Miles of thicket, a couple of resacas, plenty of winter feeding stations and a superb lookout tower for watching raptors. Birds like orioles and Green Jays are easy but look here too for Tyrannulet, Gray Hawk and, especially, Hook-billed Kite.
All the sites in this section are treated, in detail and with precise maps and directions, in my book ‘Finding Birds in South Texas’
If you have any information which you feel would help to update the book, please email me at dave@easybirder.co.uk and I’ll add your observations to these pages
To view more sites in South Texas click here
Bentsen State Park
In 2011 the Hawk Tower was closed following heavy flooding in the previous autumn so the best bet for raptors was here (site 4 in my book).
This feeding station is behind a ‘blind’ near ‘Kingfisher Overlook’. It was populated mostly by grackles and redwings
There was a far better range of species at the ‘Green Jay Blind (site 6 in the book)
Acacia loop is no longer populated with lots of trailers or, indeed, trees full of snails. Hence it’s not quite such a magnet for winter feeding flocks or Hook-billed Kites. Also, it’s no longer possible to drive around here after dusk for owls and nightjars (except in organised groups). However, it can still be good: I’ve had Tyrannulet and Tropical Parula here
There are still several feeding stations around Acacia Loop
And you can still get motorised help around the reserve by catching a tram from one of the tram stops
