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(Day 954 BR) 59°F.
Overnighting in a parking lot
I awake and rise long before the dayspring and read for a while. Then when the light begins to appear on the horizon, I examine the WBC brochure to determine where to visit first and choose Quinta Mazatlan because the bird walks open early.
Quinta Mazatlan
Upon arriving, I grab my camera and begin walking about the property and find manicured paths, fountains and a beautiful courtyard.
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.0830) Walking path at Quinta Mazatlan
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.0851) Fountain and pool at Quinta Mazatlan
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.0909) Courtyard and pools at Quinta Mazatlan
Too, throughout my stroll along the paths and fountains, I find what I really am questing, the wildlife. Here at this birding center, I see a chicken like bird with an odd call, called a Chachalaca. Too, I espy more of the Kiskadee and orange-crowned warblers here among the tangles of bushes and twigs.
(m3an-chb-lagr-085pl-2010-0220.0809)
085pl Plain Chachalaca
(m3an-chb-sofl-009gr-2010-0220.0813)
099gr Great Kiskadee
(m3an-chb-sost-132or-2010-0220.0841)
138or Orange-crowned Warbler
(m3an-chb-soco.150le.-20100220.0902)
150le Lesser Goldfinch
Hidalgo Pumphouse
Then, I drive to the Old Pumphouse in Hidalgo, Texas and tour the grounds. However, even though the building and grounds of this water pumping house have been converted to a park, I do not see any birds to photograph during my visit.
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.1103) The Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Grounds
Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
Next on my tour is the Santa Ana NWR which in adjacent to the Rio Grande river. Upon arriving, I join the guided bird-watching tour that is just starting. As we walk through the refuge, the guide, without looking in his book, names many birds that I have never seen or even heard of before. This making me realize how new I am in this pursuit of mine, the quest for wildlife.
(m3an-chb-insw-034no-2010-0220.1313) 034no-Shoveler, hen
(m3an-chb-insw-034no-2010-0220.1317)
034no Northern Shoveler: drake
(m3an-chb-insw-041mo-2010-0220.1322)
041mo Moorhen
(m3an-chb-insw-041co-2010-0220.1307)
041co Coot
(m3an-chb-laae-071re-2010-0220.1305)
071re Red-tailed Hawk
Leaving Santa Ana NWR and heading downriver and inland just a short distance, I find my next birding stop, Estero Llano Grande state park. Here, I first come to a visitors center with a large covered viewing deck and after looking through the displays inside, I head out onto the foot paths.
Upon beginning my walk, I come upon a small feeding station under a canopy of trees where I see an orange-crowned warbler. From here, I travel into more open wetland and see a large variety of swimming and wading birds.
(m3an-chb-insw.029an.20100220.1520)
029a Anhinga, female
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.1552) 034a-Shoveler, drake
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.1553) 034a-Shovelers diving
(m3an-chb-inwa-045tr-2010-0220.1456)
045tr-Tricolored Heron
(m3an-chb-insh-051st-2010-0220.1459)
051st Stilt
On one tree covered pathway, I come upon a member of the nightjar bird family, the first one I have ever seen.
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.1541) 068e-Pauraquet
(b1a06-30.va-20100220.1434) 138a-Orange-crowned Warbler
Leaving the state park, I drive to San Benito, locate a w-mart and work on a new gallery page for all of the new bird photos. Once that work is complete, I drive to the d-mart and spend quite a while transferring today′s photos from my camera to my computer. I have yet to run out of disc space because I have a large memory card, but I regularly have to change the battery in my camera.
It has been a very long day for me, no wonder I am exhausted this evening. Too, it is very hot for me, probably in the high seventies. I have my engine running in order to charge my batteries. Once the upload to my computer is complete, I will try to get to sleep.
(Day 953 BR) 57°F.
(Begin Journey Week 30)
Overnighting in a parking lot
Last night was warm but I was able to get to sleep early enough. Before eight this morning, I drive to the hall and check the meeting schedule. I find that the English congregations does not meet until three-thirty so I drive to a coffee shop for a WiFi connection. Also, I have to add some water to my radiator because the leak has increase it′s volumne, even coming into the passenger side of the van. After the meeting, I will bypass the heater core and see if doing this stops the leak.
Right after the meeting, a brother invites me to his home to work on my van, telling me that he works for an auto parts store and can get me some heater hose if I need it. I accept his offer.
When I do look at the hose, I find that because of the special size hose, I have to use the existing hose from the water pump and reroute it to the heater return fitting. After I do this, I check for leaks and find this temporary repair has stopped the leak but now I do not have an operating heater.
Then Peter tells me that his wife is getting supper ready and that I am invited but he apologizes because all that they have to eat due to a health condition is brown rice and vegetables. I smile and say, "That′s perfect." Actually, the meal is very good because Janie uses several of the spices that I enjoy the most.
The friends in the San Benito congregation are the most hospitable I have met.
(Day 952 BR) 58°F.
Overnighting in a driveway
Up before sunrise, awaken by a tap on the van window; Peter has come outside to tell me that he has oatmeal bran ready for breakfast. After breakfast, both Peter and Janie leave but it is not until seven do I begin the drive to Resaca de la Palma state park. I walk some of the trails and ride the tram but there is not too much moving in the park today except for the tram.
South Padre Island
Next, I go to the the nature center on South Padre Island and take several photos of the birds here and see an alligator seemingly asleep on the sand.
(m3an-chb-insw.041mo.20100222.1313)
041mo Moorhen
(m3an-chb-insw-041co.20100222.1338)
041co Coot
(m3an-ch.b.in-wa.045gr.20100222.1314)
046gr Great Blue Heron
(m3an-ch.b.in-wa.045re.20100222.1308)
045re Reddish Egret
(m3an-ch.r.cr.20100222.1327) Alligator
Afterwards, I stop at the Port Isabel Lighthouse and climb the seventy-five steps to the top for the unobstructed view of the totally flat south Texas coastland. Then I go to the Laguna Atascona national wildlife preserve but there is not much moving here either. Finally, I go to the Harlenton Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center and don′t see a single bird. I suppose that this afternoon is not a good time for bird watching and set my GPS for my favorite coffee shop.
It is just after the sun sets when I arrive at the w-mart and here buy a protein drink and a slice of cake. I find a spot with an outlet and begin to update my journal and then upload it which does not take very long, so I work on the photos taken during the last two weeks. At nine pm, I go to the d-mart and work a little while longer on my photos while waiting for the temperature to cool off. For my evening meal, I have a can of salmon.
(Day 951 BR) 55°F.
Overnighting in a parking lot
Up at sunrise and begin the drive north. I have been to all of the birding centers except one but have decided that since the last four have been visits without hardly any birds, then there is no sense in going to the last one of ten.
Instead, I head north out of South Texas and up the coast to Goose Island State Park where upon arriving at the park, I go directly to the shower facilities. Afterwards, I drive around to look for the whooping crane that are suppose to be here but can not find any to photograph. At four pm, I go to a nature talk and during the question and answer session, I ask where I may see a whooping crane. The ranger tells me that I should try by twelfth street early in the morning.
This evening, I drive out of the state park and stop for the night at a small wharf and here see a small heron which takes me quite a while to identify the bird as a
black-crowned night heron.
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