Where We Go

Where do we look for Birds & Butterflies?

Smith County, Texas sites

Our Garden - Tyler, TX - Our first stop is our own little garden. It is small (20' x 8'), but it's all we have. It is in a breezeway, between the house and garage. It is fenced at both ends. It's not the optimum place, but we have had so many species come back there. We started this breezeway idea, to have some nectar flowers for butterflies. We basically have had Lantana and a few other small plants. Lantana has proved to be the "biggest bang for the buck". It attracts just about every species, from the smallest Skipper, to Giants, Monarchs and even Moths and Hummingbirds. We have the Red, Purple, Yellow and White cultivars. We did plant flowers in the front beds, they are only 3' x 6', with Yellow Marigolds. They have been the real surprise of our trials. They too attract just about everything. We were really amazed at how much they attract. We will plant them again in 2008. We are adding more Milkweed and Acanthus next year and we will find some spots out front for Acanthus and Mexican Cigar plant too. We look forward to continuing our Butterfly photography.

Bellwood Lake - Tyler, TX - **UPDATE** This city lake is watershed property and ~~has not been improved upon, luckily for us Wildlife viewers. We hope it does not get improved or restored for people...~~ It has been Sold to Developers, for a Conference Center and Condos!! Now it's Ruined for good!

Tyler Rose Garden - The Rose Garden is not only roses. It has two areas of interest for butterflies. First is "The Idea Garden". It is maintained by the Smith County Master Gardeners. This garden is a showplace for gardening methods and ideas, but we love it because of the multitude of Butterflies it attracts. Just about every species recorded in Smith County has also been seen in this Garden. It is located in the Southeast corner of the Rose Garden property. Also you should go to the Heritage Garden in the Southwest corner of the Rose Garden property. It has many butterfly attractants as well.

Hats off to the City of Tyler and the Smith County Master Gardeners, for doing such a Fine Job. We hope they continue the good work.

Click this Link to the City of Tyler web page about the Rose Garden.

Lake Tyler East- We have had good luck in this parking area, early in the mornings. Many species of waterfowl, shore birds, raptor and others.

PPW-E 056 Boat Ramp and Picnic Area at Lake Tyler East on US 64

Site open for day use only.

From Chapel Hill, just east of Tyler, take US 64 east approximately 5.1 miles to the public boat ramp. On the east side of the bridge crossing Lake Tyler East there is a public boat ramp and picnic area on the south side of the road.

A good place to rest, picnic, and watch wildlife along Hwy. 64, this site includes shoreline habitats and deciduous forest. Look for wading birds such as Great and Snowy Egrets, and Great Blue and Little Blue Herons along the shoreline and in the shallows of Mud Creek. Check tree perches and power lines for Belted Kingfishers, which frequently fish the creek. Look for dabbling ducks in the winter. The deciduous forest adjacent to the parking lot hosts Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers, Summer Tanager, Painted Bunting, Blue Grosbeak and Orchard Oriole. During the spring and fall, look for migrating songbirds.

The Web address is: Prairies and Pineywoods - East | Great Texas Wildlife Trails

Lake Palestine- We go over to Lake Palestine, once in a while, to "The Village Resort" area. There is a public ramp, and a large Marina. It's a good place, at times, to see waterfowl & water birds. We take 155 West, to 2661 North and travel to the first Yellow caution intersection (about 2.5 miles). Turn left there and follow the road, till you get to the marina.

Old Sabine Bottoms WMA- I have really enjoyed this area. Woods flooded with swampy pools attract so many different species. We saw so many varieties of woodpeckers and even Wood Ducks, owls and more.

PPW-E 068 Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area

Site access restricted. Call ahead. Fee charged.

From the intersection of US 69 and FM 16 East in Lindale, take FR 16 east 0.6 miles to FM 2710. Turn left on FM 2710 and go 5.0 miles north to the 4 way stop at CR 4106. Go straight (north) on CR 4106 for 1.5 miles to the WMA entrance.

This 5,727-acre wildlife management area features important bottomland hardwood habitat. Many roads, trails and parking areas are available for visitor use. An information kiosk with a map of the Area is located at the entrance. Visitors can enjoy 24 miles of trails accessible by bicycle, horseback, or foot. Mature oak, elm, ash and other hardwood trees cover much of the WMA. Since it is located within the Sabine River floodplain, habitats include a variety of wetlands and oxbow lakes. Wildlife viewing includes Neotropical migratory songbirds, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Snowy Egrets, Barred Owls, White-tailed Deer and Beavers.

Look for Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Black-crowned Night- Herons, and Belted Kingfisher along the shorelines of the oxbow lakes and Sabine River. In the forest, watch for Great Horned, and Eastern Screech Owls, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, and Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers. During the nesting season look for Prothonotary Warbler and Northern Parula. Swallow-tailed Kites can be observed during migration.

The Web address is: Prairies and Pineywoods - East | Great Texas Wildlife Trails

Tyler State Park - This park is about 20 minutes away from us. We have only gone there twice. We just went there in August, 07. We found two new to us species of butterfly. We need to go again! Follow the link to the TPWD website, for the information about Tyler State Park...

TPWD - Tyler State Park Web Page

Neither my site, nor the information as presented on my site is endorsed by the State of Texas or TPWD