galveston County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Marbled Godwit Photobomb

This Marbled Godwit photo was taken by Emily Neale in Galveston County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Spring Time Bay Breasted

This Bay Breasted Warbler photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Sunset Songs

This Red-winged Blackbird photo was taken by Mike Pantaleo in Chambers County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Rising Ruby

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Harris County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 4 contest.

Rough Water

This Pied-billed Grebe photo was taken by Steve Schuenke in Harris County.  It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.

Mmmm Crab Cakes!

This Yellow-crowned Night-Heron photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Harris County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.

Party Time!

This Scissor-tailed Flycatcher photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brazoria County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 3 contest.

Can You See Me Now

This Short-eared Owl photo was taken by Jim Stough in Brazoria County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 3 contest.

In the Surf

This American Golden Plover photo was taken by Greg Lavaty in Galveston County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 3 contest.

Feeding Time

This Forster’s Tern photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brazoria County.  It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.

Migrating Yellow Warbler

This Yellow Warbler photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Brazoria County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.

Cape May Warbler

This Cape May Warbler photo was taken by Mike Zarella in Brazoria County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 2 contest.

Harrier Hunting

This Northern Harrier photo was taken by Roy Freese in Galveston County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 2 contest.

Look Behind You

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Chambers County.  It won 1st Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.

Cooper’s Hawk Staring at Me

This Cooper’s Hawk photo was taken by Joseph Smith in Harris County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.

Watching Patiently

This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Brzoria County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2024 Week 1 contest.

Great Horned Owl on Nest

This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2024 Week 1 contest.

2023 Winners

Green Heron Fishing

This Green Heron photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County.  It won Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.

Mockingbird Gathering Nesting Material

This Northern Mockingbird photo was taken by Stan Bravenec in Brazoria County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.

Escape Hatch

This Brown Pelican photo was taken by Jeffery Schaberg in Harris County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 4 contest.

Kingfisher with Breakfast

This Belted Kingfisher photo was taken by Ray Bednar in Galveston County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 4 contest.

Breakfast of Champions

This Cooper’s Hawk photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Brazoria County.  It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.

Morning Lookout

This Burrowing Owl photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Chambers County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.

Coneflower Snack

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Harris County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 3 contest.

Cedar Waxwing Profile

This Cedar Waxwing photo was taken by Steve Schuenke in Harris County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 3 contest.

Don’t Bee Late for Dinner

This Summer Tanager photo was taken by Kevin McDonald in Galveston County.  It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.

Young Black-necked Stilt

This Black-necked Stilt photo was taken by Andrew McCullough in Fort Bend County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.

Neotropic Portrait

This Neotropic Cormorant photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Galveston County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 2 contest.

Hunting Least Bittern

This Least Bittern photo was taken by Andrew McCullough at Brazos Bend State Park.  It won 1st Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.

Catch of the Day

This Reddish Egret photo was taken by Mike Williams in Montgomery County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.

Lola

This Great Egret photo was taken by Deborah Repasz in Chambers County.  It won 3rd Place in the 2023 Week 1 contest.

Crested Caracara in the Rain

This Crested Caracara photo was taken by Ed Ferrin in Galveston County.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2023 Week 1 contest.

2022 Winners

Finding Balance

This Willet photo was taken by Julie Chapa in Galveston.  It won Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.

A Little Peak

This Chuck-will’s-widow photo was taken by Scott Meyer at High Island.  It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.

Fresh Catch

This Great Egret photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress.  It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 4 contest.

Picking Up Some Breakfast

This Snowy Egret photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner at Exploration Green in Clear Lake.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 4 contest.

Coneflower Dip

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, Texas.  It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Joseph V. Smith at Kleb Woods Nature Center, Tomball, TX.  It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.

Still Life in Camo

This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by Lea Safley at Brazos Bend State Park.  It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 3 contest.

Soaring

This Bald Eagle photo was taken by Debbie Stuck in Webster, TX.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 3 contest.

Emerging from the Nest

This Brown-headed Nuthatch photo was taken by Scott Meyer in Kingwood, Texas.  It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.

Blue Grosbeak

This Blue Grosbeak photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner in Crosby, Texas. It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.

Roseate Spoonbill in Flight

This Roseate Spoonbill photo was taken by Stephen Mayeux at Smith Oaks.  It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 2 contest.

Hungry Humming Bird

This Rufous Hummingbird photo was taken by Janet Chung in Tomball, Texas.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2022 Week 2 contest.

