Birding Reimer’s Ranch, Austin (Travis County)

Travis County’s best spot for western birds

Where & when: Milton Reimers Ranch Park, in the far west of Travis County on the Pedernales River, is the county’s top spot for western and desert-edge species — Verdin, Black-throated Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, and Canyon Towhee, with a real chance at a Zone-tailed Hawk. It’s good year-round for the resident specialties, with the cooler months best for sparrows and towhees. It’s a Travis County park (day-use fee), with a mix of grassland, scrub, canyon, and river habitat.

Bird Reimer’s Ranch with a guide.
A great stop on an Austin-area day tour when you want the western specialties — I know the trails and the patches the good birds hold. Half-day from $250 for 1–2 birders.

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This is the best place in Travis County for our western variety of birds. It's located in the far west section of Travis County, Texas.

Verdin at Reimer's Ranch in Travis County, Texas

Black-throated Sparrow at Reimer's Ranch in Travis County, Texas

There's plenty of areas to bird here and here's some of the places to go.

In the first area, there's a parking lot here and this is the main area where most folks start their birding.

Climber's Canyon - Here is where a lot of rock climbers go to explore and climb the cliffs that drop down to the Pedernales River basin.

I like to start here and walk down the opening to Climber's Canyon but continue back up the other side and around the fields over here. You can find all your Towhee's, sparrows, turkeys and Bobwhites in this area. Sometimes you can get owls, hawks and other raptors as well.

Most people will actually walk the other way and around the small trails just off the parking lot. We find Pyrrhuloxias, all of your sparrows and towhees, etc in this small area. You can stay on the trail to the north and walk to the next area while scanning the grounds for your seed-eating grassland birds.

Some of the other areas provide good birds as well like Johnny's Homestead or around the trails between the River View parking areas, mountain bike trails and the Equestrian barn and parking area.

Birds that can usually be found here in the park are: Pyrrhuloxia, Canyon Towhee, Verdin, Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Bewick's Wren, Common Ground Dove, Inca Dove, Roadrunner and American Kestrel.

There's always a chance at a rare bird here or one rare bird that seems to frequent here is a Zone-tailed Hawk. I've actually found them nesting twice in the past along Lake Travis not far from this park.

Satellite View of Reimer's Ranch

Reimer’s Ranch birding FAQ

What birds can you see at Reimer's Ranch?

Western and desert-edge specialties like Pyrrhuloxia, Canyon Towhee, Verdin, and Black-throated Sparrow, plus Lark, Grasshopper, and Field Sparrows, Bewick's Wren, Common Ground and Inca Doves, Greater Roadrunner, and American Kestrel. There's always a chance at a rarity — a Zone-tailed Hawk is a recurring one here.

When is the best time to bird Reimer's Ranch?

The resident western specialties are here year-round. The cooler months (fall through spring) are best for the variety of sparrows and towhees, and mornings are most productive.

Where are the best areas within the park?

Climber's Canyon and the surrounding fields for towhees, sparrows, turkeys, and Bobwhite; the small trails off the main parking lot for Pyrrhuloxia and grassland sparrows; and Johnny's Homestead and the River View and equestrian areas for more variety.

Is there an entry fee at Reimer's Ranch?

Yes — Milton Reimers Ranch Park is a Travis County park with a day-use entry fee. It's open to the public, with trails through grassland, scrub, canyon, and river habitat.

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