Birding Texas: Lake Ray Hubbard

Lake Ray Hubbard, which used to be known as Forney Lake, is a terrific bird watching spot in Dallas Texas. The lake provides mudflats, marshes, and other bird watching habitats that attract an interesting variety of ducks, shorebirds, waterbirds, and gulls (among others). For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas, see below.

American White Pelican. This very large, white waterbird is easy to identify while bird watching at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. It is one of the largest birds in North America, and is unmistakable from its large, pouched bill, all white body, and huge trailing wings, edged in black. Look for it along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, or in the lake itself, dipping its head underwater to scoop up fish.

Double-crested Cormorant. Look for this large, dark waterbird while bird watching along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. It has a long body and long neck, and its bill is hooked at the tip. Its double crest consists of black and white feathers, and it has an orange patch on its face. You'll see it hunting for fish in the water, swimming and diving for its prey.

Green-winged Teal. You'll find this small duck along the mudflats and marshy areas of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. Recognize it while bird watching from the iridescent green patches on its wings, as well as its reddish and green head. It also has a yellow tail stripe. Look for them hunting for the seeds and stems of water plants in Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. These little ducks are also very noisy!

American Coot. This duck-like bird is easy to recognize while bird watching from its completely black body. It also has a white bill with a black mark near the tip. Look for it swimming and diving at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas, searching for plants to eat.

Wilson's Snipe. Look for this shorebird along the mudflats of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas, probing in the mud with its very long bill. Identify it while bird watching from its brown body, which is striped boldly on its back and head. It prefers the marshy areas of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas, rather than the open waters of the lake itself.

Ring-billed Gull. You'll find this medium-sized gull while bird watching along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas. Recognize it from its yellow bill, which has a black ring near the tip, as well as its light gray back and yellow legs. These gulls will eat almost anything - eggs, insects, small rodents, seeds - and you will also see them stealing food from other birds while bird watching at Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas.

Red-winged Blackbird. This stocky bird has a glossy black body with red and yellow shoulder patches. Look for it while bird watching near the marshy areas of Lake Ray Hubbard in Texas, where you will see it foraging for insects, snails and seeds. These pretty birds are very territorial.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.allaboutbirds.org

http://identify.whatbird.com