April 21 Busy weekend

Started Saturday morning with birding at I-20 Nature Preserve with Midnats at a chilly 48 degrees..
.
Not lots of birds but we finished with 29 species. FOS Bullock's Oriole, 2 different ones, a 1st year male very yellow and a gorgeous orange male perching high in a bare elm and singing with all his might.

Bewick's Wren were observed entering one of the nest boxes along the trail and instantly tiny offspring loudly vied for the juicy morsel being presented. Enthralled, we stood mesmerized as both parents made multiple visits bearing tidbits to the hungry hoard. Hard work, but someone has to do it!

All of the water in the playa has disappeared and Benchmark Pond is going fast. A duel between two  Solitary Sandpiper presented an interesting display. Guess there's a good reason they're called solitary. When one finally went away, I was able to get a decent photo of the remaining bird.

 The Greater Yellowlegs has bloomed into full breeding plumage and will soon be headed north. Maybe he'll stay until the pond totally dries up.

In spite of the wind, a few b'flies flitted here and there. Mostly Checkered White, like this one trying hard not to blow away...

Sybil spotted this Metalmark ...

Later, we met half our family for dinner at Luigi's before attending Jesus Christ Superstar at Yucca Theater where second daughter Debbie performed as a member of the cast. Outstanding collaboration between Midland Community Theater and Midland College performing arts department.

Sunday morning started out slow and relaxing over coffee, catching up on our Numbrix puzzles for the last 2 days, and a late breakfast. Grocery shopping was definitely on the schedule, but we detoured by way of Hogan Park and Sibley Pond for a short bird break.
Yellow Warbler calling from dense oak tree near the building along with Clay-colored Sparrow. At the Pond good looks at a foraging Wilson's Warbler, not 4 feet from us. We managed to approach close enough to stand directly underneath him. He must have traveled all night and was intent on chowing down on those tasty little green worms.
A family of American Coot with 4 red-headed puff ball babies was a special treat as was the Blue-billed Bobber (Ruddy Duck in resplendent spring plumage). Alas, my camera was at home this morning.

We sat in the welcome shade on Ted's Bench to inhale the Russian Olive bouquet. I told Alvin, "I could smell here all day."

We met a young couple celebrating the impending birth of their first child with a photo shoot near the pond and on the golf course grass wearing cowboy boots with their birth dates painted on the bottoms of the soles, including a tiny pair for the new family member.

Those experiences almost made the madhouse of HEB on a Sunday afternoon enjoyable. ALMOST, but not quite. We are so ready for the solitude of NWR life again.