My Best-Kept-Secret Place

[TexIndian]

My favorite place for inland birds has been a well kept secret, but the facilities there have expanded to more than I can hog so I thought I'd share. I've never seen another serious photographer there. It's not in the DFW area, but it's still worth the trip if you want to do some serious birding. The best times are in the fall and early spring when the migration is going on. From late January to early March, you can see all kinds of warblers, orioles, and other birds heading north, plus more hummingbirds than you can shake a stick at (mostly black-chinned and ruby throated)(TIP: Don't wear a bright red hat unless you want them to literally come into the blind with you). There are fewer species around in the summer, but if you like cardinals you'll get all you bargained for, including a local bird called Half-Al - he's got partial albinism and is part red and part white. I've also got shots of a Painted Bunting and Indigo Bunting there. Almost all the birds Here and Here were captured there.

The location is South Llano River State Park. It's located about 5 miles south of the only red light in beautiful downtown Junction - about 300 miles from here. The park has camping sites - both primitive and electrified with water - and showers and bathrooms. Junction has several little motels that are pretty full during hunting season, but pretty reasonable otherwise. Stop at the Ranger station and pay your fee ($2 for a single, more for a carfull). They will direct you to one of three bird fountains that they have set up. The fountains are made of natural stone and make a great backdrop for birds in the fountains' birdbaths (two or three baths on each fountain). There's a covered blind for each fountain. They also set out feed for the birds around each fountain.

Oh, one more thing. The park is home year-round to several hundred wild Rio Grande turkeys. Anyone whose ever tried stalking these birds know it's quite an accomplishment to get closer than 50 yards. But these guys are somewhat tamed by the presence of people and you can get quite close - okay, I admit 'close' is a relative term with these guys. They tend to hang around near the Ranger station early in the morning and you can get within 25 yards or sometimes closer. In the fall and spring mating seasons you can get some spectacular shots of the males strutting their stuff. They will also come into the bird fountains to steal the food and there you can get some really good close-ups.

[heinecke]

I wish I had known this a couple of weeks ago. I was in the Hill Country on vacation and I went right by the park but it wasn't on my itinerary so I didn't stop. I'll have to check it out now. Thanks for the tip.


Glenn

[bburton]

John,

Thanks for the insight. This sounds like a great place to include on a vacation tour of that part of the state.

I saw in another post where you offered to let others share your long glass (Nikon) on shoots. You keep this up and you'll be a popular member -- besides being a good photographer from whom many can learn.