Birding in Texas

Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission is one of the top birding sites in the nation. Also it's the headquarters for the World Birding Association. Lots of campgrounds around the park. They have a free (with park admission) shuttle to ride you through the park, lots of feeding stations to attract the birds,and knowledgeable and helpful volunteers and staff to help you find and identify the birds. They have had three years of drought and that has affected the bird populations, but there's still lots of birds and it's still one of the best sites for birds you won't find anywhere else in the U.S.

Goose Island state park has tons of birding stations and handouts and programs about bird watching.

Mineral Wells State Park about 45 minutes west of Fort Worth has a pair of Bald Eagles that are seen frequently. Plus it is a very nice relaxing state park near the cities of Mineral Wells and Weatherford. Both towns are great for exploring the shops and there is a bike/hike trail that runs most of the distance from the state park to Mineral Wells. Used to be a railroad bed.

We didn't stay there for birding, but Llano SP looked like the right place.

We are at Oleander Acres in Mission, TX in the RGV. Two bird feeders bring in Green Jays, sparrows, mocking birds, cardinals, flickers, and some little bird I can't remember the name, just did, Titmouse. Eventually the Red Wing Blackbirds will move in and with the large numbers of them and the droppings we stop feeding. Two yrs ago our daughter visited and we saw more birds at our Monty then we did at the bird blinds in Bentsen State Park.

This time of the year your best bet is the Rio Grande Valley. You get all the winter birds and mexican birds. Later in the year further north along the coast is good for migrating birds returning north.

Do you eBird? ebird.org click explore data then hotspot explorer and zoom in to where you want to go! http://ebird.org/ebird/hotspots

Lot's of great birding around Corpus Christi.

We were between Corpus Christi to Harlingen Tx one winter. Got all the Texas maps that showed where to see the birds, but the best place was putting up feeder next to the RV and walking anywhere with ponds like the golf course and padre island shores. The Green Jays love corn. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was a great place to go. Kingsville Ranch has a all day bird tour, did not get to go on it but did take their 4 hour nature tour which I enjoyed.

Got a Bald Eagle's nest with two eaglets just off the Highway 29 between Llano and Buchanan. Easy to see the eaglets from the fence. Look for the large yellow highway sign that says something like "Caution, slow traffic and pedestrians ahead". It's about 6 miles east of Llano. Big nest in the tree. Easy the see where everyone has pulled off on the dirt, not the part that has gravel.
Just be very careful pulling back out on the road.
Pat