Birding Texas: Palmetto State Park

This small bird watching spot, consisting of 270 acres in Texas, is one that is well worth seeking out. Located on the San Marcos River, Palmetto State Park has bird watching habitats that include open grassy areas, an oxbow lake, hardwood forests, bogs, swamps, and a surprising variety of trees and vegetation (including the Dwarf Palmettos for which it is named). Almost 250 species of birds have been identified here, including Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Vesper Sparrows, and many more. It is also part of The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. In addition to bird watching, you can hike, camp, and picnic at Palmetto State Park in Texas. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at Palmetto State Park in Texas, see below.

Wood Duck. This little duck is one of the most beautiful you may ever see while bird watching at Palmetto State Park, or anywhere. It has a purplish breast, a white throat, and a gorgeous crested head that is green and purple with white stripes! They prefer the wooded swamps of Palmetto State Park in Texas, where you will see them paddling about. The Wood Duck was hunted nearly to extinction in the early 20^th century, but the species has made a wonderful and remarkable recovery. These pretty birds nest at Palmetto State Park in Texas, so look for their nests, high in the cavities of trees, while bird watching here in the spring.

Barred Owl. Look for this owl at dusk in the wooded swamps of Palmetto State Park in Texas, where you will recognize it by its large head, large brown eyes, and the rings around its pale face. This owl has brown upperparts and pale underparts barred with brown. It also lacks ear tufts. Look for it sitting in tall trees, watching for mammals, lizards, and other small prey, which it will drop to the ground and seize.

Indigo Bunting. This small finch can be easily identified while bird watching from its iridescent blue body, with a slightly darker crown. It also has black wings and a black tail that are edged in blue. Look for them on the forest edges and clearings at Palmetto State Park in Texas, where you will see them hunting for insects, seeds, and berries. One interesting fact about Indigo Buntings is that they migrate at night, and use the stars to guide them.

American Woodcock. You'll recognize this sandpiper while bird watching from the black barring on its grayish-brown head, as well as its very large black eyes. It also has a long yellow bill with a black tip, and pale gray legs and feet. Look for it while bird watching in the woodlands of Palmetto State Park in Texas during the winter, where you'll usually see it at either dawn or dusk.

Brown Thrasher. Look for this large bird in the thickets and shrubby areas of Palmetto State Park in Texas, where you may see it hunting for beetles, fruit and nuts. Recognize it while bird watching from its bright rufous upperparts, pale brown underparts streaked in black, and yellow eyes. It also has a brownish-black bill that curves downward, and a long reddish tail.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/palmetto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmetto_State_Park
http://identify.whatbird.com
http://www.allaboutbirds.org