Big Spring SP, Earth Day, the Merritt's Back Yard, and Birding Field Trip

Monday, April 21, we were meeting Dale and Carol, co-host from Quechee SP, in Big Spring. They're in route from Navarro Mills near Corsicana to Oregon for the summer. We drove over early to bird Big Spring SP, not having been there in over a year.

Had a fairly good afternoon, even though the temperature was in the high 80's. We wimped out and drove the scenic loop. The water feature near the gate was not operable. When we were compiling the check list for the park, we would turn on the tap upon leaving the parking area to be able to entice the birds for viewing after our jaunt around the mountain.

This fearsome lizard was not the least bit intimidated by my presence as he sported his breeding colors while holding his tummy above the hot rock. 

The only water available for wildlife was on top of the mountain near the flagpole. Most abundant bird was Canyon Towhee and best bird was Townsend's Solitaire. Bewick's and Cactus Wrens and Verdin along with Chipping and Clay-colored Sparrows and Orange-crowned Warbler were also present. Of course, the ubiquitous Mockingbird made the list, too. I was surprised how much green was present as were numerous blooming wildflowers considering the ongoing drought. The number of mid-day walkers was impressive. To be that young again, (heavy sigh).

Comanche Trails Park was mostly occupied by Grackles, House Sparrows, and Starlings, but we did snag a beautiful Audubon's Yellow-rump and Ash-throat, Kingbird, Scissor-tail, and Eastern Phoebe. The lake sported a Shoveler amidst the flotilla of park ducks and geese, and both Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants.

Dining at Red Mesa with Dale and Carol was a real treat, also reminiscent of our 5 year checklist project.

Tuesday morning, in celebration of Earth Day, we walked I-20 Nature Preserve. I had a few mandarin oranges a little past prime, but still good and juicy for the birds, so we restocked the feeding stations along the trail.

Bullock's Oriole singing loudly from the treetops was pretty hard to miss. The Orchard Oriole a bit further down the trail wasn't so cooperative for a photo op. 

Benchmark Pond was the picture of serenity...

with obvious signs of Saturday night's rain that added some much needed water to the playa. 

  

The butterfly garden is taking shape nicely... 

The Merritt Pavilion is a tribute to Don and Joann for the untold numbers of hours spent maintaining trails for 20 or more years before the idea of a formal wildlife preserve even existed. 

Wednesday Morning, Alvin worked with Kevin, so I hung out with Joann to take advantage of Jesse's Pond. First surprise of the day, after 7 Black-chinned Hummers, was a stunning Ruby-throated Hummingbird that kept us entertained all morning. Visiting the pond was Hermit Thrush, Wilson's Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow, Curve-billed Thrasher, Northern Cardinal, and Mockingbird. I id'd 4 separate Bullock's Oriole based on plumage, 3 males and a female. 

Unwelcome visitors were Bronzed and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Of course, the White-winged Dove and House Sparrows did an amazing job of emptying the seed feeders in record time. 

Leaving Joann's nature sanctuary, I detoured through Beal Park in route to annual eye exam. 

I spotted what resembled a large rock in the parking lot which became a pond turtle  I assumed had been on an egg laying mission.

Not wanting to leave her where some uninformed red-neck would use her for target practice, I relocated her to the grassy area near the pond.

John Adams, Alvin and I showed up at Hill Park at 8 AM on Saturday, April 26. Not much going on there, mostly early morning walkers...
X White-winged Dove
X Western Kingbird
X Blue Jay
1 American Robin 
1 Northern Mockingbird
4 European Starling
X House Sparrow

We decided to try Sibley by way of
Wadley Barron
1 Wood Duck
1 American Wigeon
2 Ruddy Duck
1 Black-crowned Night-Heron
I thought I had spotted a Pied-billed Grebe, but turned out to be 2 perfectly aligned rocks near the edge of the water.

