I always love getting out of the city and end of September we had the chance to explore more natural parks, enjoyed some real Texas BBq and visit small towns. It’s so interesting to explore such different ecosystems and find new wildlife!
Delicious BBQ stop in Cherokee, TX
Lockhart, TX
Colorado Bend State Park
I really enjoyed hiking through Colorado Bend SP, because the landscape was so similar to the Mediterranean one except that it was full of prickly pear cactuses. We will have to go back someday and explore the other trails!
The prickly pear landscape
Prickly pear and rocks
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Mating grasshoppers
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
This park is located Northwest of Austin and is essentially a pink granite mountain with hiking trails to the summit and around. Although we didn’t make it to the summit, because the trail was closed due to rain, we had a wonderful hike around the circumference of the mountain.
The path around Enchanted Rock State Natural Area
A giant dinosaur egg
Skippers (Hesperiidae)
Daddy-longlegs
Lizard
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
This wildlife refuge is actually just outside of Houston, on the Gulf Coast. We went there on an overcast Sunday and it was beautiful to drive around – if a bit overcrowded with mosquitos!
Fishing boats outside the wildlife refuge
A flock of birds take flight
Red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
Golden silk orb-weavers (Nephila)
We were so lucky to spot this little frog! It was there just long enough to snap a photo.
I love these! How big is the dinosaur egg?