DFW Area Migration Sites

[sigma1448]

Does anyone in the DFW area know of some good local (within 60miles) spots to shoot migrating birds. I am especially interested in water/marsh birds.

[Dokk]

Check out Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) by the Lake Lewisville dam. It's a 2000 acre wildlife management area in Lewisville. The director there is an Certified bird bander and conducts periodic bird bandings and birding tours of the area there. It's open to the public on weekends and there's a $5.00 all day entry fee which goes directly back into conservation and maintainence of the facility there. There are several speicies of birds that migrate through this WMA including bald eagles as well as many wetland birds and even monarch butterflies. It's a pretty amazing place with a pretty diverse flora and fauna poplulation including many rare species.

http://www.ias.unt.edu/llela/main.htm

[Jim Victory]

Hagerman National Wildlife Preserve outside of Sherman. There is usually thousands of Snow and Canadian Geese and many species of waterfowl that migrate there during the winter. You would have to go to Bosque to find more migratory birds.

[sigma1448]

Thanks a lot Jim. I went to a couple of web sites and they say exactly what you said. This is apparently a very large migratory and wintering area for geese and other waterfowl. Their birding checklist is very large.

[zeroendless]

White Rock lake, as many as hundreds of White Pelicans migrate and shelter from October to Match. You can get rather close to them. If you want to do flight shot at eye-level, Denison Dam at late Winter when the water is being released. Migratory White Pelicans circling the dam for drowning fishes all day long.

Village Creek at Arlington, shore birds migration already started but unfortunately we got way too much water this year.

[sigma1448]

Thanks Daniel, I heard about Villiage Creek and was thinking of going over there tommorow possibly. Do they close it down if there is too much water or is there some other reasons? I didn't know about the Pelicans at White Rock. Could I reach them with my 300mm zoom?

[zeroendless]

Bad idea to visit VC this weekend, they often close with massive rainfall like this week. We have a season like this 2-3 years ago? and it closed for months. But you always can park you car outside and walk around the gate.

You shouldn't have problem reaching the Pelicans at 300mm, good thing happen if you sit low and wait for the flight-in.

added
I forgot, there's Fort Worth water department phone on the gate, anyone can call and ask the gate keeper to open the gate if it's closed. But keep it cool, It took some serious talk from FW Audubon to have the area accessible again.

[sigma1448]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

You shouldn't have problem reaching the Pelicans at 300mm, good thing happen if you sit low and wait for the flight-in.

The last time I sat in the grass and waited the chiggers had a coming out celebration.
Thanks Daniel

[ka5txl]

Gerald, there are many places to take pictures at white rock. The one I think is the best is on the east side of the lake Turn off of Buckner Blvd at Lake Highlands and turn into the park. At the stop sign turn left and follow the road through the woods and the park at the turn around. There are some park buildings, picnic tables there. It's a sheltered cove and in a few weeks there will be a large population of waterfowl. But it's a secret, so don't tell anyone.

[sigma1448]

Thanks Daniel for the inside scoop. Scout's honor, I won't tell a soul.

[JohnT]

VC is a boggy mess after a lot of rain. Better to stay out and avoid getting stuck. LOL

[sigma1448]

Is VC a raw sewage treatment place with a lot of smell or is it more like a rainwater holding area with a more delicate aroma?

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by sigma1448

Is VC a raw sewage treatment place with a lot of smell or is it more like a rainwater holding area with a more delicate aroma?

Used to be water treatment place years ago. Now, it's just a bunch water collection pools. No nasty odors unless something dies.

[sigma1448]

Thanks for the info John. I think I will avoid the muck this weekend.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by sigma1448

Thanks for the info John. I think I will avoid the muck this weekend.

Sure thing. I live only about 8-10 min. from the place and make it over there occasionally. I'll try to let folks know when I know it's closed, opened, soaked, whatever.