Birding Texas: Martin Dies, Jr. State Park

If you are looking for over 700 acres of lovely bird watching in Jasper, Texas, try visiting Martin Dies, Jr. State Park. (Martin Dies, Jr., was a former Texas senator, Texas Secretary of State, and Chief Justice of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.) In addition to bird watching, you can fish, camp, hike, picnic, swim and boat here. Over 200 species of birds have been sighted at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, including Swallow-tailed Kites, Anhingas, and Prairie Warblers. It has bird watching habitats that include dense forests of pine, oak, beech and other trees, B.A. Steinhagen Lake, marshes, creeks, and many more. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, see below.

Wood Duck. This beautiful little duck is easy to recognize while bird watching from its crested green and purple head with white stripes, brown back, white throat, and purple-brown breast. It also has a white belly and yellow flanks. Look for it in the rivers, creeks, marshes and wooded swamps of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, where you will find it dabbling for insects, seeds and acorns. It also sometimes surface dives for food.

Bald Eagle. Look for this magnificent bird of prey when bird watching in the winter at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas. You'll easily identify it from its white head, brown body, and yellow legs and feet. It also has a white tail, and long, broad wings. You'll find it near the river and lake when bird watching at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas. Bald Eagles eat fish, large birds, mammals and even carrion, and sometimes steal food from other birds.

Greater Roadrunner. Identify this ground-dwelling cuckoo while bird watching at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas from its metallic bronze body, short, shaggy crest and long tail. A Greater Roadrunner can run up to almost 20 miles an hour, and will eat almost anything it can catch, including scorpions, spiders, and snakes. Look for it in the open areas of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas.

Red-headed Woodpecker. You'll find this woodpecker in the open forests at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, where you will recognize it while bird watching from its completely red head. It also has bold white patches on its wings and tail. These woodpeckers are very aggressive, and will attack other birds in the park to keep them out of their territory. They eat seeds, insects, nuts, berries, and even mice, and prefer oak and beech trees.

Pileated Woodpecker. This is a very large woodpecker, about the size of a crow, and is easy to recognize while bird watching from its bright red crest, red forehead and moustache. It also has a black body and a white neck stripe. Look for it while bird watching in the dense forests at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, where you will see it digging holes in trees for ants and other insects. It also eats fruit and nuts.

White Ibis. Look for this lovely all-white bird at the lake and creeks of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park in Texas, hunting for fish, crabs, crayfish, and other prey. You will recognize it while bird watching from its pink face, bill and legs. It also has black tips on its wings that you will see only when it is in flight.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/martin_dies_jr/
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XFA044-071
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com