Birding Texas: Pleasure Island

Located in Port Arthur, Texas, Pleasure Island is a wonderful bird watching spot, especially for ducks and waterfowl. Its bird watching habitats include marshes, mudflats, forests, Sabine Lake, the Neches River, and more. It is located at the mouth of the Neches River, and is a man-made island roughly 19 miles long, bordered by Sabine Lake and the Sabine Neches Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to bird watching, you can fish, boat, and even windsurf at Pleasure Island in Texas. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas, see below.

Common Loon. Look for this large loon diving for small fish at Pleasure Island in Texas, where you can recognize it while bird watching from its greenish-black head and neck. It also has white-spotted upperparts and red eyes. It prefers the forests near the lake at Pleasure Island in Texas.

Bufflehead. This small diving duck can be found in the lake at Pleasure Island in Texas, where you will see it hunting for plants, insects, and snails. Identify it while bird watching from its purple-black head and back, as well as the large white patch behind each eye. The rest of its body is mostly white.

Common Goldeneye. You can identify this chunky diving duck from its white-striped black upperparts, white underparts, and iridescent greenish-black head. It also has yellow eyes and a dark gray bill, as well as yellow legs and feet. Look for it at the lake while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas, where you will see it hunting for insects and small fish.

Red-breasted Merganser. Look for this duck at the lake and river while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas, where you will recognize it from its long, thin, orange bill and iridescent green head. It also has a shaggy crest and a dark reddish chest. You'll find it diving for fish, insects and tadpoles while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas.

Gadwall . This medium-sized duck has a gray body with a paler gray head. It also has very intricate markings on its back. You'll find it in the shallow waters of the lake while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas. Gadwalls are dabbling and diving ducks, feeding on mostly vegetation.

Ruddy Duck. You'll find this small, bright cinnamon-colored duck in the marshes at Pleasure Island in Texas. Identify it while bird watching from its black cap, white face, and heavy blue bill. It also has a spiky black tail that it holds upright while swimming. Look for it surface diving for insects while bird watching at Pleasure Island in Texas.

Green-winged Teal. Look for this very small duck in the mudflats and marshes of Pleasure Island in Texas, where you will find it dabbling for seeds. Recognize it while bird watching from the iridescent green patches on its wings, as well as its cinnamon and red head and the white stripe up its shoulder. It also has a yellow stripe on its tail.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.portarthurtexas.com/virDirEditorAssets/PortArthurTX/chamberAccess/docs/birding_book.pdf

http://www.allaboutbirds.org

http://identify.whatbird.com