Birds of Williamson County TX

Many avid bird watchers have stayed with us at Scurlock Farms to see birds of Williamson County TX in the Texas Hill Country. So far all birders have seen a lifer – a bird they had never seen in person before!  Some have returned multiple times and have always seen a lifer.

I was giving a tour to a couple from Kansas and she noticed something fluttering in the dried dusty area where we were going to pass through a gate.  As we got closer, we realized it was a roadrunner taking a dirt bath!  She was so excited as she had never seen one.  Yesterday I was giving a tour to a couple and the wife was from Ukraine.  A roadrunner ran, then flew across the road right in front of us.  She was excited as she had never seen one!  Another guest saw a roadrunner and commented she had always thought they were just a cartoon character.

I have known where one roadrunner nest was for five different years.  One is along the path I take guests on tours and they get to see it.  All are amazed that the nest is actually about 15′ in the air.  They didn’t realize that roadrunners can fly some.

Jim Hailey, President of the Williamson County Audibon Society, came to Scurlock Farms and we trekked all over the farm birding.  He commented because the terrain of Scurlock Farms is very varied,  it was an excellent place to go birding, and lends itself to seeing many species of birds.  The top pasture is prairie; we have heavily wooded bluffs; acreage with snags that the woodpeckers like; 20 acre pecan orchard where hawks and owls nest and many varieties of birds flit through; and the river bottom wetlands which has many other varieties of water birds.  My favorites are the Snowy Egrets and the Great Blue Herons.  Scurlock Farms is a great place to see many birds of Williamson County TX up close!

The Great Blue Herons

These magnificent birds return every year to their rookery in tall cottonwood trees along the bank of the river.  They begin working on their nests in mid-February, lay their eggs and raise at least one clutch of babies.  I provide binoculars in each home so guests can watch them “up close” as they work on their nests.  Each home also has a book to identify birds and many guests use them.

I have had guests visit Scurlock Farms from all over the world that have enjoyed just sitting under the trees, reading a book and listening to the many different song birds and the owls in the evening.  Some didn’t even know or care what kind of bird it was, they were just enjoying the peace and serenity as they listened to them.  One man from Arizona spent a week with us and he commented the highlight of his trip was the Great Horned Owl flew in at dusk and lit on a telephone pole 20′ from the outdoor seating area he was sitting.

Scissortails

A pair of Scissortail had a nearby nest with babies in it and they were very unhappy with this pair of vultures roosting nearby!  Watch here as they dive bomb and try to chase the vultures off.  Watch a YouTube video of them here.

Some bird species are seen at Scurlock Farms year-round.  Others are here for the winter, others for the spring and summer.  Plan on visiting at different times of the year to see how many of the birds of Williamson County TX you can add to your list.

Great photos of birds of Williams County TX here!

Check out this Mockingbird that was only 5′ or so from me as I worked in the pasture.

