On our way to Caprock Canyons State Park last Saturday, we came across a group of about 15 turkeys. The males were displaying with their tail feathers splayed, something that I had never seen before, except in pictures. On the way back, the number had increased to over 50 turkeys spread out in three groups!
0 Comments
Yes, west Texas may be windy and dusty sometimes, but it can also be beautiful with seasonal bodies of water (we call them playas) filled with birds, wide-open skies, and stunning views, which include canyons. Most of Texas is private land, but a few of the canyons are protected by state parks for everyone to enjoy. One of these is Caprock Canyons State Park located just outside of Quitaque, TX. This park offers an extensive trail system that includes a a former portion of the railroad, which is home to a colony of Brazilian Free-tailed bats (also knows as Mexican Free-tailed bats). The visitor's center is nice and has a fantastic arrangement of metal bats "flying across the room" as they come out of a replica of the park's trailway tunnel. They also have plenty of souvenirs, t-shirts, and a nice collection of guide books for purchase. The main park is home to a herd of bison, which freely roam the park's grounds. Shortly after leaving the visitor's center, if you take the road to the left, it will take you to Lake Theo. In the spring we have seen dragonflies and Bluet damselflies here. At the end of the road is a bird blind with a view looking out over a portion of the lake. Portions of the park can be driven and the scenery along the way is beautiful. The parking areas offer scenic overlooks and creative bison sculptures. While there are several trails within the main park, we have only hiked a small portion of the Upper Canyon Trail in the South Prong area. The views from just this small portion of trail are incredible. Where trail intersects a stream bed, which is usually dry, is one of my favorite views with towering rock and gypsum striated canyon walls. Use caution if rain is predicted. Looking up at the vegetation around the stream bed, you can see how quickly water has risen in the past. The weather can change extremely quickly in west Texas and it is typically very dry here. Be sure to bring plenty of water, pay attention to forecasted changes in the weather, and keep an eye out for thunderstorms or increased winds. There is not much cell phone coverage in the park, so arrive prepared for the activity you have planned. The other portion of the park is a trailway that covers 64 miles. Between the South Plains Terminal and Monk's Crossing is Clarity Tunnel. The railroad tracks have been removed from the trail, but Clarity Tunnel was a former railroad tunnel and is now occupied by a colony of Brazilian Free-tailed bats. The evening emergences in the summer are well worth the hike and the view from the south entrance to the tunnel is very pretty, especially during non-drought summers. You may see hawks, Great Horned Owls, Northern Flickers, turkeys, deer, feral hogs, foxes, and other wildlife along the trail. There are a few things to remember when you are on this trail: Do not pick up any bat, or other wildlife, you may come across, alive or dead. Do not disturb the bats in the tunnel, make any loud noises, or walk through the tunnel during the bats' emergence. Do not wander off the trail. The land to either side of the trail and running over the tunnel is private. Do not start any fires or discard cigarettes. This is typically a very dry area and fires start easily. This includes not starting fires in the tunnel. Potable water is not available along the trail, so be sure to bring plenty. There is all kinds of wildlife to be seen from birds to mammals to reptiles, so keep your eyes open! This is a beautiful park with lots to offer and well worth the trip if you are in the area!
The park's website has maps and lots of other information for planning a trip: http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons |
About myselfBiologist by training, Categories
All
Recent PostsCliffs, Bridges, and Condors, Oh My!
Bring on the Pollinators! Migration Revelation Western Screech-Owl Tingley Bosque Ponds and Beach, Albuquerque, NM Antelope Island SP, Utah Lynx rufus A Surprise Visitor Orlando Wetlands Park, FL Mary Jo's Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary Melrose Woods "Migrant Trap", NM Harlan's Hawk An Unexpected Great Black Hawk...In Maine Portland, ME My Favorite Sightings from 2018 A Red Knot...in Lubbock, TX! Long-eared Owl, Lubbock, TX So. Many. Birds! Cape May, NJ in the Spring So. Many. Birds! Cape May, NJ in the Fall Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, TX A Snowy Owl...in Texas! Blue-throated Hummingbird, Portal, AZ Northern Saw-whet Owl, Phoenix, AZ Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, LA Great Blue Heron Statue, Monroe. LA Lake Kissimmee, FL - Snail Kites and Limpkins! Death Valley NP "Super Bloom" Death Valley National Park (Day 2) Death Valley National Park (Day 1) Dinosaur Tracks at Clayton Lake SP, NM Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, CO Garden of the Gods, CO Geology Museum, Boulder, CO Barr Lake State Park, CO Lair o' the Bear Park, CO Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ White Sands National Monument, NM Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson, AZ Bosque del Apache NWR, NM Very Large Array, NM Gobble, Gobble! Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, TX Finally! A Snowy Owl in Michigan City, IN South Llano River State Park, TX Armadillo! Meep, Meep! Roadrunner! Great Horned Owl Crunchy (the turtle) Backyard Lizard Big Branch Marsh NWR, LA Black Bayou Lake NWR, LA Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, AZ Aransas NWR, TX Bitter Lake NWR, NM Dragonfly Festival in NM Alligators! Archives
September 2022
|