Birding Texas: Kirby Lake

Kirby Lake is a wonderful little bird watching spot in Texas, located on the southern edge of Abilene, Texas. Late spring is an especially good time of year for bird watching at Lake Kirby in Texas, where you can observe many species nesting or just passing through on their migration. It is open all year, and in addition to bird watching you can hike on their many trails or fish on the lake. There is no camping at Kirby Lake - it is open during daylight hours only. Migrating species such as the Whimbrel, the Semipalmated Plover, and the Red Knot can be found here, and winter residents include Cormorants, Clark's Grebes, Caspian Terns and Bald Eagles. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Kirby Lake in Texas, see below.

Red-tailed Hawk. Identify this large hawk from its reddish-brown tail, as well as its brown upperparts and pale underparts. It also has wings that are pale underneath and edged in black, as well as yellow legs and feet. Look for it in the open areas alongside Kirby Lake in Texas, where it soars on updrafts and thermals.

Eastern Phoebe. This is a small flycatcher, which you can identify while bird watching from its dark brown upperparts and darker wings and tail. It has yellow sides and a yellow breast, and its bill, legs and feet are black. Look for it in the open woodlands of Kirby Lake in Texas, hunting for insects and berries, as well as at the lake, feeding on small fish.

Painted Bunting. One of the prettiest birds you may ever see while bird watching, you can identify it from its greenish back and its bright red underparts and rump. It has a blue head and a red eyering, as well as dark wings and green shoulders. You'll find this bird while bird watching near the brushy thickets and forest edges of Kirby Lake in Texas, hunting for insects and seeds. It also feeds on caterpillars. This is the only bird found in America with a blue head and red underparts.

Black-bellied Plover. Look for this plover on the shores of Kirby Lake in Texas, where it winters before making its way back to Alaska and Canada. You'll recognize it while bird watching from its black upperparts with white spots, as well as its white crown on a black face and a black throat and belly. The Black-bellied plover is the only plover in the United States that has a hind toe on its feet.

Snowy Plover. This pretty plover is smaller than most, easily recognized while bird watching from the dark patches on its breast, behind its eyes and across its forehead. It has white underparts and brown upperparts, as well as a black bill, legs and feet. You'll find this plover while bird watching along the shores of Kirby Lake in Texas, hunting for insects. It plucks its prey from the surface of the lake or probes on the shore with its bill.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx
http://identify.whatbird.com
http://www.allaboutbirds.org