[Birdingam]

Hi Visting Dallas for few days at the end of May. Anyone have any recommended areas for a bit of birding in the area. Will have a car.

[lulubelle]

How many days will you be here, what are your target birds and what are your driving restrictions (as in mileage or times available)? This will help me point you in the right directions!

Also, keep an eye on Texbirds and eBird for the most recent sightings in both Tarrant & Dallas counties, prior to your arrival.

Texbirds: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TEXS.html

eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/


Also, here are the links to both the Ft Worth Audubon & Audubon Dallas sites. Both are interactive and usually up to date with area sightings.

FWAS: http://www.fwas.org/forumindex.php

Can't hurt to check NARBA for rare sightings that may occur in our area or spots relatively close by - may be worth the drive depending on what shows up!

NARBA: http://narba.org/default.aspx/MenuIt...Group/Home.htm

DAS: http://audubondallas.org/forum/index.php

[Birdingam]

Originally Posted by lulubelle

How many days will you be here, what are your target birds and what are your driving restrictions (as in mileage or times available)? This will help me point you in the right directions!

Also, keep an eye on Texbirds and eBird for the most recent sightings in both Tarrant & Dallas counties, prior to your arrival.

Texbirds: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/TEXS.html

eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/


Also, here are the links to both the Ft Worth Audubon & Audubon Dallas sites. Both are interactive and usually up to date with area sightings.

FWAS: http://www.fwas.org/forumindex.php

Can't hurt to check NARBA for rare sightings that may occur in our area or spots relatively close by - may be worth the drive depending on what shows up!

NARBA: http://narba.org/default.aspx/MenuIt...Group/Home.htm

DAS: http://audubondallas.org/forum/index.php

Hi

Just got 2 1/2 days and based in Arlington before moving downtown Dallas for a weeks work. Thanks for the links, seem really useful.

Haven't really got any target birds as I've spent 2 weeks in southern Texas a few years ago.

[lulubelle]

Ah, I live in Arlington! I would suggest the following:

1. Village Creek Drying beds off of Green Oaks Blvd - they open at 07:30 and close roads. You cannot drive upon the dike, berm or whatever you want to call it - even if the gates are open on the berm. If the gates are closed due to rains (the roads get a bit nasty) you can park at the park across the street at the park and then walk across & go around the right side of the brick wall on the right. If you have to park across the street, make sure all valuables are in the trunk. Great neighborhood, but the park has had a few break ins. There will not be an address that you can google for this spot, but it is directly across from the J.R Dunlop Park/sports center on Green Oaks Blvd.

2. River Legacy park - there is a main entrance literally east of the entrance to Village Creek Drying Beds and then farther down Green Oaks, if you make a left on Collins street, there is another entrance on the left side of the road. You can drive in, park and then follow the left path under Collins St to another section of RLP.

3. Kelley Park in Arlington. A small park, but is hosting a Red-headed Woodpecker, which we don't normally find in Tarrant County. He has been there for several months now and doesn't seem inclined to move on.

4. Colleyville Nature Center - a short drive from Arlington. Nice little park, tree covered trails. Has a few small ponds.

5. If you are game to drive to Dallas, you can bird portions of White Rock Lake. Baltimore Orioles are nesting there.

6. If you want to see nesting Mississippi Kites, there is a small park close by that is hosting pair. It is Pappy Elkins Park in Dalworthington Gardens - it is a little city within Arlington (we have 2 small cities within a bigger city!).

7. Depending on shorebird/wader activity in the area, I can suggest a trip to a rural area that has ag fields as well as a local sod farm that often will have Buff-breasted Sandpipers, etc. Will keep an eye on what is being found there and let you know if anything of note is there. This spot is about 45 minutes to an hr away from Arlington depending on traffic.

8. If you are here on a Tues and don't mind a bit of a drive, Hagerman Wildlife Refuge has a bird walk/drive (they drive you around the refuge in a van and get out at good spots) that can get some really good birds. You can get a quite decent list there!

I will suggest a few more places. The issue is that migration will have come to an end (or close to) and nesting season will have begun & and we don't have an amazing amount nesting species in this portion of Texas. The drying beds can produce a really nice number of species and we have been getting some great birds coming through lately. If you are here on a Saturday and are willing to drive east a couple of hours, you can go on a guided bird walk at Tyler State park and get species like Pine Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, etc. We have Painted Buntings, Indigo Buntings, Western & Eastern Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers nesting locally. Also Great-crested Flycatchers. The birds of southern Texas are a bit different than the birds of north central Texas - they are better! That being said, we do get some species in this area that don't show up south so much.

If I am not working or otherwise obligated when you are here, I wouldn't mind meeting up with you at a local spot. You can PM me with your dates if you want......won't be offended if you don't!!!!! Some people are lone birders, some like company!

[lulubelle]

Just read my reply and realize that I left the close time of the Village Creek Drying Beds! They close the gates between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. They will drive up on the hill and sit, assuming birders are looking out for the Ft Worth Water Treatment vehicles. Some times they will drive a little ways down the road, into the beds, but we are responsible for keeping an eye for them and leaving once we see them, or by 4:30. If you get locked in, you can drive up to the front gate, park, walk around the left side and call the number on the gate. They may not be happy, but they will let you out!!!