BBB Day 13

March 8

What a special morning. Our neighbours (two Can-Am couples: one from Ontario and another from Michigan) told us to listen and watch for dolphins around 7:00, and we did. AND we were rewarded (a single a couple of times and a pair once):

What a sight with morning coffee. Too bad the park was dirty and the paths covered in broken glass (we figure 30 years’ worth of broken beer bottles by the variety of colours!). It’s a haven for fishermen (and a few women, two of whom caught five fish).

Before we left, we were enthralled by this little guy, a Green Jay (another new bird for us). He’s so beautiful:

We headed out to the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. On the way, we saw what we think might have been 5,000 Snow Geese:

Along with scores of Sandhill Cranes:

We also noted that every ditch or small patch of green grass seemed to have a tethered horse grazing, though we never saw anyone riding.

Our drive to the Refuge was bumpy, but we were rewarded at the Visitors Center with a haven for several birds, including our new friend, the Green Jay:

… another new bird, the Plain Chachalaca (big and noisy and in packs!):

…AND, of course, an alligator:

We took the 15 mile Wildlife Drive and saw very little. There were a few birds (this one we haven’t identified yet):

…a lot of Birds of Prey, including Ospreys:

…and a Long-billed Thrasher (another new one):

…and a sign for “Road Humps”…enough said.

The lake and the land was so dry, so there were far fewer bird and mammal sightings than expected:

We never saw the promised Nilgai, a large deer (horse sized!), that had been imported for the game farms around Texas. They are now escaped and have become pests everywhere, except for where we were!

Nor did we see any Ocelots, despite the warning:

But we got another view of the Gulf (the last one for this trip):

Our drive back led us by the Port Isabel Detention Center of the U.S Border Patrol (which is why we saw a “Do Not Pick Up Hitch Hikers” sign, “armoured” buses and the Navy plane buzzing the park):

):

We also saw our first orange orchards. Yum.

Then we left and headed west. This was an Interstate drive through very commercial areas, not what we’re really looking for. But we want to go to another Birding Center tomorrow, so we’re staying at the Magnolia RV Park in Donna. It’s an “adults only” park that doesn’t mean what some may think. It’s all old folks and golf carts and Bingo and yappy dogs and NOT our future (near future, that’s for sure). But it’s cheap(ish) and central and we’ll stay two nights.

My view from my (rocking) chair will come tomorrow!