Where to go birding in Dallas ?

[Ashu]

Hi,
I will be in Dallas for two days (3/23-3/24). I am planning to do some birdwatching. I looked at the Dallas Big Day list. Could someone please tell where I can find these birds from the Big Day list.

Black-bellied Wh. Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Neotropic Cormorant
Yellw-crwnd Night-Heron
Black Vulture
Pectoral Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Franklin's Gull
White-winged Dove
Inca Dove
Monk Parakeet
Barred Owl
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Ladder-bck. Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Purple Martin
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Black-crested Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Brown Thrasher
Pine Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow
LeConte's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Gull

Which one of these are easy to see and which ones are rare. What are the hotspots in and around Dallas that I can cover in two days to see maximum number of birds on my list.

-Ashutosh

[Perry]

Here's my best shot:

Northern Bobwhite - Fairly difficult to find.
Neotropic Cormorant - Whiterock
Yellw-crwnd Night-Heron - Whiterock & Medical Center
Black Vulture - Keep your eyes peeled
Pectoral Sandpiper - Very early find, not likely to repeat
American Woodcock - See other posts. This was in Irving somewhere
Franklin's Gull - Whiterock
White-winged Dove - Whiterock & keep your eyes open
Monk Parakeet - Whiterock colony in the power towers
Barred Owl - Nests in Whiterock fish hatchery
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Everywhere hard to miss
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Getting late, might not find
Ladder-bck. Woodpecker - Very difficult to find, chance at Arbor Hills
Eastern Phoebe - All over, just keep your eyes and ears open
Blue-headed Vireo - A bit early to predict where to find yet
Blue Jay - Can't miss
Purple Martin - Over the open water at whiterock
Carolina Chickadee - Everywhere try Whiterock Hatchery
Tufted Titmouse - Everywhere try Whiterock Hatchery
Black-crested Titmouse - Not likely to find
Carolina Wren - Everywhere try Whiterock Hatchery
Brown Thrasher - Whiterock hatchery
Pine Warbler - Hard to find without going east
Eastern Towhee - Whiterock hatchery
Field Sparrow - Pretty common any field or grass area
LeConte's Sparrow - Good luck
Swamp Sparrow - Hit or miss, but might be in swampy area of hatchery
White-throated Sparrow - Everywhere try Whiterock Hatchery
Harris's Sparrow - Hit and miss
Northern Cardinal - Can't miss
Eastern Meadowlark - Open fields around Whiterock
Rusty Blackbird - Gone, not likely to find
Common Grackle - Keep your eyes out and check large flocks at Whiterock
Great-tailed Grackle - Cannot miss
Little Gull - Whiterock over the open water at the south end by hatchery

For maximum species off this list, I would take a trip to Whiterock Lake. A drive around the lake will yield many of the species followed by a walk through the hatchery. If you walk the hatchery area, its better to walk with someone. Go at the break of dawn before the people flood the area on the weekend.

[Sheryll]

I was told that Ladder-backed woodpecker and American Woodcock were both found near the University of Dallas' campus during the Big Day. I wouldn't count on finding either of them.

Neotropic cormorant is also pretty dependably found along Campion Trail in Irving/Los Colinas.

We had loads of Pine Warblers around Lake Lewisville during the past couple of Lewisville CBCs. Wouldn't you expect them to still be around?

Loads of Harris sparrows were present at McInnish Park in Carrollton on both days of the Big Day.

Sheryll