BBB Day 15

March 10

Biked 7.6 miles

Time to move out of the valley and to a State Park or something a bit more rugged.

But first, another birding spot nearby, the Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. This was another great find. We decided to bike. The Nature Centre at the start had a feeding station at which we saw so many beautiful birds:

…male and female Ladder-backed Woodpeckers:

…(Life Bird) Clay-colored Robin:

…(Life Bird) Altamira Oriole:

…the sweet Great Kiskadee:

…Cooper’s Hark (he really cleared the site!)

We rode on and saw more at another feeding station. Here David chatted with a guy who had MANY camera toys (including the $$$ lens David envies. I see one in our future!). AND we saw some birds!

…Golden-fronted Woodpecker:

…Black-crested Titmouse

…a reappearance of the beautiful Altamira Oriole:

…a favourite Green Jay:

…the Great Kiskadee (and friend)

At the Hawk Lookout, we met a couple who was helping with a "Hawk Count". They're from Boston and spend the winters birding in Texas. They were so sweet and helpful (unlike some birders who are, frankly, snobs).
And we got some more nice shots:

…a Verdin’s nest, blowing in the wind:

…and a far-off Couch’s Kingbird (Life Bird):

We headed west on Highway 83, an interesting drive. It was less commercial than other parts further south (or east? I get confused). There is such disparity on this highway. On the left were large "mansions", one with a copper roof. On the right were run down concrete houses or trailers.

We saw a couple of "interesting" billboards for lawyers. Carlos A. Garcia had a series of three where he bragged about having charges of things like Domestic Violence and Capital Murder DISMISSED! Wow. But another attorney had a picture of Jesus washing the feet of a follower and the line was "At Your Service". Hmmm...

We passed a couple of very brightly (neon coloured decorations and balloons) cemeteries then a sign for Curves (I was a member for 5 years) but, alas, this was Curves, The Gentlemen's Club.

Being so close to Mexico, this part of Texas is primarily Hispanic and shows a mix of both cultures.

After the great birding at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, we had a disappointing stop at the Roma Bluffs though David did get his first ever look at Mexico and the Rio Grande:

 

...and the town had beautiful historic buildings:

...including a church with barred windows (interesting statement):

We got in to Falcon State Park and found our way to a great campsite, here in the start of the desert. It's hot, sunny and dry and beautiful.
We took a short bike ride, visited the Butterfly Garden:

and spoke with a couple next door who both work at Big Bend. We'll get some good advice.

Another great day in Texas.

Here's the view of me in my chair:

BBB Day 14

March 9

Hiked 4.5 miles

Today was a day of coots (human and bird), history, agriculture, birds, birds, birds, and a few reptiles (officially a warning to snake-a-phobes). It was a good one.

The morning began with a multi person viewing of a Toyota SUV, outside our window. Very intriguing. Then the FULL shuffleboard court as we headed out for the day. I am not casting aspersions on the people here, but it’s a new thing for us, these Winter Texans.

We drove to the Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge. It was flooded in 2010, so the only way to get around was hiking (not today) or on the tram, so we took the tram. The volunteer was excellent, teaching us about the trees and shrubs around, the history of farming in the area, the stages of reclaiming land as a refuge, and of the birds and animals in the refuge.

Here are some of our pictures (well, a lot):

…me on a suspension bridge and David on a higher tower (that was very brave of me!):

…a big surprise: a Great Horned Owl chick nesting in an abandoned Falcon’s nest:

…the resilient Prickly Pear that was essentially wiped out in the flood:

…the beautiful cemetery of the family that originally ranched this property:

…the onion and dill crops (the tall stuff is sorghum that farmers plant alongside the dill to keep it “clean” from the dust and a cabbage fielf:

…the levee that carries water from the Rio Grande:

…and, at the Visitors Centre, a rarely seen Texas Indigo Snake:

This was a good stop, and the Volunteer gave us some good advice about next birding stops. We had lunch and headed to the Estero Llano Grande State Park and had an amazing afternoon.

Just outside the Visitors Centre is a pond filled with Coots and other ducks like Mr. and Mrs. Northern Shoveler:

…Green-winged Teals:

…and the tiniest, appropriately named, Least Sandpiper:

Further along the trails we saw more interesting things.

…Duck, Duck, Turtle:

…two little lizards:

…and two BIG ones:

…a new Life Bird, the Pauraque (can you see him?):

…some tropicals (for a break from our nerdy birdwatching):

…and a Great and Little Blue (immature or morph) Egret:

…at least 13 Black-crowned Night and Yellow-crowned Night Herons (look like Penguins to me):

…and Mickey Mouse:

Enough! We were so impressed by these two stops, especially the latter.

We headed back to the park, and my evening stroll to the dumpster (usually done in couples or on golf carts) led me by the packed pool hall (a full parking lot of golf carts) and 50 people playing Bingo in the Rec Hall. And some people were jamming into the night (I heard an accordion).

Here’s yesterday’s and today’s view from my chair:

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!