Bird observations for the TLCNP

Since 1998 people have been recording their bird observations at The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve on Ebird.org. The nature preserve is a nationally recognized bird “hot spot” and was added to the Buffalo Bayou Loop of the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Upper Texas Coast - Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail in 2018.

The best times to observe migratory birds at LCNP is in the spring (March and April) and in the fall (October).  A bird bar chart is a listing of every bird species and the months of the year each bird species has been observed in the nature preserve.

A field checklist is a complete list of every bird (by species) that has been observed in TLCNP over the years. Print this form out for your visit into the nature preserve. What bird will you see?

Birding Hotspots in and around Harris county

Harris and neighboring counties are an incredible greenspace in which to observe birds. Below is information and links to some of the best nationally recognized “hotspots” in the upper Texas coast.  The “hotspots” below are organized by vicinity.

Houston Inner Loop Area

Houston Arboretum
4501 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX   77024
Bird Observations      Map
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center (UTC 093) is a 155 acre arboretum and nature center,  it is open daily with free admission.  The arboretum has over five miles of nature trails, with forest, pond, wetland, and meadow habitats. Specialty gardens include a Hummingbird & Butterfly Island, Sensory Garden, and Wildlife Garden.  Admission is free!  Parking is $6.50, free on Thursdays and on the Second Sunday of each month for all guests.

Russ Pitman Park
7112 Newcastle, Bellaire, TX   77401
Bird Observations        Map
Nature Discovery Center (Russ Pitman Park) is a small neighborhood park (UTC 092) in a satellite suburban city surrounded by the city of Houston. The vegetation in the park is almost entirely native plants and attracts a variety of wildlife. The trails are level and well-maintained. The park includes a variety of habitats: a small pond, a water feature, native prairie, and wooded areas. There are bird feeders near the nature center and the southwest corner of the park.

Willow Waterhole Greenspace
5300 Dryad Dr., Houston, TX  77035
Bird Observations           Map
Willow Waterhole Greenway (UTC 092A) is a 300-plus-acre network of lakes, prairie, marsh, islands, native plants, wildlife, and park amenities. This unusual urban setting is designed to protect against Houston’s flooding and to bring the community together for conservation, education, and recreation.

West Houston and Katy Prairie area

Bear Creek Pioneers Park
15015 Clay Road, Houston, TX   77084
Bird Observations       Map
Bear Creek Pioneers Park (UTC 097) is 2,154.6 acres in size, and offers over 2.5 miles of trails. Amenities include an aviary and wildlife habitat, and 16 restrooms. Heavy rain may cause portions of the park to flood and some roads within the park to close. Water features include Langham Creek, Bear Creek, and a small constructed pond.

Joseph S. and Lucie H. Cullinan Park
12414 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX   77498
Bird Observations      Map
Cullinan Park (UTC 095) is a 754-acre regional nature park and a top hotspot in Fort Bend and West Houston. It is known for it's big populations and wide varieties of birds throughout the year.  It has over 8 miles of trails and an observation platform.

Archbishop Fiorenza Park North
13551 Westpark Drive, Houston, TX  77082
Bird Observations       Map
Archbishop Fiorenza Park is a relatively small hotspot, covered mainly by the Eldridge Retention Basin. It's right off Eldridge Road and always has lots of parking on Westpark Drive. There are restrooms next to the parking area, a playground, and jogging trails. It's a great spot for visiting any time of year, not just for birding.

Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
440 Wilchester Blvd, Houston, TX  77079 
Bird Observations        Map
Houston Audubon Society Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary (UTC 094) is a forested, 18-acre sanctuary with natural trails. Take the south trail loop and stop along the creek at the overlooks for the best birding areas. The bird feeders in the cabin garden and the gravel parking lot are also high-activity spots. Parking is off Memorial Drive United Methodist Church at 12955 Memorial Dr.

Brazoria area

Brazos Bend State Park
21901 FM 762,  Needville, TX   77461
Bird Observations       Map
Brazos Bend SP (UTC 117) is located about 45 miles southwest of Houston in Needville, Texas.  This state park with 37 miles of trails features massive populations of wading birds, raptors, and resident forest species across diverse live oak and wetland zones. Entrance fee for 13 years and older is $7 per person.

Clear Lake area

Armand Bayou Nature Center
8500 Bay Area Blvd. Pasadena, TX   77507
Bird Observations       Map
ABNC (UTC 081) is one of the largest urban wilderness preserves in the United States. ABNC contains more than 4,300+ acres of the natural wetlands forest, prairie and marsh habitats once abundant in the Houston and Galveston area. ABNC is home to over 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. ABNC offers hiking trails, exhibits, field trips.

Galveston area

Lafitte’s Cove Nature Preserve
3509 Eckert Drive, Galveston, TX   77554  See directions. 
Bird Observations       Map
Lafitte's Cove Nature Preserve (UTC 068) has three water drip locations and the woods are a magnet for migrant land birds and can rival High Island. Two drips attract songbirds during spring and fall migration and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are frequently seen here as well. 

DIRECTIONS:  Take Stewart Road heading west, turn on Eckert Drive into Lafitte’s Cove.  Parking for preserve is on Eckert Drive after Binnacle Way intersection.  Look for the boardwalk to the entrance to the Preserve.

Bolivar Island area

Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary
Bolivar Flats, Port Bolivar, TX  77650
Bird Observations       Map
Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary (UTC 058) is a unique habitat complex of mudflats, salt marsh, uplands and beach. This ideal combination of habitats provides resting, feeding and/or breeding sites for hundreds of thousands of birds each year.  Bolivar Flats is a Globally Important Bird Area, the highest designation, and an International site in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN).

High Island Boy Scout Woods
2088 5th St, High Island, TX  77623
Bird Observations      Map    Map
The Houston Audubon Society manages four bird sanctuaries in the area, the two most popular being Boy Scout Woods (UTC 055), which is staffed with volunteers from mid-March through mid-May, and Smith Oaks (UTC 052), the largest reserve, which also has a rookery with two great overlooks. Boy Scout Woods has bleachers set up next to water features, so you can post up for a while and study their behavior. All four have great hiking trails that provide an amazing view into the lives of these unique creatures. Topical Birding Tours offers free birding and photography walks and talks in spring.

North East Houston area

Sheldon Lake State Park
14140 Garrett Rd, Houston, TX   77044
Bird Observations      Map
Sheldon Lake State Park (UTC 033) aand Environmental Learning Center is a 2,800-acre outdoor education and recreation park in northeast Harris County. Texas Parks and Wildlife purchased this land in the 1950s to provide a refuge for migratory waterfowl, a public fishing lake, and a fish hatchery.

Besides dedicated trails among many different habitats, there is a large tower which you can either climb the stairs or take an elevator to the top. At the top of the tower, you get a fantastic overview of the entire lake. You often see Bald Eagles flying or sitting atop trees nearby.