Walking the boardwalks, look for waterfowl, shorebirds, and rails in the marshes and lagoon. Scoping out the lagoon may prove fruitful for rarities. Morning light is best for viewing the lagoon, as the boardwalk looks west over the lagoon.

During spring and fall, setting a lawn chair by the willows and other trees near the parking lot and sitting for a few hours can produce dozens of warblers, flycatchers, thrushes, cuckoos, chats, and other migrants.

Shorebirds can often be found by walking Ross Avenue towards the transfer station. Look through the chain-linked fence into the wastewater treatment plant's drying beds for White-rumped, Least, Semipalmated, and Stilt Sandpipers, as well as other shorebirds. The mudflats on the southeast side of the road may also host shorebirds.

Hiking beyond the end of the boardwalk can be beneficial during the fall and winter, as sparrows (Clay-colored, Nelson's, Song, Swamp, Savannah) and Palm Warbler may be present in the brushy areas along the unpaved trail. During spring and fall, look for Olive-sided Flycatcher hawking from snags at back end of the transfer station, visible from the unpaved trail.

Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center is located at 1356 Ross Avenue. The Birding Center is down the street from the Community Park and next to the Lewis Wilcox Wastewater Treatment Plant. This site offers a native pollinator garden and large trees in the front area. Walk along the sidewalk to the back and there are two boardwalks totaling 1,225 feet over the freshwater wetlands. The boardwalks feature two shaded observation platforms, benches, and two spotting scopes. Take the boardwalk that parallels the shore to the end and you can take a longer walk. The site is now connected to the Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture South Trail, which continues 1.25 miles over salt marsh and grassland prairie habitats. The walk includes an observation tower about halfway down the trail.

No permanent restrooms are on site, but port-a-potties may be available on occasion.

Birding on the Boardwalk, Wednesdays 9AM

Birders Meet Up! Join our experts at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center to experience birding from the new boardwalk. This walk will be short along our boardwalk but offers great vistas for watching all our wonderful birds. Guides Ray Dillahunty and Leslie Hoesktra will lead the group in discovering all the Center has to offer.

All experience levels are welcome, and binoculars are available for loan.

Program is free. Meet at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at 9:00 am.

In 2006 Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine names the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center #1 of the Top Ten Boardwalks in Texas.View the full article here