LouTex Day 21

March 15, 2014

A beautiful morning, just overcast enough to reduce the heat (for a while anyway). We lazed around with our coffees and watched birds. Mandy roused herself (yep, she slept on my bra) for a Cat’s Eye View:

The first customers to our impaled oranges were a Orange-crowned Warbler and a Mockingbird:

We visited with Hank and Trish whom we’d met in Brazos Bend a week or so ago (this often happens) then went on a 12 km bike ride on the roads and trails in the park (I was nervous because I was the one with the flat here last year!).

We saw some birds:

…and lots of locals enjoying boating, fishing and picnicking on the reservoir (amazing boat ramp):

After lunch, we sat outside for the afternoon and read and watched. And saw our Pyrrhuloxia (male and female):

…plus lots of action on the nearby hydro poles and wires:

…a sweet butterfly:

…and a Roadrunner and lizard that were too fast for pictures!

Wonder what the cat does when we’re away (and by the way, the air conditioner is on)?

It was a great day in the desert. And here’s the view of David and our chairs:

LouTex Day 20

March 14, 2014

Sunny start to our trip farther north to Falcon state Park.

For any Spanish speakers, what’s a “Pulga”?

Saw these things:

• two “Car Washes”, just chuppas/carports with people and hoses and mud on the drive in and out!
• “eco lawnmowers” (burros, horses or cattle tethered beside ditches in front of houses)
• huge billboard for a huge Highschool Mariachi band
• more Border Patrol including this “blimp” over Rio Grande City:

• a Lawyer’s office and Zumba studio sharing space
• lots of Adult Daycare Centres
• “Curves Cabaret”-they didn’t have THAT when I was a member
• Roma Gladiators, great team name for the HUGE high and middle school in Roma (arena, stadium, performing arts center, golf course)
• lots of Ballrooms

We returned to Salaneno, a beautiful sport where the US Fish and Wildlife has two couples feeding birds for the winter (last year, things were less elaborate). We saw the same great volunteers and watched birds for a couple for a couple of hours:

…including beautiful Altamira Orioles:

…and a new Life Bird, a Hooded Oriole:

We got to the park, set up and I took a very short ride because I saw some Northern Bobwhites (new Life Bird), a Pyrrhuloxia (no picture yet):

LouTex Day 19

March 13, 2014

Since things are going so well and the weather remains beautiful, we decided to stay another day. The Chimney RV Park is very appealing for a longer stay for us some time in the future. It’s central, has biking and birding nearby, is on the Rio Grande for kayaking, is relatively close to the Gulf, has a pool and very nice people who have been so welcoming. We could probably spend a month here then travel around with a tow car. Food for thought.

We returned to Bentsen for another morning of birding. We spent a couple of hours at the Hawk Observatory. A man and woman were counting raptors (more than a 1,000 Turkey Vultures while we were there; 4,000 yesterday) and teaching us a lot about these magnificent birds. We even caught sight of (in order) a Mississippi Kite (Life Bird), a Red-shouldered Hawk (another Life Bird), a Loggerhead Shrike, and a little Verdin:

Oh, and the southern-most sighting of a Polar Bear (it’s actually in Mexico):

We rode (10 km) around the park and returned home for lunch. We were invited to join in on the Golf Cart Rodeo (David chose to nap), and I watched and laughed along for a few minutes. Husbands are blindfolded and wives give verbal instructions around an obstacle course. This went on, believe it or not, for two hours, followed by a pot luck. These people can party!

We decided to ride the levee (9.5 km) and found a nearby park with La Lomita Chapel. What a little find:

…along with a Vermillion Flycatcher in the yard:

Today, we experienced every aspect of the Border Patrol including grading the levee surface (so footprints can be seen) with tractor tires, the helicopter, and patrol boats. We saw the guys on Quads in the park but missed a chance for a photo. So, it’s super safe here:

Great day. And here’s a view of our site from the levee:

LouTex Day 18

March 12, 2014

Today was sunny, warm and windy. We made a return trip to the Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, yet another World Birding Center.

Sure enough, we ran in to our Hamilton/Buckhorn friends from yesterday. We saw some great birds right off the bat at the first feeding station and David continue to get shots at two other Bird Blinds, including the “Bird Pair” series:

..and so many more:

There were even other “things” like Collared Lizards, Leaf-cutter Ants, some kind of Rat and even a Bat:

Wow. We’ll be back tomorrow.

Know what I said about scores of tire repair and sales shops? Well, it didn’t happen to the MoHo, but DID happen to David’s bike (not mine for a change). Replacement complete. We’ll ride the park tomorrow.

Here’s the view (of the Border Patrol) from my chair: