Birding Texas: White Rock Lake

White Rock Lake is located east of Dallas, Texas, and offers many interesting bird watching opportunities. It has bird watching habitats that include the lake itself and its shores, as well as forests, wetlands, grassy areas, marshes, and many more. In addition to bird watching here, you can visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, which is located next to the lake, or you can hike, fish or sail at the park itself. Over 200 species of birds have been documented at White Rock Lake in Texas, including waterfowl, ducks, warblers, and more. For tips on finding and identifying just a few of the species you may see while bird watching at White Rock Lake in Texas, see below.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This beautiful finch is easily identified while bird watching from its bright red breast and black head. It also has a black back, and a white rump and belly. Look for it in the forests and open fields surrounding White Rock Lake in Texas, where you will see it foraging for seeds, caterpillars, berries and insects. The best time to look for these finches is during their spring migration.

Black Tern. This small tern is easy to recognize while bird watching from its black head, bill and underparts. It also has red legs and feet, and silver wings. Look for this tern in the late summer and early fall at White Rock Lake in Texas, where you may see it foraging for insects and small fish on the lake.

Ring-billed Gull. Look for this gull soaring on the thermals above White Rock Lake in Texas. You can identify it while bird watching from the black ring near the tip of its yellow bill, as well as its white head and gray wings. It also has yellow legs and feet. Ring-billed Gulls are winter residents at White Rock Lake in Texas.

Double-crested Cormorant. You can easily identify this Cormorant while bird watching from its iridescent black body and orange throat pouch. Its bill is long and hooked, and it has black legs and feet. Look for it when bird watching in the winter at White Rock Lake in Texas, where you will see it hunting for fish, amphibians and crustaceans.

Ruddy Duck. This small duck has a bright reddish-brown body, and a white face with a black cap. You will also recognize it while bird watching from its blue bill, as well as the way it holds its tail straight up while swimming. Look for it at White Rock Lake in Texas, both at the lake and in the marshes, during the winter.

Baltimore Oriole. Look for this beautiful bright orange bird while bird watching in the open woodlands at White Rock Lake in Texas. You can identify it from its black hood and back, as well as the orange patches on its black wings. Orioles feed on spiders, insects, nectar and caterpillars.

Warbling Vireo. This small vireo can be found in the forests near White Rock Lake in Texas, where you can identify it while bird watching from its olive upperparts, white underparts, and gray wings. It also has heavy white eyebrows and bluish legs and feet. Look for it foraging among the trees for insects.

Source list:

Personal experience
http://identify.whatbird.com
http://www.allaboutbirds.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Rock_Lake
http://www.dallasparks.org/Parks/whiterock.aspx