Texas Panhandle Birding Spots

Panhandle Bird Club

 

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Located approximately 12 miles East of Canyon, Texas on State Highway 217. The park has an entrance fee of $4.00 per person. Checklists are available at the park entrance for $1.00 each.

For more information, check out the TPWD web site for Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Established in 1958, Buffalo Lake refuge consists of 7,664 acres of short grass prairie, water, marsh and croplands. For the most part, the lake is dry.

One and one half miles south of Umbarger on FM 168. Refuge headquarters may be reached from the east or west by U.S. Highway 60 and from the north or south by Interstate 27 to U.S. 60. Umbarger lies 10 miles west of the city of Canyon and 15 miles east of Hereford, Texas. The refuge has a $2.00 per vehicle entry fee. Checklists and a map of the park are available at the refuge entrance. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily October 1st through March 31st each year, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily April 1st through September 30th each year. There is a one-way exit device at the gate.

For more information about Buffalo Lake NWR visit the FWS web site.

Caprock Canyon State Park

Located approximately 3 miles north of Quitaque, Texas. Caprock Canyons may be reached from the east or west by driving on U.S.Highway 86 from U.S. 287 or Interstate 27. The road to the park is on the west side of the city of Quitaque. Primitive camping, biking trails and hiking trails are available. Entrance fee is $3.00 per person A map to the site.

For more information about Caprock Canyon State Park visit their web site.

Lake Rita Blanca

Lake Rita Blanca is southwest of the city of Dalhart, Texas just off U.S. Highway 385. Follow signs to the lake and the XIT club.

Lake Marvin

Lake Marvin is locate east of Canadian, Texas on FM 2260. Waterfowl, American Tree Sparrows, Harris' Sparrows, Shrikes, and various woodpeckers can be found.

Lake Meredith

Lake Meredith is forty miles North of Amarillo on Highway 287, and 20 miles East on FM 1913. Seasonal birds include eagles, waterfowl, shrikes, falcons, and numerous passerines. A map to the site.

Read about Lake Meredith on the National Park Service's web site.

Greenbelt Reservoir

Greenbelt Reservoir is located in Donley County, just three miles north of the city of Clarendon, Texas on Highway 70. There is a $2.00 per person entry fee payable at the water commission office 2 miles north of Clarendon on Highway 70. Be sure and check the marshes below the dam, and the numerous feeders in Howardwick, Texas. A map to the site.

Lake McClellan

Lake McClellan is located 45 miles east of Amarillo, Texas at the FM 2477 exit. Entry fee is $3.00 per vehicle. Environs include lake, marsh and mature woodlands. Playa wetlands are seasonal to the north and west of the lake, and a Prairie Dog town adjoins the first playa north of the lake on FM 2477. Camping and hiking is offered. A map to the site.

Cactus Playa

Cactus playa is one and one half miles east of Etter, Texas on FM 281. Etter is eleven miles north of Dumas, Texas on Highway 287. Cactus playa is winter home to hundreds of thousands of geese and ducks every winter, which also serves as a magnet for eagles and other raptors. Spring and fall shorebirds find Cactus playa irresistible as well. Check out the playa one mile south of Cactus playa too. A map to the site.

Wildcat Bluff Nature Center

The nature center holds lots of educational events about nature. The center charges an admission fee and is closed on Mondays and holidays.

Check out Wildcat Bluff's web site for scheduled activities, maps, etc.

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