East Texas Birding

East Texas Birding page to supplement our website EastTexasBirding.com which is a guide to birding and related activities in East Texas.

It contains blogs, photos, ID guide, recreational site info, photo guide, birding information, and an Event Calendar.

FeaturedAdd moreFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebookFacebook...
10/19/2024

Featured
Add more
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Michael Mathews
Admin

All-star contributor
·
rtspendoSo7f58lu95m6221u1h58gmf
m
i
1
ag3tg8u82740t2lu399c60791t
·
14 fun birders made the Tyler Audubon Society field trip to Old Sabine Bottoms today.

It was a beautiful day to be out, and we had a great group of birders. Birds were a bit sparse, as can happen this time of year, but we did see 26 species, including a few that were a bit of a surprise for this time of year, like the Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Winter Wren.

If you were on the outing and did not give your eBird ID to Laura Wilson to be included in the report, you can message her with your information.

Our next outing is Camp Tyler. We will announce the date after we set that with the officials there. We usually have some unusual sparrow species pop up here, as well as the beginning of our winter residents.

Joe Marsey and I scouted the Old Sabine Bottom & Tawakoni WMAs - Texas Parks and Wildlife in anticipation of the Tyler A...
10/16/2024

Joe Marsey and I scouted the Old Sabine Bottom & Tawakoni WMAs - Texas Parks and Wildlife in anticipation of the Tyler Audubon trip we will have on Saturday.

We made a quick run through the area and really only spent a little bit of time on trails. In all we recorded 23 species.

The weather was beautiful and it was so enjoyable to get out in this fantastic area.

Saturday at the gate, 8 AM. Everyone is invited.

I ran to the Hummingbird Festival with my young protege in between working on a new website for a friend (with lots of p...
09/29/2024

I ran to the Hummingbird Festival with my young protege in between working on a new website for a friend (with lots of photos) and then having to get to work on an estate sale, where I was a bit short-handed. That kept me from getting to work on the photos I took at the Festival. I will be posting some more soon, but here is one of the American Flamingo at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas.

I ran over to Bowie County late this evening with David Brotherton, looking for migrants, particularly Wood Storks. We d...
09/07/2024

I ran over to Bowie County late this evening with David Brotherton, looking for migrants, particularly Wood Storks.

We did spot 51 Wood Storks and hundreds of Western Cattle Egrets - plus many more species - I will list the count later.

Here are photos of the Wood Storks and the Cattle Egrets. Pardon the poor quality. It was right at sunset so the light was limited.

Photos from the Tyler Audubon Society field trip to Richland Creek WMA today. We had 11 birders who enjoyed a fun day at...
09/01/2024

Photos from the Tyler Audubon Society field trip to Richland Creek WMA today.

We had 11 birders who enjoyed a fun day at one of our favorite places. In all we saw 44 species (I may correct that number - we are having trouble with the eBird sharing feature so I can't confirm the number).

Species names are on the individual photos.

We had 11 people on our TAS field trip to Richland Creek, WMA. It was a great group, and we really had a good time. In a...
09/01/2024

We had 11 people on our TAS field trip to Richland Creek, WMA. It was a great group, and we really had a good time. In all, we saw 44 species (I may correct that number - we are having a problem getting the eBird checklist shared).

The bird(s) of the day: Wild Turkeys - what a treat.

I will post photos later, and I am sure some of the group will do the same.

You should have been there. This was a really fun group of birders, and this is a great place to bird.

Richard Kinney and I went to Richland Creek WMA for an advance scouting trip for our Audubon trip coming on August 31st....
08/17/2024

Richard Kinney and I went to Richland Creek WMA for an advance scouting trip for our Audubon trip coming on August 31st.

We found 37 species, including a large number of Black-necked Stilts, hundreds of White Ibis, Black-crowned Night Heron, Snowy Egrets, Pectoral Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Least Sandpipers, Solitary Sandpiper, American Avocets, Blue-wing Teal, Greater Yellowlegs, Common Gallinule, and more.

The total number of birds was a little less than we are used to seeing, but it was not a bad day. It just wasn't one where we saw thousands of birds, which can happen here.

Come join us on the 31st.

We ended up with seven intrepid travelers for Saturday's Hagerman NWR trip. It was a long way, but we were blessed with ...
07/21/2024

We ended up with seven intrepid travelers for Saturday's Hagerman NWR trip. It was a long way, but we were blessed with a nice day and 39 species of birds.
One notable sighting was of Painted Buntings. One of them posed so nicely for us for as long as we wanted to take photos. He was fairly close and gave us all a chance at pictures.
There were lots of Canada Geese who let us get some close shots. We saw Spotted Sandpipers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Nothern Flicker, Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons, etc.
Our next trip is usually one of our best. We are going to Richland Creek WMA on August 31st. Hopefully, the Wood Storks will be there by then.

Tyler Audubon Society field trip to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Saturday, July 20th at 8 AM.This is our second fa...
06/26/2024

Tyler Audubon Society field trip to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Saturday, July 20th at 8 AM.

