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Our "Combined" Birding Trail

The Texas side of Toledo Bend Lake has a number of birding sites identified as part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Big Thicket Loop.. Only those sites that are in proximity to Toledo Bend Lake are identified here. Additionally, sites from the Great Texas Wildlife Trails - Prairies & Pineywoods East are listed. Additionally, we have sites from the Louisiana Red River Birding Trail - Loop 3. In addition to the sites identified on the "Official Birding Trails" (identified by their number from the maps of the trails) we have identified other sites in this area that may be of interest to birders.

Toledo Bend Lake Area Birding Checklist

For a comprehensive Toledo Bend Lake Area Birding Checklist - CLICK HERE In addition to the checklist, there are links to pictures of many of the birds on the Webmaster's Gallery including many in-flight shots and sequences and lots more! The Webmaster's Gallery includes some excellent shots of birds from around Toledo Bend Lake - especially the Bald Eagles - Osprey catching White Bass - and shots of a Hawk's nest with the young, visit the Toledo Bend Gallery at Toledo-Bend.US

GTWT Site 37 - North Toledo Bend Wildlife Management Area:

From Center, travel east 13.4 miles on Hwy 7 to FM 2787. Go south on FM 2787 for 2.1 miles to FM 139. On FM 139 go south 2 miles to FM 2572. Go east 1.6 miles to entrance of the WMA. Bird watching is good throughout the year. During the summer look for Wood Duck, egrets, herons, Dickcissel, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Blue Grosbeak, as well as Indigo and Painted Buntings. Wood Stork, Sedge Wren, White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and waterfowl such as Mallard, Wood Duck, Gadwalls, Widgeon, Pintail, Green and Blue-winged Teals, Scaup and Hooded Merganser are wintertime inhabitants. Prothonotary Warblers are springtime inhabitants of the area especially around Swede Johnson Lake. Other spring species include Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Parula, Louisiana Water-thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles and Summer Tanager.

GTWT Site 39 - Huxley Bay Marina:

From Hwy 87 in Shelbyville, turn onto FM 417 and follow FM 417 approximately 2.0 miles and veer right on FM 2694. Follow FM 2694 for 14.6 miles to the large sign on the right. Birds commonly seen along the shoreline of the cove include Little and Great Blue Herons, Snowy and Cattle Egrets, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Green Heron, and Belted Kingfisher. Ospreys and Bald Eagles are also occasionally seen.

GTWT Site 41 - Haley's Ferry Recreation Area:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) A Red-cockaded Woodpecker cluster is located adjacent to the entrance road. The best opportunities to view these birds are at daybreak and early evenings, but please remember to minimize your disturbance. Resident pine forest species include Red-bellied, Red-cockaded, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, American Kestrel, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Pine Warbler, and Eastern Bluebird. During the summer Woodthrush, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and Eastern Towhee occur quite regularly. Resident woodland species include Blue Jay, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula, Arcadian Flycatcher, Gray Catbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Kingbird, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Yellow-throated Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Hooded Warbler. Brightly colored neo-tropical songbirds also migrate through this area during the spring and fall months.

GTWT Site 42 - Ragtown Recreation Area:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) Look for Little and Great Blue Herons, various egrets, Yellow-crowned Night and Green Herons and Belted Kingfisher along the shoreline. In the forest, watch for Red-bellied, Red-cockaded, and Pileated Woodpeckers, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, American Kestrel, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, and Pine Warbler. During summer, look for Woodthrush, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and Eastern Towhee. The area also abounds with migrating neo-tropical songbirds during the spring and fall months.

GTWT Site 43 - East Hamilton Boat Ramp:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) Look along the shorelines for various herons and egrets. In the winter, scan the lake for waterfowl and Bald Eagles. Resident pine forest species include Red-bellied, Downy, and Pileated Woodpeckers; Blue Jay; Carolina Chickadee, American Kestrel; Tufted Titmouse; Carolina Wren, Pine Warbler, and Eastern Bluebird. During the summer, Woodthrush, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, American Redstart, Indigo and Painted Buntings, and Eastern Towhee occur quite regularly. Many colorful migratory songbirds travel through this area during the spring and fall months.

GTWT Site 44 - Red Hills Lake:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) Beautiful small lake is great for camping, picnicking and bird watching! Look for Loggerhead Shrike, Brown Thrasher, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Lark Sparrow, Common Grackle, Eastern Meadowlark, and Dickcissel. During winter months, look for White-crowned, Swamp, LeConte’s, Fox and Grasshopper Sparrows. Hiking either of the trails or making your own trail through the pine forest will expose species such as Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Mourning Dove, Eastern Wood-Peewee, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Carolina Wren and Brown-headed Nuthatch. Warbler species present include Yellow-throated, Pine, Swainson’s, Hooded, and Black-and-White Warblers. Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, Northern Parula, Blue Jay and American Crow also reside in the area.

Longleaf Pines Park:

(pictures below - For historic information, CLICK HERE) From Hemphill, Texas (jct. TX 184 / TX 87) go West on TX 184 for 4.7 miles to junction Texas FM 2024; the park / picnic area is on the West side of the intersection. Watch for Red-cockaded Woodpecker and other woodland species here in the Spring and Summer.

Moore Plantation - Moore Wildlife Management Area:

(click here for directions, description) In the Spring and Summer look here for Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Bachman's Sparrow, Pine Warbler, and Summer Tanager.

Fox Hunters Hill:

(pictures below) From Hemphill, Texas (jct. TX 184 / TX 87) go South on Texas 87 for 15.6 miles (0.9 mi. South of jct. Hwy 3315 / TX 87) to Forest Road 113 on East side of 87. FR113 winds 1.7 miles through the woods to an area suitable for parking where the road worsens as it turns to the left. The area is marked as an Endangered Species Colony for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Also look for Bachman's Sparrow, Pine Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, and Pilieated Woodpecker.

SRA (#7) Sam Forse Collins Recreation Area:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) Bordered by woods and near the Toledo Bend Reservoir dam, this area attracts a number of species including Bald Eagles, Ospreys and in the Summer this is a good area to see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

GTCBT Site 04 - Toledo Bend Reservoir - Dam Area:

(click here for directions, description, pictures of State area by dam) From the Dam Observation Area birds may be seen that are not likely to be present elsewhere on the Loop. Various gulls such as Bonapartes and Franklins, Bald Eagles, Ospreys and various waterfowl have been seen here. In the Summer this is a good area to see the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

GTCBT Site 03 - Wild Azalea Canyons:

(click here for directions, description, pictures) Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Thrushes, Hooded and Swainson's warblers, and Summer Thrushes may be seen in the surrounding pine forest.

GTCBT Site 02 - Bon Wier:

Texas Highway US 190 at the Sabine River bridge (border with Louisiana). About .5 mile West of the bridge/river is an old section of the highway where parking is available. Swallow-tailed Kites may be seen floating above the woodlands bordering the Sabine River in the Spring and Summer.