Texas Coast to Mission

Seashore Mallow

After leaving Galveston Beach, we visited San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, driving the 4 mile auto tour.  It was pretty quiet but did see a majestic 10 point White-tailed Deer and a Blue Grosbeak.

White-tailed Buck

Blue Grosbeak

Reddish Egret Juvenile 

We drove to Matagorda and found they had one RV site left for the night,  we walked the long boardwalk to the beach and the tidal lagoons near the river channel.

Royal, Least and Sandwich Terns & a Laughing Gull

Goat-foot Morning Glory

Wilson's Phalaropes

Snowy Plover calling

Butterfly Pea

Next day, we drove to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  Also quiet for birds because of the heat.  We climbed the tower overlook where the over-wintering Whooping Cranes can be viewed, but they had not arrived from the north yet.

Turk's Cap

Yellow Garden Spider

American Grasshopper

Indian Blanket or Firewheel 

We then drove south along the coast to near Rockport and stayed at Goose Island State Park for two nights.  Only half the park was open because of last year's hurricane Harvey.  Even the beautiful tree canopy was severely damaged by the eye of the storm that made landfall here.  In one of the abandoned buildings, Ty found a new resident.  a pair of Black Widow Spiders had made a cozy home for their young.

Black Widow female, egg case and small male

Least Sandpiper

Ruddy Turnstone

The "Big Tree" was also damaged but still standing

We drove to Mustang Island but found it closed to camping, also because of Harvey,  after a year they were only beginning to rebuild the restrooms.   We then drove on to an RV park north of Brownsville.  An interesting surprise were hundreds of Bronzed Cowbirds enjoying the nearly unoccupied park.

Red-crowned Parrot

That evening, we drove into Brownsville and Olivera Park to watch first the Chimney Swifts come into the old chimney on the grounds, then hundreds of Parrots came in to roost in the trees. We found three species of parrots, ( Red-crowned, Red-lored and Yellow-headed) Green Parakeets and a lone Budgeirgar.

White-tailed Hawk

Next morning, we drove to Old Port Isabel Road and found a pair of White-tailed Hawks, one was on the top of the Railroad Crossing arm and stayed for us to get close for a photo.  We also found a pair of Aplomado Falcons far off on some power lines, good look in the scope but too far for the camera.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck with young brood

 We then drove to Weslaco and got a site at the 1015 RV park for the night.  We drove to Estero Llano Grande State Park to bird for the rest of the day and the next morning.  Lots of great birds and critters to find.

Six-lined Race Runner

First Cinnamon Teal for the season and a resting Black-necked Stilt

White-faced Ibis 

Black-crested Titmouse

Can you see me?  Texas Spiny Lizard

Two Least Grebes

White-tailed Kite

Nymphaea Elegant 

On to Mission and our two and a half month stay at Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort.  We will be watching for migrating hawks almost every day from the tower at Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann