There are several ranches in the Valley offering blinds for birding and photography. We offer the best photography experience: each of our four ponds has been uniquely set up to give photographers everything they need for the perfect shot. From the red dirt around the rims of the ponds to the concrete-bottomed ponds to the combination of permanent and portable blinds, these are great setups for birders and photographers. Take a look below at each of the sites we have throughout the ranch.
For the bird watchers that are tired of fighting crowds, our ranch offers you a private environment. When you make a reservation, you virtually have the entire 700-acre ranch to yourself. You can then bird watch at the pre-established blinds or you can walk or drive the 5+ miles of trails.
This pond near the ranch's picnic area is our largest. It features one stationary blind to photograph large birds like hawks and three moveable blinds to photograph at the small elevated pond (see the third picture). The smaller pond, like all the smaller ponds throughout the ranch, is concreted so its shape will not change when larger animals come to drink and bathe.
This is the view from the large blind shown above. As you can see, there are several perches for large birds. There are also many frogs, turtles, and fish in this area. The small pond (below) is located to the left of this picture.
The elevated pond allows photo-graphers to shoot at eye-level (essentially acts like a below-ground blind). A large water tank auto-matically feeds this small pond, and the water overflows into the larger, lower pond (background). Birds love the sound of the trickling water! The pond's surrounding area may have the highest population of Painted Buntings in South Texas.
This blind is the newest revision to the ranch. The first of the small ponds features a below-ground blind and tree cover. The pond, as with all the others on the ranch, is fed with well water and has a remote float system that automatically and constantly adjusts the water level. There is a mound of red dirt nearby for photographers to scatter if needed. Also, the small ponds are made with water-sealed cement, so their shape will never be damaged by the larger animals coming to drink and bathe. This site is for afternoon shooting.
This blind is set into the ground to be at eye-level with the pond. This blind is frequented by larger mammals and hundreds of birds at any one time. The trees in the upper-left corner overhang the pond, and there are more trees that surround the pond.
From the animals' perspective. The feeder on the right side of this picture is stocked with corn and sunflower seeds year-round. One such feeder is at each photography site. This particular site is for morning shooting.
This pond is the last of the small ponds on the ranch. It is our best-constructed pond: it has an upside-down sombrero shape which declines very slightly and then drops off suddenly. This allows animals to move into the pond about 2 ft from the rim. There is a water drip system in the trees to the left that attracts birds from miles away. This pond can be used for morning or afternoon photography.
Since the ranch provides both options of below- and above-ground blinds, photographers can select what is best for them. Two ponds have permanent, below-ground blinds (Longhorn and Bulldog Ponds); there are also portable blinds at the Beaver and Horned Frog Ponds. The permanent blinds are a bit more luxurious and spacious, whereas the portable blinds allow the best capturing of sunlight throughout the day (and even throughout the year).
Here is a view of an above-ground blind. There is plenty of room for two people and tripods and equipment. The camouflage netting can be drawn in so only your lenses protrude from the blind. All of the moveable blinds, such as this one, have outdoor carpet to keep your equipment clean.
This is a closer look at the inside of a permanent (below-ground) blind, specifically at Bulldog Pond. It is nearly 6 ft tall on the inside and about 16 ft long. For an outside view, see the pictures above or the Picasa picture album (link below). The black netting near the top of the blind (on 3 sides) allows plently of air ventilation.
Even more pictures of blinds and ponds can be found near the end of our Picasa picture album, located on our Photos page, HERE.
700 acres of native flora and fauna