By Brandt Mannchen
Saturday, March 11, 2023, the Houston Sierra Club visited Brazos Bend State Park (BBSP) for the first time in four years. We had a “blast” on our hike of the Red Buckeye and White Oak Trails, on the east end of the BBSP.
The Red Buckeyes were blazing red and provided a great target for Tiger Swallowtails, other butterflies, and pollinators. Wild Onions were in profusion and gave their delightful smell as we moved from the Big Creek Floodplain to the Brazos River.
It was lovely to see the Columbia Bottomlands Ecosystem in full leaf-out mode. American Elm, Cedar Elm, Eastern Cottonwood, Black Willow, American Sycamore, Bur Oak, Live Oak, Shumard Oak, Pecan, Water Oak, etc. We measured two large Live Oaks. One was 50.32 inches diameter breast height (DBH at 4.5 feet) and the second was a whopping 65.29 inches DBH. Giants for sure!
Much of the day was overcast with a great breeze and later in the day the sun came out and warmed up to the mid-80’s. Spring was in evidence with lots of wildflowers including spiderworts, vetch, butterweed, Louisiana Iris (peeking out with its’ showy blue-purple colors in the taller grasses), dewberry, blackberry, rusty blackhaw, little hip hawthorn, redbud, anemone, dwarf dandelion, Texas dandelion, bluebonnet, white clover, crow poison, primrose, wild geranium, lyre-leaf sage, fleabane, purple meadow-rue, and many more!
After our walk we had a great lunch, all eight of us, close together on a picnic bench shaded by a large oak tree. Then we went to 40-Acre Lake and enjoyed seeing birds and a large American Alligator from the pier. Birds seen included White Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Rosette Spoonbill, Common Snipe, American Coot, Moorhen, Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Black-necked Stilt, and more.
Perhaps the most exciting bird we saw was a Great Horned Owl. It was sitting in a large Live Oak tree at the headquarters where you check-in and pay your fee. There were many photographers with huge camera lenses set-up on tripods ready to take photos of this ferocious, but impressive predator.
It was a wonderful day and reintroduction to BBSP. Thanks go to Linda, Paula, Babie, Solida, Cynthia, Winnie, and Lynn. What a great group of hikers. Fun to talk and walk with. Who could ask for more on a beautiful, Spring, March, weekend day.
Photos courtesy of LM and Brandt Mannchen.