Birding Texas: Goose Island State Park

Goose Island State Park in Texas has over 300 acres of amazing bird watching spots. Bird watching habitats here include meadows, ponds, marshes, shell beaches and forests of live oaks. Over 30 species of migrating warblers have been observed here. In addition to bird watching, you can enjoy camping, fishing, boating and swimming at Goose Island State Park in Texas. During the winter you can observe Common Loons, Red-breasted Mergansers, and many species of ducks. For tips on finding and identifying some of the species you may see while bird watching at Goose Island State Park in Texas, see below.

Least Bittern. Look for this small heron in the summer at Goose Island State Park in Texas. Recognize it while bird watching from its black cap and black, along with its white throat and belly. Its bill, legs and feet are yellow. You'll find it in the marshy areas of Goose Island State Park in Texas, hunting for fish, insects, crustaceans and amphibians.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck. This summer resident of Goose Island State Park in Texas is easy to identify from its long neck, red bill, long pink legs and black belly. It also displays white patches on its dark wings when in flight. Look for it while bird watching in the wetlands and marshes of Goose Island State Park in Texas, feeding on plants, seeds and grains. They are most active at dusk and dawn.

Gull-billed Tern. The Gull-billed Tern has longer wings and a thicker bill than most of the terns you will see while bird watching at Goose Island State Park in Texas. Look for this summer resident hunting for insects, small fish, crabs, and other prey in the marshes of Goose Island State Park in Texas. You can identify it from its black cap, black legs and feet, and the slight black edging on its wings.

Reddish Egret. You'll see this year-round resident of Goose Island State Park in Texas running and splashing through the shallow waters as it hunts for fish and other prey. Recognize it while bird watching from its black tipped pink bill, white body, and gray legs. The Reddish Egret can also sometimes be dark gray with a reddish neck.

Roseate Spoonbill. Look for this year-round resident while bird watching at Goose Island State Park in Texas, wading in the large, shallow lakes. This large ibis is easy to identify while bird watching from its long, gray spoon-shaped bill, as well as its pink body and white upper back and neck. Its head is bare and olive green, and its long legs are pink. You will see it probing in the water at Goose Island State Park in Texas, using its bill to strain the water for prey (mostly fish.)

Seaside Sparrow. This stocky little sparrow can be found year-round in the marshy areas of Goose Island State Park in Texas. Recognize it while bird watching from its white throat and the yellow spot in front of its eyes. It is otherwise a soft olive-gray in color, and has a black whisker mark on its face. Look for it foraging on the ground for seeds, insects and spiders while bird watching at this state park.

Black Skimmer. Identify this year-round resident of Goose Island State Park in Texas by its unusual bill, which is red and black and very thin, with a lower mandible that is longer than the upper one. It also has a black cap and back, and very short red legs. Look for it while bird watching along the shores of the water at Goose Island State Park in Texas, dragging its bill in the water to catch fish.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XFA044-098
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com