Birding Texas: McCardell Lake

Located in the Pineywoods of Texas, near the towns of Livingston and Goodrich, is an amazing nesting colony of wading birds that will provide you with an incredible bird watching experience. The colony can be found on McCardell Lake, a natural oxbow swamp formed by the Texas Trinity River, and it is here that you will find up to 10,000 nesting birds. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the beautiful wading birds you may see at McCardell Lake in Texas, see below.

Black-crowned Night Heron. Look for this stocky heron at dusk at McCardell Lake in Texas, as it comes out to feed at night. You can recognize it while bird watching from its short neck and thick, black bill, as well as its black cap and back. It also has gray wings and white underparts. You'll find it hunting for fish, frogs, lizards, snakes and other prey while bird watching at McCardell Lake in Texas

Cattle Egret. Recognize this stocky egret while bird watching from the orange-brown patches on its head, neck and back. It also has orange eyes, and an orange bill and legs. It is otherwise all white. Look for it in the grassy spots near McCardell Lake in Texas, hunting for insects.

Little Blue Heron. This medium sized heron can be found wading in McCardell Lake in Texas, looking for small crustaceans and insects. Identify it while bird watching from its gray body and purplish-blue head and neck. It has yellow eyes and a black tip on its dark gray bill. Young Little Blue Herons are white.

Great Egret. This is a large, all white heron that you will easily recognize while bird watching at McCardell Lake in Texas. It has yellow eyes, as well as a yellow bill, and black legs and feet. It also has very beautiful long, feathery plumes on its back and down its tail. Look for it at McCardell Lake in Texas, hunting for fish, frogs, insects, and snakes.

Great Blue Heron. Look for this beautiful heron wading in the waters of McCardell Lake in Texas, hunting for fish. You can identify it while bird watching from its blue-gray back, long gray neck, and white face and cap. It also has a black crest, with long, beautiful feathers. Its bill is dark on top and yellow below.

White Ibis. This pretty bird can be found hunting for crabs, crayfish and other prey at McCardell Lake in Texas. Recognize it while bird watching from its pink face, bill and legs. It is otherwise completely white, with black tips on its primary feathers that you will only see when it is in flight.

Snowy Egret. Differentiate this egret from other white birds while bird watching at McCardell Lake in Texas by its long, slender black bill with yellow lores. It also has yellow eyes, and black legs with yellow feet. It has long plumes on its head, neck and back. Look for it hunting for crustaceans, insects and fish while bird watching at McCardell Lake in Texas.

Source list:

Personal experience

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp

http://www.allaboutbirds.org

http://identify.whatbird.com