East Texas Birding

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Texas Birder, Easting Texas Birding Field Trip to Richland Creek WMA

FIELD TRIP TO RICHLAND CREEK 08/30/25

OH BOY — IT’S FIELD TRIP TIME!

East Texas Birding and Texas Birder are heading out on one of our most popular adventures of the year — a birding caravan through Richland Creek WMA on Saturday, August 30th at 8 AM (near Fairfield, TX).

Why is this trip such a big deal? Because Richland Creek in late summer is like the Vegas Strip for wading birds — Wood Storks, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, White Ibis, Little Blue Herons, and flocks of others strutting their stuff. On a good day, you’ll see hundreds. Sometimes thousands. It’s the kind of spectacle you can brag about to your non-birding friends until they stop inviting you to dinner.

Worried about the heat? Don’t be. This is mostly a caravan trip through wetlands with very little walking. AC, snacks, and shade are your best birding buddies.

It is most likely they have already migrated, but we’ll even make a special effort to spot a Painted Bunting or two (because who doesn’t love a flying rainbow?).

Trip Details:
Richland Creek WMA (North), off Hwy 287 about 1/4 mile east of 488
Saturday, August 30th, 8 AM sharp
Look for me in a white Ford F150 at the check-in station

Here are the coordinates. Copy them and paste them into your browser. It should open in Google maps, then you can click on Directions. 31.972179048555656, -96.08331232596488

Important: A Limited Public Use Permit ($12) is required. You can get it online here: https://www.txfgsales.com/CustomerSearch.aspx

No facilities out there, so bring water, bug spray, and anything you need for a 3-hour adventure.

This trip is open to everyone — bring your friends, neighbors, and anyone who’s ever wondered what all the birding fuss is about.

We do at least one field trip a month, so sign up for our email list at EastTexasBirding.com and never miss the fun.

This is the kind of birding day people talk about for years. Don’t miss it!

Author

  • Michael Mathews, East Texas Photography Workshops

    I’m a proud East Texas native who once took the scenic route all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific—just to realize the Piney Woods was where I really belonged - near where I hear rumors of home. Since planting my boots firmly back in East Texas in 2014, I’ve put my biology background to work first as a Texas Master Naturalist, then for three years I served as as the Trip Director for Tyler Audubon. I run several Facebook birding groups, several nature related websites, teach Nature Photography Workshops, lead Birding Field Trips, and, on any given day, you’ll likely find me wandering through the woods, camera in hand. As an author, photographer, and lifelong naturalist, I believe in spreading the word about birds, wildlife and wild places so we can all appreciate—and protect—the world outside our windows. It's all part of the adventure, right?

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