Park Mid-section Burkett Park to Cougar Overlook Figure 8

A Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron
First time I've seen this bird. He was enjoying himself at the "No Swimming" pond near Burkett park -good thing the pond recently went from being a puddle to a fairly large body of water.
User: MikeHikes - 9/7/2020

Location: San Angelo State Park

Rating: 4point5stars
Difficulty: 1star  Solitude: 4point5stars
Miles Hiked: 11.40 Miles  Elapsed Time: 5 hours, 15 minutes

Comments:

Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > WS to LL COnnector > Roller Coaster > West Potts Creek > Potts Creek (E) > Turkey Creek > 5 Points Junction     4.5 miles

Leg 2 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook > service road WNW > River Bend (S) > 5 Points Junction      2.8 miles

Leg 3 - 5 Points Junction > Flintstone (S) > Playground > Bell's Point > Playground > (East) Potts Creek > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park     4.1 miles

Temp started at 69 and ended at 93.  Sunny, no clouds and a steadily increasing SSW breeze.

A very good hike along dry, easy to see and traverse trails.  Coming into the park, I saw numerous deer, javalinas and a "shore bird" at the pond closest to Burkett park; the "shore bird" is a juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron (photo attached) - the first I've seen at the park.

Not many birds were out at first but the numbers inceased as the hike progressed.  I saw a lone Box Turtle that was the size of my fist along the trail just moseying along - been awhile since I saw the last one!

The hike went longer than I expected but was well worth it!

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at 5 Points Junction.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station available at Cougar Overlook.

Water, shade and info kiosk available at Bell's Point.



Log Photos
A Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron
Area around San Angelo State Park
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