Birding Texas: Cooper Lake State Park

Cooper Lake State Park in Texas is an amazing bird watching spot. The park is located on Jim Chapman Lake, which was formerly known as Cooper Lake. It is divided in two "units", Doctors Creek Unit, and South Sulphur Unit. Both units are open all year round for bird watching, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (overnight if you are camping, of course.) In addition to bird watching, you can camp, fish, hike, boat and swim at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas. Bird watching habitats include miles of shoreline, forests of oaks, mesquite, and red cedar, marshes, grasslands and many others. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, see below.

American Robin. Look for this large songbird foraging on the ground for insects and berries in the forests of Cooper Lake State Park in Texas. It is easy to recognize while bird watching from its round, dark body and familiar red breast. You'll also see a white patch on its belly and tail when it is in flight. American Robins are the largest of the North American thrushes.

Orange-crowned Warbler. Look for this small warbler while bird watching near the shrubby spots of the forest of Cooper Lake State Park in Texas. You'll recognize it from its olive green coloring and the yellow wash on its belly and under its tail.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. You'll find these warblers while bird watching in the woodlands of Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, especially in the junipers, foraging in the outer canopies for berries, seeds and insects. Recognize them while bird watching from their yellow faces, sides and rumps. They have large heads, sturdy bills, and long tails.

Sedge Wren. This is a small, buff-colored song bird that can be found while bird watching in the grasslands and marshes at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas. Identify it from the bold streaks on its back, as well as its short tail, which it usually holds upright. Look for it foraging on the ground for insects and spiders at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas.

Ring-billed Gull. Identify this medium sized gull from the black ring near the tip of its yellow bill, as well as its light gray back and white underparts and head. It also has yellow legs. Look for it while bird watching along the shores of the lake at Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, as well as over the water.

Bonaparte's Gull. Look for this small gull on the lake shores of Cooper Lake State Park in Texas, where you can recognize it while bird watching from the white triangle on the outer part of its wings. It has a black head, white underparts, and a gray back. You will find it hunting for fish and insects along the lake of Cooper Lake State Park in Texas.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/cooper_lake/
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com