Totorus

Photo credit by Soul_Smiling

One area that would be great for bird watching in Texas is Big Bend National Park. The park is located in the Southwestern part of Texas, somewhere in the middle of Laredo and El Paso. It is the Rio Grande which divides this reserve from the rest of Texas.

Big Bend has a mixed landscape of mountain, river, and desert settings sprawled upon an area of 1,200 square miles. It offers a multitude of backcountry experiences to enjoy, and among these is bird watching. The mix of natural environments gives way to a habitat which supports over 450 species of birds, around 75 species for mammals, and 70 or so species of reptiles and amphibians. This area is also a migratory pass-through, so there are chances that you may spot some species of birds that fly along to their destination throughout the year.

What you may get to see commonly around this reserve are Crissal Thrashers, Elf Owls, Black-chinned Sparrow, Band-tailed Pigeons, and Mexican Jays. It is also here that you will find the Mexican long-nosed bat which is one of those on the endangered species list.

With this size of a nature reserve, there are numerous bird watching areas that will provide excellent views. Perhaps you can try Chisos Basin and hot springs for a glimpse of the Colima warbler, and maybe the golden fronted woodpecker if you are lucky.

Another beautiful place to do bird watching is in Ojito Adentro which is near wayside stop #4. From March to September, you could hear Bell's Vireo's humming while walking down the paths in this area. You can usually catch the Vermillion flycatchers and Zone-tailed Hawk around spring time.

A number of species that can be found around each year are the ash-throated flycatchers, canyon wrens, acorn woodpeckers, greater roadrunners, and spotted sandpipers.

You may also chance upon some rock squirrels, Merriam’s kangaroo rats, and some desert cottontails among some of the mammals living in the area. With diversity of beauty also comes that of danger. This grand reserve is also abundant in some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. These include diamondbacks, rattlesnakes, and the Mojave. There are also black bears and mountain lions in the area. So it is really advised to let the park rangers know where you plan to be or which areas you will be roaming so they can advice and monitor your whereabouts.