Meet at the parking lot for Cattail Marsh at 8:00 a.m. The parking lot is accessed from the loop road round the main picnic areas in Tyrrell Park. Many birds can be seen from the boardwalk with minimal walking, but the group will probably make a leisurely three-or-so-mile hike round the various cells in the marsh. Be advised that, while you can turn around and retrace your steps at any point, there are no meaningful "shortcuts" after you start on the levee between cells 3 and 4. If you don't want to walk that far, there will be someone on the boardwalk to help you identify the many birds in the near cells. Walking is on the levees; the main ones are graveled, but some of the interior ones are essentially mowed grass. This will be a good trip for beginning to intermediate birders, as most of the waterfowl and wading birds are relatively easy to study in the open water areas.
Go "north" on US69/96/287 around the south side of Beaumont.
Take Texas 124 (south or west, whichever it is signed) towards Fannett (left turn under the highway).
Travel about 1/2 mile to the first light.
At the first light, turn left onto Tyrrell Park Road and go about 3/4 mile.
Turn left into Tyrrell Park through the nice new arch.
Continue ahead and proceed about two-thirds of the way round the main loop and into the well-marked Cattail Marsh parking area.
Exit at Walden Road on the west side of Beaumont.
Go south of Walden Road for about 1/2 mile to the first light.
At the light go straight over Highway 124 onto Tyrrell Park Road and go about 3/4 mile. Turn left into Tyrrell Park through the nice new arch and as above.