South Shore - Playground parking area to Burkett Park Loop + Tasajilla Flats

A Lonely Meadowlark
The only Meadowlark spotted today. Not much else went on.
User: MikeHikes - 1/13/2022

Location: San Angelo State Park

Rating: 4stars
Difficulty: halfstar  Solitude: 4point5stars
Miles Hiked: 8.80 Miles  Elapsed Time: 4 hours, 20 minutes

Comments:

Leg 1 - Playground parking area > Chaparral > Red Dam Loop > Chaparral > Winding Snake > Burkett Park       3.7 miles

Leg 2 - Burkett Park > WS to LL Connector > Lanky Lackey > Nature Trail > Tasajilla Flats > Playground parking area     3.7 miles

Leg 3 - Tasajilla Flats northern most section   1.4 miles

Temps started at 33, ended at 70.  Sunny, very high wispy clouds, light 1-5mph SW breeze.

All trails easy to see and traverse.  Not much went on during the hike.  I saw at least a dozen white tail deer, a Meadowlark (photo attached) a few Mockingbirds, a single Kestrel and a few sparrows.  Saw a hiker who told me I just missed a good photo.  He said about 10 minutes earlier, he saw a "big black bird" on the trail lift off and in it's talons was a Jack Rabbit!  I assume it was either a Black Buzzard or a Turkey Vulture and also assume the Jack Rabbit was dead. 

Spent an extra hour on Tasajilla Flats picking up old bottles and cans last month's prescribed fires revealed.  This part of the trail used to be underwater and it's easy to see where the favorite fishing holes were - just look for the pint whiskey bottles, beer bottles and cans; bring 'em, drink 'em and sink 'em.  I picked up a 40# bird seed bag full of trash and there are still more bottles and cans waiting for me to gather.

NOTES

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station available at Playground parking area.

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



Log Photos
A Lonely Meadowlark
Area around San Angelo State Park
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