Field Trip Description: Texas Hill Country and the Pecos River Valley, overnight, 3 day trip.
Please note that a Registration Fee of $317.00 is required for each Trip participant.
Sites of interest – South Llano State Park, sites near Junction and Pecos Canyon near Sheffield.
Registration required 20 days in advance (by April 1, 2027. Minimum for the trip is 6 participants. The trip limit (max) is 10 participants.
NOTE THAT CURRENTLY FIELD TRIPS ARE OPEN TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES.
NOTIFY OUR FIELD TRIP LEADER, GENE BLACKLOCK, THAT YOU PLAN TO GO ON THIS FIELD TRIP. TEXT GENE AT 361-558-1829 AND PROVIDE YOUR NAME(S) AND CELL PHONE NUMBER(S). Then mail in your registration fee to Gene as outlined below.
This overnight Field Trip will require each participant to
Pay for transportation, meals, expenses, and overnight accommodations
Pay a Field Trip Registration Fee of $317.00 per participant to Field Trip Leader, Gene Blacklock. (Please note that Registration Fees pay for the expenses of the Trip Leader.)
Send Registration Fee payment to Gene Blacklock. (Checks should be paid to Gene Blacklock, 107 County Road 391, Mathis, Texas 78368-3208). Gene must receive your registration payment by April 1, 2027). If the trip does not make, participants will receive a full refund.
Meet at designated locations (see Timeline below) for each part of the Field Trip.
Headquarters: Motel 6, Junction, 184 Dos Rio Drive, just off Interstate Hwy 10, phone: 325 216 5985.
Please note that you may make reservations at a different hotel/motel in the area, but the Field Trip group will need to meet at the entrance to South Llano State Park on the mornings of Wednesday, April 21 & Thursday, April 22nd at the designated times (see details on the various locations where the Field Trip Group will meet in Timeline below) .
Timeline:
Tuesday, April 20th, 1:00 PM: Field Trip Group will meet at the entrance to South Llano State Park, located along highway 377 (Physical Location: 1927 Park Road 73); we will visit one of the three bird blinds in the Park. Overnight stay at lodging in area.
Wednesday, April 21st, 7:00 AM: Field Trip Group will again meet at the entrance to South Llano State Park. We will visit two of the three bird blinds and walk a couple of the Park trails. In the afternoon we will visit other birding sites near Junction. Overnight stay at lodging in area.
Thursday, April 22nd, 8:00 AM: Check out of overnight lodging. Field Trip Group meets at Pecos River Overlook (old highway 10, east of Sheffield, Fort Lancaster Scenic Overlook), and then drives to Live Oak Creek Road, Pecos River Canyon. Field Trip will end around 1:00 PM and the Group can head home.
Birds of special interest: Zone-tailed Hawk; Common Poorwill; Ringed Kingfisher; Willow Flycatcher; Black & Say's Phoebes; Cassin's Kingbird (+/-); Bell's, Black-capped, Gray, Yellow-throated, Plumbeous, and Red-eyed Vireos; Western Scrub-Jay; Common Raven; Canyon & Rock Wrens; Curve-billed Thrasher; Black-and-white, MacGillivray's, Yellow-throated & Golden-cheeked Warblers; Yellow-breasted Chat; Green-tailed, Spotted & Canyon Towhees; Rufous-crowned, Lark, Black-throated, Cassin's & Clay-colored Sparrows; Lazuli & Varied Buntings; Bullock's & Scott's Orioles; Pine Siskin; House, Purple (invasion years) & Lesser Goldfinches.
Stress level: moderate, some walking.
MATERIALS TO HAVE AVAILABLE: Scope, binoculars, comfortable hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent (especially for chiggers & mosquitoes). Always be on the look out for fire ants. Also recommended: water & snacks.
OPTIONAL: a Bird Field Guide or Bird ID apps.