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Quick answer: For winter birding in Texas without the coastal crowds, base yourself on the Leon River in Eastland. Lake Leon is about 10 minutes from Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Big Country Loop near Abilene, about 50 minutes west, lists winter mergansers, ducks, gulls and sparrows at its lakes and parks.
Most birding in Texas talk goes to the coast and the Rio Grande Valley. That is fair. But West Central Texas has quiet lakes, river bottoms and brushy parks that get very few visitors in December and January. If you like a slow morning with binoculars and coffee, this guide is for you. Our Leon River fishing and kayak page shows the water you would be camped beside.
Winter birding is watching the birds that stay or arrive for the cold months, such as ducks, mergansers, gulls and sparrows, usually at lakes, rivers and brushy edges where they find food and open water.
Start at the park and Lake Leon, then make one or two day trips to the Abilene sites on the TPWD Big Country Loop. Here are the spots, what TPWD lists for them, and how far they are from us.
| Spot | Drive from Inez Spring | What to look for in winter | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon River at Inez Spring | On site | Great blue herons and kingfishers are regulars along our stretch of river | Park staff |
| Lake Leon | About 10 minutes | Open water and timbered coves; check eBird for recent lists | TPWD lake page |
| Lake Abilene | About 1 hour (est.) | Common and Hooded Mergansers; waterfowl through the winter | TPWD Big Country Loop |
| Lake Fort Phantom Hill | About 1 hour (est.) | Gulls, terns, cormorants and ducks; Mountain Bluebird at picnic areas | TPWD Big Country Loop |
| Will Hair Park, Abilene | About 50 minutes (est.) | Harris's, White-crowned, Song, White-throated, Field, Vesper and Savannah Sparrows | TPWD Big Country Loop |
| Kirby Lake, Abilene | About 50 minutes (est.) | 7 or 8 sparrow species, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia | TPWD Big Country Loop |
| Abilene Zoo and Nelson Park | About 50 minutes (est.) | Black-bellied Whistling Duck is a resident; gulls and night-herons | TPWD Big Country Loop |
Sources: TPWD Big Country Loop and TPWD Lake Leon, read October 10, 2026. Drive times marked (est.) are our estimates from Exit 343.
Great blue herons and kingfishers are the regulars our staff see along the river. The Leon River runs through the park, so you can bird before breakfast without moving the truck.
A few tips from our side of the fence:
We are not a nature preserve, and we will not promise rare birds. What we can promise is a quiet river, easy access, and a warm shower house when you come back in.
Yes, if you like quiet water. Lake Leon is about 10 minutes from the park on the Leon River. TPWD describes it as a 726 acre lake in Eastland County with standing timber, bulrush and water willow along its edges. That mix of open water and cover is the kind of place where waterbirds rest in winter.
We do not have an official bird list for Lake Leon to share. The best move is to check eBird for recent checklists before you go, then add your own. If you also fish, our winter week guide has a simple plan that mixes the lake, town and the river.
Pick two or three sites close together and go early. Abilene is about 50 minutes west on I-20.
Pack lunch. Some sites have few services. Fill up the truck in Abilene before you head back east.
For more non-birding ideas within an hour of the park, see winter day trips from Eastland.
Pack for cold mornings. The National Weather Service lists Abilene's average first freeze as November 11, and Eastland gets hard freezes and the occasional ice day.
If you also hunt ducks, keep in mind that waterfowl seasons overlap with winter birding. Wear a bright layer near the lakes in season.
Three nights covers the river, Lake Leon and one Abilene day. A month lets you watch the season change. Here is what each costs.
Pets are welcome on a leash, up to two. Laundry and a rebuilt shower house are on site.
Start on the Leon River, which runs through Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, and at Lake Leon, about 10 minutes away. About 50 minutes west, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Big Country Loop lists Lake Abilene, Lake Fort Phantom Hill, Kirby Lake, Will Hair Park and Abilene State Park.
The TPWD Big Country Loop lists Common and Hooded Mergansers at Lake Abilene, gulls, cormorants, ducks and Mountain Bluebird at Lake Fort Phantom Hill, and winter sparrows such as Harris's, White-crowned and White-throated at Will Hair Park. Kirby Lake lists Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher and Pyrrhuloxia.
Yes. Texas Parks and Wildlife runs the Great Texas Wildlife Trails, a statewide network of birding loops, and many lakes hold ducks and other waterbirds through the winter. Check eBird for recent sightings at each spot before you go.
TPWD says the gate code for Lake Abilene must be obtained at Abilene State Park. State parks charge entry fees, so check the Abilene State Park page for current fees and hours before you drive out.
Yes. Inez Spring has a private kayak launch on the Leon River. In winter the water is cold, so go on calm, sunny afternoons, wear a life jacket and warm layers, and tell someone your plan.
Nightly RV sites start at $40 and tent sites at about $31. For a month, a back-in site is $500 and a pull-through is $650, plus your own electric metered at 17 cents per kWh, with a $200 refundable deposit and month to month terms.
Winter birding near Eastland is about quiet. Herons and kingfishers on the Leon River, open water at Lake Leon, and mergansers, gulls and sparrows on the Big Country Loop near Abilene. Go early, dress warm, and log what you find.
Inez Spring Riverfront RV Park, 10505 Interstate 20, Eastland, TX 76448, Exit 343. More than 70 sites on the Leon River. Call (254) 629-1197, book online, or ask about monthly sites for a full season.
