Cardinals are aggressive and territorial, and because of this, will attack their own kind. It in not uncommon to see a male cardinal attack a window upon which is their own reflection, a fight that they will find difficult to resolve. The first time I saw this, methought, Dumb bird!

After I enjoy my mid day meal, I drive to the Bird Trail: Trailhead north and take a couple photos here. Next, I drive to the south bird trail and walk the 150 yards distance to the bird blind and take some photos but there are not many birds here.

Wake, start engine, dress, drive, sip coffee, check com, pound keys until noon. Then, I pack out and drive twelve mile south on Buffalo Gap road (SH 89) to Abilene state park for a hot shower and while here take some photos of the park, including some in the bird blind.

Awake, dress in my winter blues, drive to the birding blind and spend the next six hours taking photos of a lot of birds. I was able to get photos of at least two birds I have never seen before. I meet Jerry when he comes to refill the feeders and we talk while he loads them up. Afterwards, a large number of additional bird come to feed. I keep taking photos all morning, waiting for different birds to show up and this really works, some birds must get up later to come to eat.

There were not many visits by cardinals, most of their visits were inside one of the feeder boxes and the bird would just stick his head up once in a while.

This day comes terribly early due to the fact that I was asleep before seven pm last evening. After staying in the sack an extra hour causing my back to begin to hurt, I rise, turn on the jammer's engine to warm up the interior and soon find myself updating the home page of the web site. Outside the sky is thick overcast clouds giving strong indication of coming rain.

By six am, I am beginning to become hungry but it is still dark outside so I eat a hand full of raisins and walnuts. As soon as I see the dawn begin to glow up from the eastern horizon, I leave the campsite, drive east on FM 2098 to US 83 and then south a short distance to Salineno to visit the refuge and photograph the birds. Arriving before the gate opens, I open the tail gate, set up my stove, put on a pot of water for tea and while the water is heating, prepare a cup of daystart.

At eight am, Merle walks up to the gate, opens it and walks over to the back of the jammer to greet me.

Up in the darkness, get dressed and type the next state park into the GPS which informs me that I will arrive just before sunrise. I begin my drive west arriving not long after seven, check into Pedernales Falls State Park and then drive directly to the bird blind.

I arrive at seven-forty and walk to the blind noticing that there is an all new blind on the right side upon entering the gate which was not here the last time I was. I walk into the old blind and sit down on one of the seats waiting to photograph any birds that make a showing. There are several that sound off but as yet, none have come into the display area because methinks bird participation is dependent on the availability of of human supplied bird food.

So, I walk out into the courtyard and find out that here is where the birds are and I am able to photograph several as they flit about from one tree limb to another. There are numerous cardinals playing tag, or at least their version of it, some titmouse, a couple of woodpeckers and numerous small birds.

I key in Salineño Wildlife Refuge into my GPS and find a town of that name which is not far south of Laredo, so I drive south along the Rio Grande River, the border between Texas and México.

It begins raining during the drive and is still raining when I arrive at one this afternoon, so I put on my rain jacket, grab my camera and walk into the preserve. Upon entering the gate and walk into the bird viewing area, Mike, who says he is from New York, greets me.

After visiting other state parks yesterday, I drive here to visit the bird blind and the sunset at the falls. After dark, I drive to the campsite and set up for the evening. It is comfortable early this evening but then the temperature begins to drop.

The sun is already one hand’s width above the horizon when I arise this morning and immediately drive to the bird blind for photos. The host came by earlier to load the feeders and the birds have been busy eating.

Needing to leave early today, I am not able to spend much time in the bird blind but because the birding is so good here, I will make a point of returning again as soon as I am able to this year.

I awake just before sunrise, drive to Bastrop state park where I go to the facilities and take a hot shower. Then, I drive the seventy or so miles to Pedernales Falls state park and go directly to the bird blind. The hosts have already arrived but I am the first to sign the log book today.

The number of new birds amazes me and I stay until noon before packing out.