Exiting Visitor Center to the right |
Exiting Visitor Center to the right: info signs and shaded pavilion |
Exiting Visitor Center to the right: tortoise sharing lunch with a friend |
Exiting Visitor Center to the right: tortoise heading for home |
Exiting Visitor Center to the left onto the trails (view N) |
Pond 1 (view N) |
Bench in the shade along Pond 1 (view NW) |
Approaching a trail junction (view NW) |
Trail junction: my favorite route bends right (view N) |
Pond 1 (view NE) |
Signs overlooking Pond 1 (view NE) |
Approaching bend in the trail (view N) |
Bench at the curve overlooking Pond 2 (view N) |
Trees on Pond 2 often harbor Black-crowned Night Herons) |
Ducks on Pond 2 (view NE) |
Trail curving to the right (view NE) |
During winter, Pond 2 can be covered with ducks (view N) |
Trail between Pond 2 and Pond 1 (view E) |
Pond 1 with a few American Coots (view SW) |
Pond 1 at water inflow structure (view SE) |
Birder continuing past Pond 1 and Pond 2 (view E) |
Birder departing paved trail (view NE) |
Birder on trail south of Pond 5 (view E) |
Approaching observation blind at Pond 5 (view E) |
Observation blind at Pond 5 (view N) |
Great Blue Heron seen from observation blind at Pond 5 (view E) |
Gravel trail forks: my route stays right along Pond 9 (view E) |
Birder along south edge of Pond 9 (view E) |
Open land south of Pond 9 -- watch for Horned Larks (view SE) |
Approaching observation blind at Pond 9 (view E) |
Trees on island in Pond 9 (view N) |
Observation blind at Pond 9 (view NE) |
View from near observation blind at Pond 9 (view N) |
Trail continues along south edge of Pond 9 (view E) |
Pond 9 (view N) |
Trail bends left at corner of Pond 9 (view E) |
Outhouse at corner of Pond 9 (view N) |
Trail continues north along east edge of Pond 9 (view N) |
Birders along east edge of Pond 9 (view N) |
Pond 9 (view NW) |
Trail continues north along east edge of Pond 9 (view N) |
Trail reaching northeast corner of Pond 9 (view N) |
At intersection of trail, I like to stay right (view N) |
Pond 6 (view N) |
Shrubs outside the fence often harbor interesting birds (view N) |
Looking over the cattails into Pond 6 (view SW) |
Bench along Pond 6 (view NW) |
Side-loop trail to unused, Burrowing Owl habitat (view N) |
Approaching intersection of trails (view NW) |
Intersection of trails (view NW) |
Intersection of trails (view NW) |
Observation blind overlooking Pond 8 (view NW) |
Observation blind overlooking Pond 8 (view NW) |
Trail continues past the intersection (view SW) |
Birder on trail between Pond 7 and Pond 8 (view SW) |
Looking over the cattails into Pond 7 (view S) |
A bench in the shade between Pond 7 and Pond 8 (view SW) |
Looking over the cattails into Pond 7 (view SE) |
Birder approaching an intersection of trails (view SW) |
At intersection, observation blind overlooking Pond 8 (view N) |
At intersection, one trail turns back towards Visitor Center (view S) |
At intersection, boardwalk starts into Pond 4 (view SW) |
Start of Boardwalk (view W) |
Shrubs growing up because the pond is no longer flooded (view SW) |
Shrubs growing up because the pond is no longer flooded (view SW) |
The Boardwalk has been dry for years (view NW) |
Trees have overgrown the boardwalk (view N) |
Birder approaching end of the boardwalk (view N) |
Limited shorebird habitat (view N from boardwalk) |
American Avocets and Snowy Egret (view NE from Boardwalk) |
In the old days, Pond 4 was managed for shorebirds |
In the old days, Pond 4 was managed for shorebirds |
Trees have overgrown the boardwalk (view N) |
Limited shorebird habitat (view W from boardwalk) |
An invasive species: American Bullfrogs |
An invasive species: American Bullfrog |
Birder returning over the boardwalk (view SE) |
Birder reaching start of the boardwalk (view NE) |
Back at the intersection, my favorite route turns south (view S) |
Birder approaching the observation tower (view S) |
Turning left under the observation tower (view S) |
Observation tower (view W) |
Under the tower, view across Pond 5 (view E) |
Returning towards the main trail (view W) |
Turning left towards observation tower stairs (view S) |
Approaching the observation tower (view E) |
Looking out from atop observation tower (view E) |
Looking out from atop observation tower (view N) |
Looking out from atop observation tower (view SE) |
Exiting the observation tower westbound (view W) |
Off observation tower, continuing on my favorite route (view NW) |
Paved trail between Pond 2 and Pond 4 (view W) |
American Coots on Pond 2 (view SW) |
Paved trail between Pond 2 and Pond 4 (view W) |
Pond 2 (view SW) |
Water control valve draining Pond 2 into Pond 4 (view W) |
Birder at trail junction between Ponds 2, 3, and 4 (view W) |
Trail between Ponds 2 and 3 (view S) |
Bench in the shade overlooking Pond 3 (view W) |
The paved trail continues between Ponds 3 and 4 (view NW) |
Trail with open view onto Pond 3 (view NW) |
The paved trail continues between Ponds 3 and 4 (view NW) |
Narrow view onto Pond 4 (view N) |
Paved trail approaching curve, intersection, and observation blind |
From curve, dirt trail runs along west side of Pond 4 (view N) |
At the curve, a beautiful and docile Gopher Snake |
The paved trail curves left (view SW) |
Trail signs are scattered around the area |
Birder on paved trail along west edge of Pond 3 (view S) |
Look for Abert's Towhees under the mesquite (view W) |
Birder on paved trail along west edge of Pond 3 (view SE) |
Pond 3 (view SE) |
Bench with a view over Pond 3 (view SE) |
The trail continues along west edge of Pond 3 (view SE) |
The trail continues along west edge of Pond 3 (view SE) |
Bench and info sign along west edge of Pond 3 (view SE) |
Observation blind overlooking narrow arm of Pond 2 |
Closing the loop (view S) |
Shady return towards the Visitor Center (view S) |
Approaching the Visitor Center (view S) |
Returning towards the Visitor Center (view S) |
Returning to the back porch of the Visitor Center (view W) |