List of Common Birds of Williamson County Texas

* birds seen on Scurlock Farms

1. Bittern, American
2. Bittern, Least
3. Blackbird, Brewer’s
4. Blackbird, Red-Winged *
5. Blackbird, Yellow-headed
6. Bluebird, Eastern *
7. Bluejay *
8. Bobwhite, Northern *
9. Bufflehead
10. Bunting, Indigo *
11. Bunting, Painted * (male has been seen several years, hundreds of females seen each year)
12. Canvasback
13. Caracara, Crested * (Mexican Eagle)
14. Cardinal, Northern *
15. Cattle Egret *
16. Chat, Yellow-breasted
17. Chickadee, Carolina *
18. Coot, American *
19. Cormorant, Double-crested * (this is the bird that my dad called a Water Turkey) *
20. Cowbird, Brown-headed *
21. Crane, Sandhill * Seen and heard flying over many times during migration
22. Creeper, Brown *
23. Crow, American *
24. Cuckoo, Yellow-billed *
25. Dickcissel (looks like a miniature Eastern Meadowlark – sings beautifully and often)*
26. Dove, Eurasian Collared *
27. Dove, Inca *
28. Dove, Mourning *
29. Dove, Rock (AKA Feral Pigeon) *
30. Dove, White-winged *
31. Duck, Ruddy
32. Duck, Mottled *
33. Egret, Great *
34. Egret, Snowy *
35. Finch, House *
36. Finch, Purple *
37. Flicker, Northern *
38. Flycatcher, Scissor-tailed *
39. Gadwall *
40. Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray (we saw 3 of them today) *
41. Goldfinch, American *
42. Goldfinch, Lesser *
43. Goose, Canada *
44. Goose, Greater White-fronted*
45. Goose, Snow *
46. Grackle, Common *
47. Grackle, Great-tailed *
48. Grebe, Pied-billed *
49. Grosbeak, Blue
50. Gull, Laughing *
51. Gull, Ring-billed *
52. Harrier, Northern
53. Hawk, Common Night *
54. Hawk, Cooper’s *
55. Hawk, Red-shouldered *
56. Hawk, Red-tailed *
57. Hawk, Sharp-shinned *
58. Hawk, White-tailed *
59. Heron, Black-crowned Night
60. Heron, Great Blue *
61. Heron, Green *
62. Heron, Little Blue
63. Hummingbird, Black-chinned *
64. Hummingbird, Ruby-throated *
65. Junco, Dark-eyed *
66. Kestrel, American *
67. Kildeer *
68. Kingbird, Eastern *
69. Kingbird, Western
70. Kingfisher, Belted *
71. Kinglet, Ruby-crowned *
72. Kite, Mississippi
73. Lark, Horned
74. Mallard *
75. Martin, Purple *
76. Meadowlark, Eastern *
77. Merganser, Red-breasted
78. Merlin
79. Mockingbird, Northern *
80. Nuthatch, Red-breasted
81. Nuthatch, White Breasted *
82. Oriole, Baltimore *
83. Oriole, Orchard
84. Owl, Barn *
85. Owl, Burrowing (Seen near Scurlock Farms)
86. Owl, Eastern Screech *
87. Owl, Great Horned *   (nesting near The Studio)
88. Pelican, American White *
89. Pigeon *
90. Phoebe, Eastern *
91. Pintail, Northern *
92. Pipit, American (we saw several dozen today) *
93. Redhead
94. Roadrunner, Greater *
95. Robin, American *
96. Sandpiper, Least *
97. Sandpiper, Spotted
98. Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied *
99. Scaup, Lesser
100. Shoveler, Northern *
101. Shrike, Loggerhead (the bird that Daddy called the Butcher Bird) *
102. Siskin, Pine
103. Snipe, Wilson’s
104. Sparrow, Chipping *
105. Sparrow, Grasshopper
106. Sparrow, Harris’
107. Sparrow, House *
108. Sparrow, Lark *
109. Sparrow, Lincoln’s *
110. Sparrow, Savannah *
111. Sparrow, Song *
112. Sparrow, Swamp
113. Sparrow, Vesper (very common there in winter) *
114. Sparrow, White-crowned *
115. Sparrow, White-throated
116. Starling, European *
117. Swallow, Barn *
118. Swallow, Cliff (These are the swallows that nest on overpasses in mud nests) *
119. Swift, Chimney *
120. Tanager, Summer *
121. Teal, Blue-winged *
122. Teal, Green-winged
123. Tern, Forster’s
124. Thrasher, Brown
125. Thrush, Hermit
126. Titmouse, Tufted *
127. Towhee, Spotted *
128. Turkey, Wild *
129. Vulture, Black *
130. Vulture, Turkey *
131. Warbler, Black and White *
132. Warbler, Prothonotary *
133. Warbler, Yellow-rumped *
134. Waxwing, Cedar *
135. Whip-poor-will *
136. Wigeon, American *
137. Woodpecker, Downy *
138. Woodpecker, Harry *
139. Woodpecker, Ladder Backed *
140. Woodpecker, Pileated *
141. Woodpecker, Red-Bellied *
142. Woodpecker, Red-headed *
143. Wren, Bewick’s *
144. Wren, Carolina *
145. Wren, House*
146. Yellowlegs, Greater *
147. Yellowlegs, Lesser
148. Yellow-throat, Common

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