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LOCAL BIRDING LOCATIONS

CAMP TYLER Go south on 69 to 346 to Whitehouse, then turn left on 848 to 2127, there is a sign for Camp Tyler on 848. It is about a mile up the road. On 2127 before you get to Camp Tyler there is a branch of Lake Tyler. There is the yard of an old burned house that can be good birding. From the yard you can scope the Lake. This area is often very good for ducks in winter. If you drive past Camp Tyler the road goes to a picnic area on Lake Tyler. This can be good birding. All along 2127 the birding is good in migration. Camp Tyler has wooded area, meadows and fields, ponds and Lake Tyler waterfront. It is great in winter and migration.
Camp Tyler is owned by a private foundation that has been very good about letting people bird. It is used primarily for youth activities for the schools and youth groups. You must sign a release form to bird. Call  the camp office at 903-510-6406 Monday through Friday for permission. Forms may be downloaded from their web site The website for Camp Tyler is: http://wwwcamptyler.org

TYLER STATE PARK Take 14 north of Tyler to the Park Road. Throughout the Park there are a number of trails. The most productive is the trail that circles the lake. In winter and migration check out the area around the Concession. Take the trail to the left following the lake. On the far end there is a swampy area that is particularly good. Follow the trail over the bridge and around to the dam. the back side of the dam is good for sparrows in the winter. This Park is very busy in holidays and Summer. The website for TSP is: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/tyler/tyler.htm

OLD SABINE BOTTOMS WMA Is 5 miles north of Lindale off CR.. 4106. Take 2710 to 4128 to 4106. There is a map at the website . This is particularly good in April when Prothonotary and Northern Parula are breeding. It's also good for butterflies. The website for Old Sabine WMA is: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wma/wmarea/sabine .

GUS ENGELING WMA Gus Engeling is located on US 287 about 20 miles west of Palestine. Catfish Creek runs through it. This is a mixed forest area that is the beginning of the Post Oak Savanna. There are several nice trails, a pond, woodlands and meadows. This is good in migrations. Prothonary Warblers and Painted and Indigo Buntings nest here. It's website is:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wma/wmarea/engeling.htm#top

RICHLAND CREEK WMA Richland Creek is about 10 miles west of Gus Engeling. There is a sign for the North Unit just before you get to the Richland Chambers Lake dam. This area is a fresh water marsh that is owned by the Tarrant County Water Authority. It is excellent in migration. Many shorebirds and wading birds come through in migration. Wilson's Phalaropes are found there each year. The willows
along the road can be very good for migrants. Dickcissals, and Buntings nest there. It's website is:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/wma/wmarea/richland.htm#text

MINEOLA NATURE PRESERVE The 2,900-acre Preserve is on the Sabine River in East Texas. The park is open daily from 7 am to sunset. The Mineola Nature Preserve is just south of Mineola. >From Hwy 69: turn east onto Loop 564 then turn right onto CR 2724 (Cap Ranch Road); go 1.9 miles to the main entrance. From Hwy 80 east of Mineola: travel south onto Loop 564 then turn left onto
CR 2724 (Cap Ranch Road); go 1.9 miles to the main entrance. The website is http://www.mnpfriends.org/

LAKE TYLER CONCESSION AREA Go through Whitehouse on 346 to a small road that has a billboard for the marina and concession area. Turn left on that road. Turn into the Marina area. There is a parking lot. Across the road from the lot there is a wooded area that is good birding in winter and migration. From the parking lot scope the lake, there are usually ducks, terns, gulls, etc. on the lake in winter. Check out the boat ramp. Last year there was a Ross's Goose, a white phase Snow Goose and a blue phase Snow Goose all winter. This is also a good place to scope the Lake.

ROSE RUDMAN PARK Go south on 69 to South Loop 323 and turn left onto s. Loop. Turn right at first light (Donnybrook). On weekends you can park in R. E. Lee parking lot. The park begins across from  the      R. E. Lee campus and follows a creek. There is a paved walk on the west side of the creek. If you take the little spur off the walk to the east you can cross the creek. On the east side of the creek a trail runs
along the creek. This area is more natural than the west side. Both sides can be good. Be sure to go to the southern part of the park under the big oaks. This can be very productive in winter and migration.


 

 

 

 

 


 


 

ibis egret shoveler

White Ibis, Northern Shoveler, Snowy Egret - Photo by Linda Price

OTHER TEXAS BIRDING LOCATIONS

Check out the nearby lakes for an additional opportunity to observe the vast array of bird species in Texas

LAKE TAWAKONI State Park is a 376.3-acre park in Hunt County with 5.2 miles of shoreline along the south central shore of the main body of the reservoir . Activities: Swimming, fishing, hiking, boating, mountain biking.

LAKE FORK is a world class fishing destination primarily accessible for birding by boat. The resorvoir crosses Wood, Rains and Hopkins Counties. Lake Fork is the site of the annual Eagle Fest in Emory, TX.

 CADDO LAKE Caddo Lake is a maze of bayous and sloughs covering, 26,810 acres of cypress swamp thick with bald cypress, spanish moss, and a tangle of aquatic plants.

 

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LINKS TO OTHER BIRDING LOCATIONS

Where to bird in Texas

Northeast Texas Field Ornithologists - a number of sites listed for the Northeast corner of East Texas, including the Longview Area

Texas State Parks

Texas Wildlife Management Areas

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Home Page

East Texas Nature Conservancy Preserves