Red Squirrel
Egyptian Geese Juveniles
Ditto, View 2
Muscovy Duck
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Johnson Park in Marble Falls, TX
Marble Falls has always been a good stopover point for an assortment of wildlife. Having first shot an award winning Great Horned owlet photo more than five years ago, this area has always had a soft spot in writer's heart. Suffering extensive flooding damage last year, this locale has seen great revitalization, and is unquestionably a birding hotspot in Burnet County. Egyptian Geese moved into this area this year and we experienced the young ones this spring when we came through the area enroute to Del Rio. You'll observe assorted raptors like the Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, ducks and waterbirds, both Turkey and Black Vultures, and many birds breed here, too.
This is a small sample of the wildlife available this fall, but there is much more. Experience the hospitality and friendliness of the area. You'll be glad that you shared the Marble Falls Experience.
Domestic Sheep
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Fredericksburg, Texas
This beautiful domestic sheep was in the vicinity of Enchanted Rock, and we came upon him as well as a few exotics while traveling to the park shortly after sunup. Many migrants were observed there including wrens, warblers, Blue Grosbeak, both Vultures, rock squirrel, and more. The greatest number of birds are near the creek as one gets ready to climb Enchanted Rock. The best birding trail is just to the right of the Rock Trail.
Bewick's Wren in Song
Bewick's Wren, View 2
Hutton's Vireo
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Hutton's Vireo was a target species on this trip, as were a few other birds that we were unable to
locate on this Audubon Certified Golf Course and residential location. Much of the habitat found here is natural and pesticide use was only on an as-needed basis.
Queen
Canyon Wren
Underwing Moth
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Private Exotic Species Ranch
Writer photographed many of the East Indian and African species, but managed to miss a few. One Plains Zebra was actually just a few feet from the car. My camera had a long range lens on it, rendering that photo impossible to make. However, my hunt was with the above photo of the oryx. about a mile or a little better on foot. By the time that they stopped, they were just as curious about me as I was of them.
Watusi (Exotic Cattle)
Aoudad (Exotics)
Oryx (Exotics)
Plains Zebra (Exotics)
Ostrich (Exotic)
Sitka (Exotic)
Red Deer (Exotic Elk)
Texas White-tailed Deer
Ribbon Snake
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These photos were taken in the heart of the Edwards Plateau or Texas Hill Country. Many private ranches were toured, which explains the exotic animals. At one ranch, we even sampled smoked meat from the axis deer. Some of the other ranches were also working ranches for white-tailed deer and Northern Bobwhite (quail), both native species.
There are many schools of thought on the exotic animals, some of which have managed to become escapees in the area. Most of the exotic ranchers are continuously going through their ranches to check fencing to ascertain the safety of the native species of the Edwards Plateau, a respected Texas ecosystem.
These are regions that also provide important habitat to the well being of the recently delisted Black-capped Vireo, as well as the Golden-cheeked Warbler, a Federally protected species.
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
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Pedernales River State Park in Johnson City, Texas (Blanco County)
This was one of the most exciting birds of the trip and is the first scrub-jay that I have ever photographed.
For additional information on Johnson Park:
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2019/04/birding-on-shoestring-texas-hill.html
https://debhirt.blogspot.com/2014/04/johnson-park-in-marble-falls-texas.html
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