After enjoying the hummingbird festival for about one hour it starts to wind down around noon and then we decide to explore a bit the trails of the preserve. We have been here once before but today we want to hike for a longer distance if the weather holds. All trails start further down the road that starts from the visitor center and passes by multiple farm buildings that still seem to be active with farm machinery everywhere.
And then we exit the compound and start walking on the still well maintained road towards the Indian ruins we visited last time. The views are great but it is still too hot, we were hoping on a more cloudy day to avoid the direct sun.
As usual we keep our eyes open and are rewarded with a group of barn swallows and lots of beautiful thistles on the way up the small hill to the ruins of the small Indian village.
There is no one here when we arrive but a large group seems to be approaching in the distance so we start exploring as fast as possible so we can visit before they arrive. As last time we do not see the ruins as we enter, it seems a trail without any features but we know they are hidden just a bit further away.
At the entrance there are lots of pottery shards and we really like the ones with patterns, we are always shocked that they are just left here with no protection.
And then we get into the visible ruin area. This is an unexcavated area so visible is an exaggeration but we can see where the walls where and the houses were located and you can walk through the ruins to check them closely.
There are some areas where the walls are better preserved and we really like to see how they are constructed but these sections are rare as we explore the area.
As the other group enters we discover one more area with pottery shards, they are even more beautiful and we spend some time here before exiting, luckily the other group return to the visitor center while we move on to the next attractions.
And the next attraction is McKay Reservoir, we really hope to see lots of waterbirds here. Unfortunately as we climb the dam we notice that there is no water in the reservoir and so all our hopes are dashed. Also there are no trees here so we have to walk in the sun, luckily the sun is hidden in the clouds for the majority of the passage.
We can see far in the distance here including up Escudilla mountain, we remember how we climbed there and almost got hit by lightning, quite a scary and exhilarating memory.
We walk on the other side of the dam for a while, it seems there was some water here but not for some time. There is even a blind but with no birds it is of no use to us. As we reach the other side of the dam there is a bench to overlook the plains with a nice view but no animals as the plaque nearby promises.
Next are the Nelson ruins, at least on our map but we cannot see them. We guess they might be where there are many interpretative panels and decide that should be the extent of our hike as it is getting quite hot.
The hike is through the plains with no shade but otherwise on level and easy to follow roads. Which is what we want as there are no signs pointing in the direction of the trail or the ruins.
We finally reach the ruin area and to our surprise there are lots of nest boxes around and even some bluebirds that might be using the nest boxes as far as we can guess as they do not fly that far away from them.
Reaching the ruins the major feature is the one surrounded by the panels, it is the former well of the ranch. The well is not covered and is quite deep so it was fenced for the visitors safety, which makes sense in this case.
At least there is a good informational panel here and we learn a lot obout the people that lived here before it became a wildlife area. And there are some ruins here, they are in the same state as the Native ruins even though they are much newer. So that says something on how either the newer or the older houses were built.
However while there were lots of pottery shards at the Native ruins here there are lots of metal objects. We cannot decipher what even half of them are but it is fun to make guesses as we explore the site.
There are lots of lizards here and it is fun watching them while considering whether to ring the dinner bell. We decide not to, who knows who might come to visit us?
And then it is time for the return hike, it is quite hot today so we are overheated at this point and are happy that the clouds are holding. With few people making it here there are lots of birds and flowers on this stretch, quite beautiful.
Returning to the reservoir we walk on the dam again but now we notice there are some remnants of water in the middle of it. So we walk to that area but unfortunately there are no birds or other animals so we continue on towards the visitor center.
On this stretch we encounter a relatively tame cottontail rabbit, it doesn’t run away when we approach and tries to hide in the open. Which is good for us but probably not good for it in the long run. And then we are back, everyone else has left by now and we are almost the only car remaining in the overflow parking lot. So we look at the hummingbirds one more time and then it is time for Escudilla Mountain, our last stop for the day.
