Here we were: Rachel, Jacque, Joan, SandyB, Janice, GloriaB, JanB, CarolynD, Jenny, Marilyn, CarolynH, Marsha, Carrie, Nancy Likos, JudyL, SandyO, Adela, Lisa, Kay, Sandy “Rum Cake” Smith, Beverly, Jana from Odessa, Susan, LindaW, Darlene, Susie, Janet, and Marie! Twenty-eight TOWNies , with grandkid, guest, and dogs, gathered at Inks Lake State Park from Sept. 29th to Oct. 3rd. We were very fortunate that the Park staff (specifically Crystal) put most of us in the same campground loop.

There was so much to see in the Park that few went out on field trips to area sights—not even to the wineries. We burned some stories and told some logs and laughed like loons. We enjoyed the Canada geese and the white interloper goose who bossed the gaggle around; some TOWNies learned to fish from a Ranger (and caught some—fish, that is), many went paddling every day, hikers came back weary from miles of trails, and bird aficionados oohed and ahhhed at the new bird blind.

We ate impromptu and planned meals, lots of pie, and played games like we were at summer camp. Each night the clear skies showered us with stars, and dawn lit the mist skimming the lake in curling and glowing drifts. A healthy skunk passed on its route between the campsites every evening and returned the same way in the morning. Enormous fish leapt and splashed just after we glanced their way, and stolid herons mistaken for tree stumps enlivened and took flight. Janet provides some details about birds and plants (sounding a warning about sand spurs).

Birds seen on the lake: green heron, 3 great blue herons, Osprey, belted kingfisher, great egrets, Canada geese (not-native), and mallards (not native ).

The new bird blind is very large and quite nice with benches, bird books, screened and plexi-glass windows. Located outside the entrance of the park on Park Road 4, it has a long path with an electric gate that requires a code. This makes it much quieter than the usual state park blind, which is often directly on a well-used trail. The Highland Lakes Master Naturalists organized its building.

Seen at the bird blind:

Birds: American goldfinch, lesser goldfinch, possibly female rufous hummingbird, juvenile female hummingbird, 15+ house sparrows (not native), cardinals, ladder-backed woodpecker, boat-tailed grackles, white-winged doves.

Wildlife seen: young diamond-backed rattlesnake on trail , rabbit at the bird blind, butterflies (Common Maestra, Queen)

Marilyn Fowler