Nov 29 - Dec 1 : Nature Getaway

We are so excited to announce this Nature Getaway package with Medina River Oaks Courts, our partner for the 2nd Saturday Nature Talks and Lodging/Meals/Nature Tour packages such as this one at the end of Nov. With a few days relaxation between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you'll make it through the holidays with flying (Fall) colors!

Book your Nature Getaway Package directly with the Courts

Feel free to contact us with any questions about the tour at Lost Maples State Natural Area in Vanderpool.

Itinerary and Tour details are as follows -

• Families, Friends and Other Groups

• All Levels Birders/Naturalists

• Casual pace

• Half Day

No one has led more nature tours at Lost Maples than we have. We’ve recorded 126 bird species here including Golden Cheeked Warblers, Black Capped Vireos, a Northern/Tropical Parula pair and Red-Tailed and Zone-Tailed Hawks all of which successfully nest here annually.

Friday Nov 29th - ARRIVAL

· No stay at the Medina’s River Oaks Courts would be complete without dinner, drinks and music on the Social Club’s Patio and a stroll through the beautiful Native Garden

· We’ll gather your first evening to socialize and to ensure guests have appropriate clothing, drinks and snacks, etc for tomorrow's tour.

Saturday Nov 30

AM

• Breakfast from the onsite Art House Cafe

• Half Day tour at Lost Maples State Natural Area, Vanderpool

The mile-long trail from the bird blind to the pond parallels Can Creek and offers endless opportunities for discovery. Terrain is a bit rocky and gently sloped. There are a few easy stream crossings but the trail is walk-able by most. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nature over a sack lunch or snack at the pond side picnic tables before retracing your steps back to the bird blind.

At a Glance

• Waterproof shoes and/or walking stick helpful but not necessary

• Recommend binoculars or we can lend you a quality pair of Vortex Triumphs

• 2 miles with 165’ elevation change

Options

The initial stream crossing onto the trail is the most ‘challenging’ part of the trail to the pond. Alternatively, start from the Day Use Area and walk to the East Trail/Maple Trail junction (0.8 mi), Monkey Rock (2.2 mi) or the Grotto (3.2 mi / 85’)

* Distances are round trip / elevation changes in feet

* All route are out-and-back trips, one can begin the return trip at any time.

PM

• The afternoon and evening are your own adventure

• Before or after your dinner at the Social Club, we suggest strolling the Native Garden and the short trail to the Medina River

• If you opt for an evening out, the Cowboy Capital of the World offers many options. Bandera is just a doze miles east on Hwy 16.

  https://www.banderacowboycapital.com/

Sunday Dec 1

AM

• Check out...or even better add on another of lodging and another Busy-Birding tour !

October Report : Birds are passing through on their Fall Migration but all but the Nashville Warblers are being pretty stealthy. Instead, we were treated to hundreds? thousands? of American Snout butterflies. The park is always full of wonderful surprises as seen below.

Photos from our Migration Celebration., Sept 21st.