Administrator
05-14-2009, 08:28 AM
Join Jim Jones for a field trip to Longhollow Ranch (southwest of Glen Rose) on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
We will spend about 5 to 6 hours exploring Lee Clauser's Longhollow Ranch property, the Brown property (where we have been conducting a weekly bird survey), and possibly two adjacent ranches.
Target birds: Golden-cheek Warbler, Black-capped Viero, Ash-throated Flycatcher.
On last year's trip we also saw Lesser Goldfinch, Black & White Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Indigo Bunting.... just to name some of the more popular targeted bird species.
Also note that on our recent bird surveys up to 14 Golden-cheek Warblers have been seen or heard!!!
This trip will include both driving and hiking over rough rocky terrain. Long trousers and sturdy hiking boots are recommended. There will be both tall grass and briars that we may encounter and leg protection is needed. I will most likely need to split into two groups after I see who is coming. The more energectic will hike some of the more interesting steep trails we found during our survey, and the second group will remain on the grassy roads that criss-cross the ranch. (but this will only be for a short period of time, we will stay together as a group as much as possible.
Bring snacks, lunch, cold beverages, and donuts for your leader.
For those who may want to car pool, I will meet you at Dutch Branch Park in Benbrook at 6:15AM and we will arrive at Longhollow Ranch about 7:30 AM. (I know on most FWAS fieldtrips we meet at the Antique Flea Market store on HWY 377. But personally I have never liked parking in a No Parking Zone where my vehicle might be towed. And their parking lot is well posted as are most of the plazas in Benbrook.) Dutch Branch Park parking is located off of Winscott Road (from I20, go south on 377 for 1.37 miles, then turn left at the traffic light, then turn right into the parking area.) We can park adjacent to the first ball fileds on the right.
We will have to decide who all wants to car pool since some may want to stay longer than others....
If you want to meet us at the ranch, here are the directions. I plan to start out exploring Lee's property and yard for the first hour, so if you are late you can meet us at Longhollow Ranch.
Directions from Fort Worth to Longhollow Ranch ( Ranch GPS: N32̊ 11' 36.9", W97̊ 57' 7.4" )
Take US377 west to Granbury. Stay on 377 past the shopping area to the west side of town where you will come to the intersection with Business 377. Continue on US377 for about 200 feet beyond this intersection, then turn left on Holmes Drive. (Watch out, street sign is VERY small. Also note that on north side of 377 the street name is Archer).
Take Holmes Drive east to FM 51.
Turn right on FM51. (Make a note of your odometer mileage reading.)
Drive south on FM51 for 7.5 miles to the intersection with FM56 (FM56 goes left to Glen Rose)
Bear right on FM51 and continue south (sign will say “Paluxy”) for an additional 9.6 miles to the intersection with CR1014. (or 17.1 miles from Holmes Drive)
(Warning: this second stretch of FM51 is very curvy in some spots with speed limit caution signs. Watch for landmarks such as the intersection on your left where FM205 goes east to Glen Rose. Then watch for CR1014 which is 2.1 miles after you past FM205 and is immediately after a “Caution / 20 MPH” sign. CR1014 is a right turn in the middle of this sharp left-hand curve)
Turn right (west) on CR1014. After about 1.3 miles from FM51, you enter Erath County and the road becomes CR196. (The pavement also Ends)
Continue west on CR196 for 1.25 miles. (or about 2.5 miles from FM51)
Turn right on CR104 (there is a ‘dry’ stock tank on your right) and drive 0.25 miles down the hill to Longhollow Ranch.
Directions from Dallas to Chalk Mountain:
Take US67 west to Glen Rose. On the west side of Glen Rose you will come to the intersection of FM205. Make a note of your odometer mileage.
Continue on US67 for 10.8 miles to CR196. (it is a right hand turn shortly after you pass the small Chalk Mountain sign and will sneak up on you, so slow down after seeing the Chalk Mountain sign)
Turn right on CR196 and drive 3.7 miles. Turn left on CR104. Longhollow ranch is .25 miles down in the hollow on your right.
NOTE: CR196 is VERY dusty if they have not had recent rains. Allow space with any cars in front of you. On the stretch from Longhollow to the Brown property there are sharp 90-degree turns and occasional cattle guards where the road narrows. So please be careful.
My cell phone is 817-915-6089. I will also bring my Midland radios, please bring yours if you have them.
