How To Find Birds At Fairfield Lake State Park
Fairfield Lake State Park is a place of peace and enjoyment. It was also a place that I just relaxed by the lake and did nothing for several days. It was a sweet place to have a fire and play with Olive Oil. We did a few hikes but we just needed rest. After traveling down to the boarder area and back into Texas. It was just nice to rest by the lake and have a wonderful fire with a nice steak dinner.
Plus the wildlife came to the camp. The birds and the squirrels just ran around the campgrounds which meant that I don’t have to leave camp to see them. I liked the little red bird the best because he would chat with me. I think he was just looking to get my crackers but your not allowed to feed the wildlife.
The one area of the park has a great fishing pier. Olive Oil and I walked all the way down to the pier and we had a great conversation with a gentleman about finding food that was chicken free. I can’t get a normal dog, she has to be special. lol.
Across from the pier is the beach. I bit cold to be going swimming plus they don’t allow dogs on the beach. But summer is coming soon…mmmmm. I can’t wait to get into my swim suit.
But it has this great view of the lake. I can just image summer with it being full of little boats and Kayaks with young people doing dumb things and older fisherman rolling their eyes. This is a great place for the winter wonderland but a summer playground.
After the beach area, you have a bit more of a wild area with long grass and just great sights to see. Across the lake is a Big Brown Creek Primitive Camping Area which is about 3 miles away but get to the point or a great day hike in good weather.
The Chancellor Union Cemetery is also within the park. Reuben and Mary Chancellor moved to Texas in the 1850’s with their ten children. The land was donated to the Church for a church, cemetery, and community center for the community. The oldest grave is that of a small child in 1857.
The cemetery includes four generations of Chancellors who include the pioneer settlers, veterans of the many of the American Wars, and sadly many infants that did not make it through the harsh environment of the times. The cemetery is still open for current members of the community.
Fairfield Lake Bird Watching Trail
I loved the bird watcher trail.
I am sure that these are not good for the tree but I like looking at them. I am not even sure what they are but I found them along the trail.
The trail only has a few benches but they are angled to that you can look up. It really helps to watch the birds that are flying in and out of the area.
They have a bit of water that flows through the area.
The big blob of black and white is actually a flock of birds. This is a different finger of the lake then that of the swimming and fishing pier area.
The trail has a bit of march lands next to it at part which allows you to see a lot of different types of birds.
The trail goes up a little bit of a hill. But the great thing about this trail is that it goes from brush with small birds to the lake and march land with water fowl to the top of a small hill with some great big birds. So, something for all different types of bird lovers.
It also has lots of different fungus types.
I really don’t know why I like the different funguses. They are just pretty.
I stayed at the Springfield Camping Area. I loved it here but the park has three different camping areas and a primitive area that you have to hike into. I did not check out the primate area but the other areas all looked very cool but I loved mine spot with the lake view every morning. The trail next to my spot when down to the lake.
The water is so clear and blue. The birds are always chirping in the background.
Even better at this camping area, a well from the Hill Homestead that was once located here. The area is great to see several different Forts. The area was a cotton crop staple just after the Civil War up until just after WWII. Many cotton farms where all around the park. But as time went by, different crops started to take over and people moved to different opportunities.
The one thing that I did not do that I wanted to do was the scenic loop trail which is a different part of the park. Between rain and cold weather, I just did not get to it. But this is a fabulous park to visit. But also check for all the things to visit just outside the park. I did not have the chance as I just needed a rest before high tailing it out of Texas from a big storm that killed 57 people in early 2021.