W15 Days 17-19

Day 17 March 2

We had intended to stay at Chimney for another day of sun, according to the forecast, but a chilly, drizzly start convinced us to move on. We said our goodbyes to Dan and Patty from Kansas, whom we’d met last year, and to a guy from Lindsay, and headed out early.

We got groceries and got to Falcon State Park around noon. We took site 127 ($24 for two nights; second night 1/2 price) and settled in for some birds and maybe two days of sunshine.

We just hung out at the site (it was only about 50F) and saw TWENTY ONE different species of birds right in our backyard. amazing. And there were three Life Birds: a Black-throated Sparrow, an Olive Sparrow, and a Yellow-headed Blackbird:

Here is a sampling of the other 18:

…the bigger ones:

…and the smaller ones:

Here’s the view of our site and David, in his element (and down vest and toque):

 

Day 18 March 3

Okay, another 80F prediction we couldn’t believe when we set out for the Birding Centre nearby in Salineno. We spent three hours there in about 60F enjoying the birds and the company of two of the hosts and a guy from Washington State.

The hosts were so generous teaching us about recognizing birds, especially the different Orioles. Below is a Hooded Oriole and an Altamira Oriole. Can you tell the difference? I can!

And, FINALLY, third time was a charm for the Audobon’s Oriole! We had heard about it the first visit, heard it the second, then finally saw two this year. So rare and so exciting.

Here’s the yearly picture of me on the Rio Grande beside the Huisache:

We came back and hung out on under the shelter for the afternoon. Dennis, the guy from Washington State joined us for wine and some pictures (his wife is a homebody, so these six weeks he’s on the road taking pictures of birds is his birthday present from here). By the way, it got into the 70’s by 5:00! Loved the covey of Northern Bobwhites!

Here’s the (ugly and smelly) view from my chair (I, of course, was on a chair inside because these Javelins scare me!):

Day 19 March 4

We were promised sun at 7:00 AM, and it wasn’t drizzly. but muggy, so we decided to stay another day.

We headed out on the bikes (6 miles today) and rode around the park. It IS a fishing park with great paved roads for riding, a huge boat launch, and a large Day Use area with shelters (including air-conditioned and screened shelters you could stay in overnight).

I forgot to mention that I had a flat tire when we were in Bentsen State Park (thankfully we found it in the parking lot). I say this now because I had a flat HERE the first time we visited. I am a little scared when riding amongst thorns! But no problems today:

We got a great shot of a Caracara on the road and saw Eastern Meadowlarks:

Here’s an Osprey with a nice fish!

It DID get around 80F and beautifully sunny, so we hung around and got a few more pictures with sun on them, including a Hooded Oriole couple:

AND we got the 22nd campsite bird, a Common Ground Dove:

It was nice to be warm, especially since another cold front is coming. We`re going on the theory that they`ve been wrong on the good forecasts, so maybe they`ll be wrong on a couple of bad ones!

Here’s us getting a view of each other:

And a Cat’s Eye View of Mandy in the front overhead window, enjoying some sun: