Susan
07-26-2010, 04:51 PM
There is a wonderful new nature preserve less than two hours east of Dallas; the 3000 acre Mineola Nature Preserve on the Sabine River. Located just south of Mineola a mile east of Hwy 69, the preserve has plenty of parking, a native plant garden, a picnic pavillion and restrooms, and a large well-marked map of the many trails.
The main trail is a very pleasant wide former railroad bed with mixed woods on both sides, ponds and sloughs and at the end, it meets the Sabine River. Several viewing areas overlook the sloughs and the open fields created as wildlife corriders among all the woods. There are some side trails as well, and a long network of equestrian trails along the outer edges of the area. The habitat with many willows, buttonbush and various tree species looks like it will be especially good for birding during spring migration.
Considering we were birding from 8:30 to 11:30 on a hot July day, we were pleased to see 33 species. Most were the expected residents, but the highlights of the day were four warblers; N. Parula, Prothonotary, Hooded, and Common Yellowthroat. Two flocks of busy blue-grey gnatcatchers, a Pileated woodpecker and a yellow-billed cuckoo added to the fun. Tiger swallowtails and various dragonflies were really abundant also.
The Mineola Preserve and the closeby Grand Saline Salt Marsh are both detailed on the Prairies and Pineywoods Wildlife Trail-East map/brochere in the Texas Parks and Wildlife series.
The main trail is a very pleasant wide former railroad bed with mixed woods on both sides, ponds and sloughs and at the end, it meets the Sabine River. Several viewing areas overlook the sloughs and the open fields created as wildlife corriders among all the woods. There are some side trails as well, and a long network of equestrian trails along the outer edges of the area. The habitat with many willows, buttonbush and various tree species looks like it will be especially good for birding during spring migration.
Considering we were birding from 8:30 to 11:30 on a hot July day, we were pleased to see 33 species. Most were the expected residents, but the highlights of the day were four warblers; N. Parula, Prothonotary, Hooded, and Common Yellowthroat. Two flocks of busy blue-grey gnatcatchers, a Pileated woodpecker and a yellow-billed cuckoo added to the fun. Tiger swallowtails and various dragonflies were really abundant also.
The Mineola Preserve and the closeby Grand Saline Salt Marsh are both detailed on the Prairies and Pineywoods Wildlife Trail-East map/brochere in the Texas Parks and Wildlife series.