Bentsen Palm Village RV Lockdown

Texas has put the whole state on lockdown, but we feel blessed to be in a beautiful RV park that we can get outside and enjoy God's creation.  For a week we were able to go do Hawk Count from a dike but that was called off.  We didn't want to quit so found an open area right here to count from every morning.

Opossum bravely comes to see us on the dike.

Gray Hawk, somebody's missing some feathers
Wonder what happened?

Gray Hawk - fully plumed 

"Our" Great Horned Owl family grew very fast in the last two weeks and we chronicled them every step of the way.  They are all now fledged, last one left the nest last night with a lot of coaxing from Mom.

Wing feathers are growing quickly

Cuddle time

All three owlets are outgrowing this makeshift nest in the side of a palm tree.
Hot day, near 100 degrees and everyone is panting

Youngest owlet left the nest second.
He needed a little help from Ty to get into the tree from the ground.

Mom's got a great big Rat to feed to the owlets

Owlet #1 found a great place to wait for dinner

Hawk Count at it's best, just a snapshot of what we see.

Hook-billed Kite - South Texas's most sought after rareity

And to think that they live on Tree Snails, no wonder they are rare.

Broad-winged Hawk

Broad-winged Hawk - just today 24,600 birds passed over us

Swainson's Hawk headed north

While we are counting hawks, we also see from 30 to 50 other species of birds each day.  This Northern Mockingbird was not at all happy with us being in the middle of his territory.  But he got use to our daily presence and now serenades us with a multitude of other bird's calls.

N. Mockingbird showing off for his mate

Bronzed Cowbird tries to look impressive all puffed up

Ruby-throated Hummingbird loves the Aloe Vera blossums

Our "open" view of the sky looks over a large pasture with many cattle.  The Cattle Egrets arrived last week and are enjoying the insects stirred up by the cows.

Loggerhead Shrike looks for lunch near the field

Mexican Freetail Bat lands in the grass near the owl nest, doesn't look happy about getting his picture taken

Crawls up on the palm tree to rest

Texas Spiny Lizard - on the side of a Caseta 

Several mornings we have had a little company near our hawk watch area.  This is one of the largest Armadillos we have seen.

Armadillo headed to a culvert for his daytime sleep

New migrant - Bullock's Oriole

Texas Spotted Whiptail Lizard

The "Super Pink Moon" marks off the days as we move farther into Spring.  It is a sign of rebirth and the real rebirth is in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ that we celebrate at Easter.  May He give you peace in this time of turmoil.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann