Birding Texas: South Llano River State Park

If you are looking for a beautiful bird watching spot in Texas, try the South Llano River State Park. Consisting of over 500 acres, this Texas park has bird watching habitats that include the river and its banks, as well as woodlands, grasslands, open areas, and many others. In addition to bird watching, you can camp, fish, hike, bike and picnic at this Texas state park. The day area of the South Llano River State Park is closed from October through March to protect the large wintering population of Wild Turkeys there, but viewing stations allow you to see the birds moving to and from the roosting areas. You can also find Verdin, Cactus Wrens, Bushtits, Lesser Goldfinch, and many other birds here (over 200 species have been documented). For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at South Llano River State Park in Texas, see below.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo. In addition to the yellow bill that gives this bird its name, also look for its gray legs and feet, as well as its grayish brown upperparts and white underparts. You will find this Cuckoo while bird watching in the forests and woodlands of South Llano River State Park in Texas, especially in the trees alongside the river. Look for it hunting for caterpillars, insects, fruits and berries.

Downy Woodpecker. This is the smallest woodpecker you will see while bird watching in North America. Look for it in the woodland areas of South Llano River State Park in Texas. It has a white back, a black nape and black wings, with white spots on its dark wings. It also has a white face striped in black, and a red patch on the back of its crown. Look for it drilling holes into dead trees with its short black bill, hunting for insects at South Llano River State Park in Texas.

Rock Wren. Look for this medium-sized wren in the more open areas of South Llano River State Park in Texas, especially the rockier areas. You can identify it while bird watching from its mottled gray and white upperparts, white throat, and its pale yellow flanks and belly. It has a long, thin bill and a long, barred tail.

Acadian Flycatcher. This small flycatcher is a pretty olive green, with a pale gray throat and a soft yellow eyering. It also has a yellow belly and black legs and feet. Look for it while bird watching in the taller trees of the forests of South Llano River State Park in Texas, where you may see it flitting in the canopy or perched in clearings.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Look for this small bird in the woodlands and thickets beside the water in the South Llano River State Park in Texas. You will recognize it while bird watching from its blue-gray upperparts, white underparts, and distinctive white eyering. It also has dark wings and a long, black tail, edged in white.

White-eyed Vireo. This secretive bird can be found in the thickets and trees alongside the river in South Llano River State Park in Texas. Identify it while bird watching from its olive upperparts and white underparts, as well as the white irises which give it its name. It also has pale yellow spectacles and gray legs and feet. There is only one other white-eyed bird you will see while bird watching in the United States, the Wrentit.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/south_llano_river
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://identify.whatbird.com