Hope you will join us for the last official trip this season.
Jim Jones
We will spend about 5 to 6 hours exploring Lee Clauser's Longhollow Ranch property, the Brown property (where we have been conducting a weekly bird survey), and possibly two adjacent ranches.
Target birds: Golden-cheek Warbler, Black-capped Viero, Ash-throated Flycatcher.
On last year's trip we also saw Lesser Goldfinch, Black & White Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Indigo Bunting.... just to name some of the more popular targeted bird species.
Also note that on our recent bird surveys up to 14 Golden-cheek Warblers have been seen or heard!!!
This trip will include both driving and hiking over rough rocky terrain. Long trousers and sturdy hiking boots are recommended. There will be both tall grass and briars that we may encounter and leg protection is needed. I will most likely need to split into two groups after I see who is coming. The more energectic will hike some of the more interesting steep trails we found during our survey, and the second group will remain on the grassy roads that criss-cross the ranch. (but this will only be for a short period of time, we will stay together as a group as much as possible.
Bring snacks, lunch, cold beverages, and donuts for your leader.
For those who may want to car pool, I will meet you at Dutch Branch Park in Benbrook at 6:15AM and we will arrive at Longhollow Ranch about 7:30 AM. (I know on most FWAS fieldtrips we meet at the Antique Flea Market store on HWY 377. But personally I have never liked parking in a No Parking Zone where my vehicle might be towed. And their parking lot is well posted as are most of the plazas in Benbrook.) Dutch Branch Park parking is located off of Winscott Road (from I20, go south on 377 for 1.37 miles, then turn left at the traffic light, then turn right into the parking area.) We can park adjacent to the first ball fileds on the right.
We will have to decide who all wants to car pool since some may want to stay longer than others....
If you want to meet us at the ranch, here are the directions. I plan to start out exploring Lee's property and yard for the first hour, so if you are late you can meet us at Longhollow Ranch.
Directions from Fort Worth to Longhollow Ranch ( Ranch GPS: N32̊ 11' 36.9", W97̊ 57' 7.4" )
Take US377 west to Granbury. Stay on 377 past the shopping area to the west side of town where you will come to the intersection with Business 377. Continue on US377 for about 200 feet beyond this intersection, then turn left on Holmes Drive. (Watch out, street sign is VERY small. Also note that on north side of 377 the street name is Archer).
Take Holmes Drive east to FM 51.
Turn right on FM51. (Make a note of your odometer mileage reading.)
Drive south on FM51 for 7.5 miles to the intersection with FM56 (FM56 goes left to Glen Rose)
Bear right on FM51 and continue south (sign will say “Paluxy”) for an additional 9.6 miles to the intersection with CR1014. (or 17.1 miles from Holmes Drive)
(Warning: this second stretch of FM51 is very curvy in some spots with speed limit caution signs. Watch for landmarks such as the intersection on your left where FM205 goes east to Glen Rose. Then watch for CR1014 which is 2.1 miles after you past FM205 and is immediately after a “Caution / 20 MPH” sign. CR1014 is a right turn in the middle of this sharp left-hand curve)
Turn right (west) on CR1014. After about 1.3 miles from FM51, you enter Erath County and the road becomes CR196. (The pavement also Ends)
Continue west on CR196 for 1.25 miles. (or about 2.5 miles from FM51)
Turn right on CR104 (there is a ‘dry’ stock tank on your right) and drive 0.25 miles down the hill to Longhollow Ranch.
Directions from Dallas to Chalk Mountain:
Take US67 west to Glen Rose. On the west side of Glen Rose you will come to the intersection of FM205. Make a note of your odometer mileage.
Continue on US67 for 10.8 miles to CR196. (it is a right hand turn shortly after you pass the small Chalk Mountain sign and will sneak up on you, so slow down after seeing the Chalk Mountain sign)
Turn right on CR196 and drive 3.7 miles. Turn left on CR104. Longhollow ranch is .25 miles down in the hollow on your right.
NOTE: CR196 is VERY dusty if they have not had recent rains. Allow space with any cars in front of you. On the stretch from Longhollow to the Brown property there are sharp 90-degree turns and occasional cattle guards where the road narrows. So please be careful.
My cell phone is 817-915-6089. I will also bring my Midland radios, please bring yours if you have them.
Hope you will join us for the last official trip this season.
Jim Jones