This is our second farthest point for our field trips, but it is worth the drive. This is similar to our Richland Creek WMA trips with the same type of water features. The roads are a bit better and there is a visitor's center.

This trip is open to everyone, not just Audubon Society members.

Water-related birds are the usual highlights as are the resident Bald Eagle that will usually pose nicely for visitors. Recent reports include 206 Canada Geese, Blue-winged Teal, Mallards, Pied-billed Grebes, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, Neotropic & Double-crested Cormorants, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Snow Egrets, Cattle Egrets, Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barn Owls, Red-headed, Red-bellied, and Downey Woodpeckers, Kestrel, Great-crested & Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Painted Buntings, Dickissel and the usual suspects - 61 species in the latest report.

We will meet at the Visitor's Center at 8 am. This is at 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, Texas.

Click here for the Google Map and directions. https://maps.app.goo.gl/u8EWsHizE3CNaeBi8

In the past, I have driven to Dennison the night before and stayed in a motel there. This year, I will be taking my camper and stay somewhere nearby. There are RV parks 15 - 20 minutes away.

The Visitor's Center does have restrooms and a gift shop.

If you get lost, you can call or text me at 832.920.4117

Minimal walking will be involved as this is primarily a caravan situation.

Bring water, insect repellent, a snack, and anything you might need for a 3-hour (or so) adventure.

This year, the Tyler Audubon Society was in force at High Island for the great birding migration. In all, 11 of us came ...
04/25/2024

This year, the Tyler Audubon Society was in force at High Island for the great birding migration. In all, 11 of us came to enjoy the steady parade of birds as they returned to the U.S.

We had a great time visiting many locations here. Thousands and thousands of photos were taken - some already posted here and more are coming from many of us.

You should have been here.

This is the official Tyler Audubon Society trip to the outstanding migratory birds capital of Texas - High Island.IMPORT...
04/13/2024

This is the official Tyler Audubon Society trip to the outstanding migratory birds capital of Texas - High Island.

IMPORTANT: MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW. ROOMS ARE GOING FAST!

I suggest staying in Winnie, Texas. There are numerous hotel/motels there. You can also stay in Beaumont which is only about 22 minutes away.

If you can't get a room in Winnie, check out the hotels in Beaumont around Walton Road. They are not that far away. Beaumont is not a bad second choice—it is 22 minutes away, has lower rates, and has lots of rooms available.

While this is a Tyler Audubon Trip, travel and motel/hotels are up to you. Make your own arrangements. Make your room reservations soon, for the rooms disappear quickly.

We will meet at Hooks Woods on Tuesday morning at 8 AM. Park and come to the entrance. We will be meet right there. Here is the Google Maps link - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wo4DhA4eE2YNQ8Xq7

We will spend some time at this smaller sanctuary that often has great finds. Then, we will move over to Boy Scout Woods, a few minutes away.

The itinerary will not be written in stone. We will adjust based on what people see in other locations, weather, etc. But expect to also visit Smith Oakes Sanctuary (Incredible rookery - you will be thrilled). All very close to one another in High Island.

In addition to these locations, we may visit Rollover Pass, Anahuac NWR, and the Bolivar birding areas.

For your trip: BRING YOUR CAMERA. You might want a jacket or a light raincoat. Snacks are not a bad idea. You might consider bringing travel/picnic-type items. Sometimes it may be advantageous to have a quick sandwich or something like that with you. Lunches will be on the run, so you might prepare for that, but dinners will be wonderful at some special places.

BRING INSECT REPELLANT—I will have some in my truck, but you will want to have some with you. BRING YOUR BINOCULARS. Wear comfortable shoes that are good for walking—even though we are not likely to walk long distances, you will be on your feet a lot.

This area is incredible. You may find it the best birding trip you have ever made. Depending on the conditions, you could see over 100 species on this trip, including a dozen or two of our many warblers. You also will not just be seeing one - you may see dozens of some species. Actually, you might see 100 species in a single day if the conditions are right. It is so much fun.

IF YOU KNOW YOU ARE COMING, please IM me or just say so in the comments. I'd like to get a rough count of how many are going.

Don't worry if you decide to come at the last minute and cannot reach me—just come.

Also, if you want to carpool, leave comments below. It will be up to you to read the comments and find others to join.

As further information, I will be down there from April 16th to April 30th. So, if you can't join us on this trip, yell and I may be able to meet you on other dates.

More information may be added to this as information arises.

23 fantastic birders had a terrific time on the Tyler Audubon Society's field trip to Mineola N.P. (19 are pictured here...
04/13/2024

23 fantastic birders had a terrific time on the Tyler Audubon Society's field trip to Mineola N.P. (19 are pictured here - others joined us later).

It was a perfect day with the ideal temperature for a pleasant walk on the Mineola N.P. trails.

We saw 40 species in all. The highlight was a beautiful Prothonotary Warbler who sat and sang for us all—everyone got to see him.

Our next trip will be to High Island on April 24 and 25, during the great bird migration. Details will come later today.

Address

21187 County Road 4106
Lindale, TX
75771

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when East Texas Birding posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category