Sibley - more activity on the golf course than anywhere

1 Mallard
2 Blue-winged Teal
1 Lesser Scaup
5 Ruddy Duck
4 Scaled Quail
5 American Coot
6 White-winged Dove
12 Mourning Dove
1 Greater Roadrunner
2 Black-chinned Hummingbird
6 Western Kingbird
12 Cliff Swallow
2 Verdin
1 Curve-billed Thrasher
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
25 Chipping Sparrow
4 White-crowned Sparrow
1 Northern Cardinal
12 Red-winged Blackbird
25 Great-tailed Grackle

We did have 2 warblers than managed to elude ID, yellow-ish was all I could ever tell. Why do they always pick the tree with the thickest foliage?

As we sat for a while on Ted's Bench, we watched a pair of dragonflies and inhaled the sweet perfume emanating from the Russian Olives, lamenting the dearth of avian presence and postulating the causation of the dead foliage on the mesquite and some of the other shrubs.

John said Martha had a "Honey Do" list waiting for him, so Alvin and I proceeded to Resthaven Cemetery, where the sprinklers were going filling the air with a wonderful perfume. This time we managed to ID a singing warbler - Orange-crowned - that sounded suspiciously like the one at Hill Park and at Sibley. The Audubon's Butter-butts were in full spring "bloomage" ready for northern migration. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Resthaven Cemetery

1 Eurasian Collared-Dove
14 Mourning Dove
1 Ladder-backed Woodpecker
11 Western Kingbird
1 Bewick's Wren
2 Curve-billed Thrasher
6 Northern Mockingbird
13 Cedar Waxwing
1 Orange-crowned Warbler
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)
5 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)
21 Chipping Sparrow
2 Clay-colored Sparrow
2 Bullock's Oriole

By that time, Casita Gerardo's Tortilla soup was calling my name. Just like I remembered it.

I almost forgot... a good day for reptiles, female box turtle (tortoise) and female pond turtle laying eggs at Sibley. 

I went back to photo the box turtle and she was gone, guess she wasn't too happy with my anatomy lesson explaining male versus female characteristics. and I always thought turtles were supposed to be slow.

Not a bad week for Midland, TX.   

April 18 Surprise Party and Graduation Celebration

I have some sneaky people in my family... my 4 wonderful children and my darling husband collaborated to surprise me with a birthday party to celebrate big number 70! Midnat friends were in attendance which made the event even more special.
I have no pictures, I was too busy laughing and crying at the remembrances and the outpouring of love from everyone.

Table decorations included plastic mugs resembling the ones we used when they were young. The set included 4 colors and each child had a specific color. On each table was a can of vegetables missing the label. When Alvin managed a supermarket, he brought home the unlabeled and unsalable cans so once a week to accompany the dollar stretching meatloaf, each child choose a can for a side dish. They all became quite adept at a shaking technique to determine the contents, hoping above hope against finding hominy.

Kevin had smoked brisket, pork butt, and sausage. Kasey prepared potato salad, mustard of course, and pinto beans. Becky brought gazpacho and Debbie provided the coleslaw.

The cake was beautiful, thankfully they didn't attempt 70 candles, just spelled out "Happy Birthday". The large number 70 was an edible printout covering the center of the cake.

We all had a magnificent time and I am truly blessed.

Saturday morning, April 19, there was no Midnat field trip scheduled so we took off alone to explore some of the county to see what changes this oil boom has caused. Our old place on CR 144 was sickening to see. 9 RV's and several oil field trucks cover the 3 acres and most of the trees are dead. I had looked on Google Earth a few months earlier and was heartbroken then. My swimming pool was fallen down, but all the RV's were not there. The "star blind" tower is still there, too.  The entire neighborhood has turned into a slum. I had hoped the people that bought it might not be like the neighbors.


We took a meandering route from CR 160 to FM 1379.

Gun Club to Blue Barns - red unpaved roads

What were dusty, birdy backroads are paved truck routes completely devoid of wildlife.

On one still unpaved section, a wily coyote started through the barbed wire fence onto the roadway, but upon glimpsing us, turned tailed and hurried across the pasture out of site. The plentitude of cotton-tailed rabbits is a clue to the coyote's healthy well-fed appearance.  Surprising were the bunches of wildflowers in the barrow ditches, thriving despite the obvious drought conditions. Chocolate Daisy, Engelmann's Daisy, Honey Daisy, Penstemon, Tansy Aster, Tahoka Daisy, Bladderpod, I'm sure I leaving out some, but you get the picture. I didn't, camera at home.

