Austin Birding Hotspots: A Local Guide’s Top Spots

Q: How many bird species are found around Austin?

Bryan Cotter has recorded 381 species across Travis and Williamson Counties on his own eBird checklists, and his Travis County Big Year record is 330 species in a single year.

Where I actually bird in Travis and Williamson Counties — and when to go

Short answer: The best birding spots in the Austin area are Granger Lake, Hornsby Bend, Devine Lake Park in Leander, Bob Wentz Windy Point Park on Lake Travis and the Lake Creek Trail — each has given me more than 200 species on my own eBird checklists. Add Balcones Canyonlands NWR in spring for the two Hill Country endemics. I hold the Travis County Big Year record (330 species), and these are the places I bird most.

Bird these spots with a local guide.
I know which spots are hot this week and where the rarities turn up. A private Austin birding tour is $250 for a half day for 1–2 birders.

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My top Austin-area hotspots

Species counts are from my own eBird checklists at each spot — not the all-time total for the site.

1. Granger Lake — 287 species

Williamson County, about an hour northeast of Austin. My number-one spot: winter waterfowl, gulls, sparrows and raptors, plus shorebirds when the water drops. See my Granger Lake birding guide.

2. Hornsby Bend — 259 species

East Austin on the Colorado River. Travis County’s best spot for shorebirds and ducks, with river trails for migrants and owls. Bring a photo ID. See my Hornsby Bend birding guide.

3. Devine Lake Park, Leander — 246 species

A small city lake with a walking loop. It punches far above its size for waterfowl, shorebirds and migrants, and it’s one of the spots I check most often.

4. Bob Wentz Windy Point Park — 236 species

On Lake Travis. The place to scan for gulls, loons and waterfowl in winter, with warblers and orioles in migration. There always seems to be a rare bird or two around.

5. Lake Creek Trail — 224 species

A creekside trail on the Round Rock / Cedar Park line. Wooded creek and open edges make it a strong migrant trap in spring and fall, with sparrows in winter.

6. Emerald Park, Lago Vista — 202 species

A Lake Travis park on the north shore. Lakeshore views for waterbirds, with Hill Country woodland birds around it.

7. Walter E. Long Lake — 179 species

East Austin. A big, open reservoir for winter ducks, gulls and loons, with grassland birds nearby.

8. Mills Pond at Wells Branch — 160 species

A neighborhood pond in north Austin and one of the best places in town for spring migrants.

9. Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park — 150+ species

Riverbank woods in southeast Austin with high diversity — raptors, migrants, and views over the Colorado River from the cliff overlook.

10. Platt Lane — 153 species

Open farm roads east of Austin. Good for winter raptors and sparrows, and it connects to the Hornsby Bend trail system.

11. Milton Reimers Ranch Park — 139 species

Hill Country habitat on the Pedernales River, about 45 minutes west. Canyon birds, and even the Black-capped Vireo in season. See my Reimers Ranch birding guide.

12. Berry Springs Park, Georgetown — 127 species

Springs, ponds and an old pecan orchard north of Georgetown. Good for migrants and waterbirds.

13. Commons Ford Ranch Metro Park — 115 species

A restored prairie on Lake Austin — a hotspot for sparrows and buntings.

14. Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Northwest of Austin. The place for the two Hill Country endemics in spring. See where to see the Golden-cheeked Warbler and where to see the Black-capped Vireo.

Best spots by season

Winter (Nov–Feb): Granger Lake, Walter E. Long Lake and Windy Point for ducks, gulls and loons; Platt Lane and Commons Ford for sparrows and raptors; Hornsby Bend ponds for waterfowl.
Spring migration (Mar–May): Mills Pond, Lake Creek Trail, Roy G. Guerrero and Berry Springs for warblers, vireos and tanagers.
Hill Country endemics (mid-Mar–June): Balcones Canyonlands NWR — April is best for both the warbler and the vireo.
Late summer and fall: Hornsby Bend drying beds and Granger Lake mudflats for shorebirds; Lake Creek Trail and Devine Lake for fall migrants.

Tips for birding Austin

Check eBird before you go. Recent sightings tell you what’s around this week.
Go early in summer. Austin heat shuts birds down by late morning from June to September.
Bring a scope for the lakes. Gulls, loons and ducks on Lake Travis, Granger and Walter E. Long are often far out. See my optics picks.
See what’s possible. Browse the birds of the Austin area — every species I’ve recorded here, with photos.

Austin birding FAQ

What is the best birding spot in Austin?

Hornsby Bend is the best-known spot in Travis County, especially for shorebirds and ducks. In the wider Austin area, Granger Lake in Williamson County has given me the most species of any spot I bird.

When is the best time to go birding in Austin?

April and early May. Spring migration peaks then, and both Hill Country endemics, the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, are singing. Winter is also very good for ducks, gulls and sparrows.

Where can I see birds in downtown Austin?

Roy G. Guerrero Park, Mills Pond and the Barton Creek Greenbelt are all close in. Hornsby Bend is about 20 minutes east of downtown.

How many bird species are found around Austin?

I've recorded 381 species across Travis and Williamson Counties on my own eBird checklists, and my Travis County Big Year record is 330 species in a single year.

Can I hire a birding guide in Austin?

Yes. Birding Tours Texas runs private tours from Austin: half day $250, 3/4 day $325, full day $400 for 1-2 birders, plus $50 per extra person.

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