Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Area, Marble Falls, Texas

April 25, 2018

Balcones Canyonlands was acquired to provide habitat for two endangered songbirds–the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler.  We didn’t see either of them but we did enjoy a couple of hikes.  There was a pond full of turtles behind the visitors’ center.

The first hike afforded a view of Lake Travis and was named Cactus Rock Trail for the honeycomb limestone along it.

Ashe juniper

The second hike was through prairie and along a creek on the former Doeskin Ranch.

Corn crib

Crayfish

Tillandsia (relative of Spanish moss) as thick as we’ve ever seen

Antelope horns, tightly closed

Antelope horns, opening

Antelope horns, opened

Prairie verbena

Blackfoot daisy

Prickly pear cactus, with bee

Texas bluebonnet

Wild currant, also called chaparral berry

Standing cypress

Indian paintbrush

Confederate daisy

Nuttal’s sensitive briar

Puffball, also called Barbara’s Buttons