Just Because

This is a “just because”  posting.  As you can see, we have changed our header to reflect one of our new feathered friends here at Reynolds Creek COE Park.  Watching animals and birds in the wild is an interesting endeavor.  When we first arrived on the 10^th of this month, all of the animals we saw would bolt out of sight as soon as we saw them, with the exception of some of the older deer.

This is a regular sight now, in the tall grass around us.

Our Motor home is on the far upper left and behind the shrubs.
One morning judy looked out the window and saw
about 7-10 does directly across the street from us.

Now, there must be a pattern of recognition going, because the roadrunner that hangs out across the street  allows us to get within 25 yards as he goes about his roadrunner habits. 

This roadrunner didn't even run whern I got out of my SUV!

It's a pretty safe bet that we'll find one of these bandits
trapping himself in the dumpster.  The key point is not to get too
 close when we open the lid.  He may launch himself
and go for a ride on your face and shoulders!

A few nights ago, right about deep dusk,  as we drove about on our closing round, Judy and I were able to park about 50 yards from a dead tree alongside the creek with a mature bald eagle perched atop.  It was too dark to even try for a pic, but it really gave me hope for the future.

Yesterday, J. T. (a.k.a. Catfish) and his wife, Glenda, a couple of our newly acquired friends (human in this case), were going through on their regular morning drive through the park when they spotted a large bobcat on the side of the road.  As luck would have it, they were about 200 yards ahead of me and around a bend.   By the time I arrived, the cat had disappeared. 

A few days ago, a couple using the equestrian park (we have about 20+ miles of trails for bikers, hikers and horses) reported spotting a Puma on one of the back trails. “It appeared to be about the size of a German Shepherd and its tail was dragging behind him.”  Most of the horsemen are able to spot these animals without spooking them, because the wild animals don’t differentiate between a lone horse and a horse with a rider.  This same couple reported a 4-wheel  drive mud-riding on some of the closed off sections of the park and, since this activity is forbidden here, in addition to criminal trespass, the various rangers, as well as all of us volunteers, are trying to identify the offender.  When they do apprehend him, it will turn out to be an expensive hobby.

The last couple of days, we spent our volunteer hours trimming brush at the entrance, mostly crepe myrtles that have not been attended to for several  years.  At our age, it hurts, but we look forward to getting into shape for Colorado next May, so we are pushing ourselves.  We have now cleared the park of litter and only have a few pieces here and there to pick up each day.  The remnants of the devastating flood of several years ago are reminders of how bad it got.   There is even a telephone pole in the upper reaches of the trees about 20-30 feet off the ground next to the lake.  What was once an area of beautiful campsites has now been abandoned.  and It is going to take a lot of work and expense to get that part cleaned up.  I personally think that all they have to do is open it to tent campers and allow the campers to pick up the wood for firewood.  However, this is a federal park and it probably won’t happen.

We toured the closed area of the park and found it be absolutely gorgeous.  All campsites overlook the lake and are located on a high bluff above the water.  Why didn’t we know about this park when we were tent camping?!  If anyone is looking for a beautiful place to camp during the summer, this is it.  Waco Lake is fed by the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, keeping a fresh supply of water flowing, and the fish have a beautiful , clean taste.

We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves and invite anyone in the area to drop in (after calling to be sure we’re home)!  Merry Christmas and more news to come later!  ~Dick~