San Angelo State Park Photos

Major portions of the trails were burned during the prescribed burns two weeks ago. Hope the grasses grow back! (Photo by MikeHikes)

Most of the birds were out of sight but this one posed briefly before flying away to join his compadres. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The colors of Fall at the San Angelo State Park - yellow Mesquite leaves. There are other trees but this is the predominant one in the park at the South Shore. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Spotted it in the middle of it's circular web. No dew drops to show the web but here is the spider! (Photo by MikeHikes)

One of the trailheads for the Nature Trail. The mist was in the valleys and the lake. Looked nice but it quickly dissipated when the sun rose. (Photo by MikeHikes)

First Meadowlark of the season spotted on Dinosaur Trail. They are Winter visitors and a sign that the seasons are changing! (Photo by MikeHikes)

A month or so ago, I saw an Axis deer doe and fawns on the other side of the river. Today I saw the buck quite a distance away but still in the park. Not the best photo but easy to identify him. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Far off in the distance with the sun back lighting the bird, using my 100-400 lens, this was the best photo I got of a Yellow Shafted Flicker. Don't recall seeing one here before today. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Not many flowers are still in bloom except for this patch of Sunflowers by the dried up Frog Pond. A migrating Monarch did not bother to stop and check them out. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The Preying Mantis asked as I took his picture then guided him off the trail and toward some tall grasses. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This spider was waiting for another insect to investigate the prickly pear apple. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Not a Monarch but a Queen. Underside looks nearly identical to the Monarch but the topside is different. Seeing more of these now at the park. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The park usually has a large number of Monarchs come through on their way to Mexico. I hope this solitary scout is not a bad sign. (Photo by MikeHikes)

I can only assume they escaped from one of the nearby game ranches. No buck was seen with them. (Photo by MikeHikes)

The juvenile Mockingbird was not concerned about the Hummingbird and never left his perch. When I walked closer, he decided to leave and the Hummingbird disappeared as well. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Recent heavy rains caused the bee bush to bloom! Normally they bloom three or even four times in a year but this is the first bloom this year (late August). (Photo by MikeHikes)

A grey fox was watching the sunrise as I drove in. When he noticed my car, he went deep into the brush. (Photo by MikeHikes)

I've seen the larger, dark cicadas at the park in the recent past, this smaller and "golden" colored cicada was the first one I've seen - I'll look for them again in 17 years ..... if I remember. (Photo by MikeHikes)

Look closely at the muddy area. This is the third time I've spotted a feral hog at the river's edge. I've never seen them in the park but I've seen the damage they do to the fauna. (Photo by MikeHikes)

but it will become a Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. (Photo by MikeHikes)

I usually hear them as they scamper up a tree but this one paused long enough for me to get a quick photo. After I got the photo, he was gone. (Photo by MikeHikes)

There was more wet than dry places along the riverbed so that was good. Not much to see otherwise though. (Photo by MikeHikes)

This part of the river has been dry for a long time - recent rains have made a BIG difference! Saw a few large fish and a lot of minnows in the pool area. (Photo by MikeHikes)

After the recent, brief rains, the red velvet mites have made an appearance. Not as many as in the past but they are very visible when walking the trails. (Photo by MikeHikes)