Three Amigos

This Great Horned Owl photo was taken by John Phillips in Jefferson County. It won 1st Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.

Open Wide

This Prothonotary Warbler photo was taken by Stephen Mayeux in Sabine Woods.  It won 2nd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.

Morning Glory

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, Texas.  It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.

Bluebird Out On A Limb

This Eastern Bluebird photo was taken by Karl Hoeffner at Exploration Green in Clear Lake. It won 3rd Place in the 2022 Week 1 contest.

2021 Winners

In Flight Snack

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, TX.  It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.

Speed Walking

This Lesser Scaup waw taken by Gary Seloff at Armand Bayou.  It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.

Enduring the Great Freeze of ‘21

These Cedar Waxwings were taken by Mark Doing at Copperfield, Harris County.  It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.

Getting Some Sun

This Prothonotary Warbler was taken by Janaki Wallooppillai at Cullinan Park Conservancy.  It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 4 contest.

Touch of Yellow

This Yellow Warbler was taken by Anthony Louviere at Galveston.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 4 contest.

Green Arrow

This Green Heron was taken by Gary Seloff at Galveston.  It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.

Hummer Hover

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by David Rassin at Lake Madeline, Galveston.  It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.

Spring Time Arrival

This Yellow Warbler was taken by Anthony Louviere at Galveston.  It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 3 contest.

Chomp

This Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was taken by Dan Lotan at Galveston.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 3 contest.

Vermilion Brilliance

This Vermilion Flycatcher was taken by Mike Zarella at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.  It won 1st Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.

Go Fish

This Green Heron was taken by Dan Lotan at Brazos Bend State Park.  It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.

Roseate Spoonbill

This Roseate Spoonbill was taken by Stan Bravenec at Smith Oaks Rookery.  It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 2 contest.

Selfie

This Tricolored Heron was taken by Gary Seloff at Horsepen Bayou.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 2 contest.

In Flight Snack

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was taken by Dan Lotan in Cypress, TX.  It won the Grand Prize and 1st Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.

Catbird in Retama

This Gray Catbird was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston, TX.  It won 2nd Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.

Construction Delivery

This White-faced Ibis was taken by Brian Fesko at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.  It won 3rd Place in the 2021 Week 1 contest.

Statuesque Great Egret

This Great Egret was taken by Mark Doing at High Island Smith Oaks Rookery.  It won Honorable Mention in the 2021 Week 1 contest.

2020 Winners

Sitting Pretty

This Orchard Oriole photo was taken by Anthony Louviere on Galveston Island.

Partial Coverage

This Long-billed Curlew photo was taken by Gary Seloff on Bolivar Flats.

Lafitte’s Petite

This Indigo Bunting photo was taken by Barry Hatch at Lafitte’s Cove.

Pelican Portrait

This Brown Pelican photo was taken by Scott Meyer at the Mosquito Fleet Docks in Galveston.  It won first place, week three.

Singing Catbird

This Gray Catbird photo was taken by Anthony Louviere in Galveston.  It won second place, week three.

Holding Tight

This Red-winged Blackbird photo was taken by Rose Pool at the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge.  It won third place, week three.

First Date

This Foster’s Tern photo was taken by Deborah Repasz at the Texas City Dike.  It won Honorable Mention, week three.

I Spy with My Little Eye

This Reddish Egret (White Morph) photo was taken by Carlos Guzman at the East End Lagoon Nature Preserve. It won first place, week two.

Lunch is Delivered

This Mississippi Kite photo was taken by Lynne Hughes in Sante Fe, Texas. It won second place, week two.

We are Family

This Cattle Egret photo was taken by Deborah Repasz at Resoft Park in Alvin, Texas. It won third place, week two.

Flyby

This Blue-winged Teal photo was taken by Gary Seloff at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. It won honorable mention, week two.

Looking Sharp

This little Green Heron photo was taken by Lynne Hughes on Galveston Island. It won first place, week one.

Feather Duster

This Great Egret photo was taken by Gary Seloff at Horsepen Bayou in Harris County. It won second place, week one.

Taking a Drink

This Red-tailed Hawk photo was taken by Sandra Kroeger at the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge. It won third place, week one.

Magnolia Raindrop

This Magnolia Warbler photo was taken by Barry Hatch at the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. It won honorable mention, week one.

I hope those photos helped brighten your day. If you are heading to the island for some of the action, check out our Birding Guide for information on What You Might Find, Where To Look, and When To Come.