WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
By late April, we should be well into the spring bird migration, and many birds will already have returned for the mating season or passing through on their way further north. Being next door to each other, both Cedar Hill State Park and the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center share pretty much the same birds. Both venues have several trails that range from easy to strenuous and short to long. The State Park has more water to attract birds with a couple of ponds (Duck Pond and Perch Pond) and the large Joe Pool Lake on its western side. In this announcement, I have included a bird checklist showing types of birds that have been seen in the State Park, though they may not all be present when we are there.
In the State Park, the Duck Pond Trail, the Shoreline Trail, and the Penn Farm Trail are all easy. In the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, only the Canyon Floor Trail is easy. It includes a bird blind along the way. Having visited both on my reconnaissance trip, I felt that the State Park offered more photo opportunities with more options for less strenuous trails, if that’s important to you. I have included maps for both locations in this announcement and an interpretive guide for Cedar Hill State Park.
I saw more meadows at the State Park than at Dogwood Canyon, so that may suggest more opportunities for wildflowers at the State Park. However, there is a strenuous Dogwood Trail at the Audubon Center that apparently culminates in an impressive grove of dogwood trees. If they are in bloom at the end of April, and if anyone is up for a more challenging hike, that could be a good photo op.
The State Park includes the Penn Farm Agricultural History Center. It is a historic farm belonging to the Penn family that dates from the mid-1850s to 1970. It includes old, rusting farm equipment that was used back in the day, a windmill, a water tower, barn, a couple of farmhouses, and other buildings It was a lot of fun photographing things in and around the old farmstead. If you enjoy photographing rusty antique farms and farm equipment, you’ll have lots of opportunities at the Penn Farm.
TRAVEL
On a Saturday morning, Cedar Hill State Park is about an hour southwest of the Heard Nature Center. It sits on the east shore of Joe Pool Lake. The Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center is next door to the State Park just east on the same highway. There are several ways to get to the State Park, and directions will vary based on your starting point. The best thing to do is to program Cedar Hill State Park into your car or cell phone GPS and follow the directions provided.
Day use admission to the Cedar Hill State Park is $7.00 per adult (13 and older), while children 12 and younger are admitted free. Admission is free for everyone in a vehicle where at least one person has a Texas State Parks Pass. The park can get quite crowded on weekends, so I may need to make a reservation for our group. Thus, the sooner I know how many to expect, the better for making a group reservation.
Admission to the Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center is free, but visitors must check in at the office before proceeding onto the trails.
LUNCH
Sam’s Pizza Pasta Subs is a wonderful Italian restaurant in the old heart of the quaint town of Cedar Hill. It’s about ten minutes from the State Park. My wife and I enjoyed a terrific lunch there after our reconnaissance trip to the State Park. They make everything from scratch in-house, and their prices are reasonable. When I left the restaurant, I tracked down the husband-and-wife owners and told them that I hope the people of Cedar Hill appreciate what a treasure they have in that restaurant.
People should plan to start arriving at the restaurant between 11:30 a.m. and noon. The restaurant has plenty of room, and they do not make reservations, but it’s always helpful for me to know who to expect and who not to expect for lunch. So, please let me know in the comments when you register if you plan to join us for lunch.
Sam’s Pizza Pasta Subs
601 Cedar Street
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
972-293-0013 or 972-293-0487
SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT
Telephoto Lens (For wildlife and distant objects. A zoom lens adds flexibility.)
Wide-Angle Lens (For Landscapes and Wide Close-Ups. Again, a zoom lens adds flexibility.)
Macro Lens, Extension Tubes, or Close-Up Diopters (For close-up shots of insects, wildflowers, or detail shots of antique farm equipment)
Optional: Tripod or Monopod
Extra Batteries and Memory Cards
Water
Snacks
CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact me if you have questions:
Tom Martin
HNP Field Trip Coordinator
469-261-3045
hollyfox07@gmail.com