We overtook Rose Marie on CR 1110 and tagged along to explore some of the city properties on Blue Barns Road. One pond that had always been a reliable water source was not much more than a mud puddle. One Killdeer was the only occupant. The pasture land did yield Clay-colored, White-crowned, and Lark Sparrow. The Bullock's Oriole, Western Kingbird, Ash-throated Flycatchers, and Swainson's Hawk have all arrived back from their winter vacations in South America. The only Meadowlark were Western.

Johnson Draw on FM 1379 produced American Avocet and Peeps, Baird's and Least Sandpiper. Almost invisible Snowy Plover dotted the sandy areas surrounding the pond, more appearing with patient searching.

Calling an end due to increasing heat, we met Shirley at McAlister's Deli for a long lunch. We had to rest up before attending the big graduation soiree scheduled for tonight.

 Debbie had really planned everything well, from the red carpet with lighted marquee

 To the candy bar, with all the purple trimmings.

The kids loved the DJ with Karaoke and the photo booth. Dancing, singing and just being silly seems to be what they like the most. After all, these are theater kids.


Food was popular, too, especially cake.

Savannah Smile,  a signature "mocktail"  was also a popular activity. Kept me busy serving them as the kids waited for a caricature drawing.

 Even grandparents were caricature subjects.











The party lasted until midnight, but at 10:30 the old folks turned into pumpkins and made a hasty retreat. Well. sort of hasty, as the streets were flooded after a nice half inch rain.  Only Midland, TX, uses the most traveled streets in town for storm drainage. Go figure.

Thanks goodness, Easter church services don't start until 10:30. Gives the older generation a chance to sleep in. All this night life begins to take a toll.

Theater, Taxes, and Total Lunar Eclipse

We drove into Midland on Thursday, April 10. Staying at Midland RV, just north of I-20 across the  street from I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch Nature Study Center. Can't say much about the RV facility, mostly occupied by oilfield workers and way too expensive, but spaces are at a premium here due to the BOOM. Was offered a job here, but don't think I can live here for 5 months.

Saturday morning, we birded with Midnats at I-20 Preserve. Was good to see friends again and we managed to rack up a list of 25 species, despite the severe drought conditions. A nice spread of Honey Daisy and Blue Curl lined the trail on the east side of the playa.


On Saturday night we attended MCT/Pickwick Players presentation of "Pippi Longstocking", featuring grand-daughter Savannah as a cast member. In addition to a pirate, she also played an old woman and various other characters. Excellent entertainment.

Sunday morning, I celebrated a landmark birthday by attending All Saints Church with Kasey, Robin, Debbie, Nash, and Savannah followed by lunch at Moon Garden. After changing into regular clothes, we spent a quiet afternoon visiting with Kevin, Anita, and Donovan.

Anita has a tremendous salt water aquarium, love the dark purple fish with long purple eyelashes that perches on  the corral. Think she called him a bliney.

Sunday evening, another cold front arrived dropping temperatures into the high 30's. Monday was cold and dusty with 35 mph gusts.

Tuesday, Tax Day, required a sizable check to be written, but I refuse to have anything held out of TRS or American Funds because of the current administration and the gross misuse of taxpayer monies in Washington DC. I will not give a dime until I absolutely have to. My own little civil disobedience.

By Tuesday evening, the weather had cleared and warmed significantly. Jupiter was clearly visible at dusk and the prospects for a spectacular eclipse looked good. Having been suckered by cloudy skies many times before, I peeped out at 10:30 PM, was encouraged enough to set the alarm for 3:30 AM. Because of the location and the hour, and having seen more than one total lunar eclipse before, I wasn't too anxious about the beginning and the early stages of the eclipse. Thankfully, when I arose at 3:30, the sky was perfectly clear. I tucked flannel PJ's into socks and pulled jeans on over the PJ's, donned a jacket and went in search of the Moon.  Rounding the front of the motor coach, the eclipsed "Blood Moon" hung high in the western sky. Back inside I found the camera and this time I leaned against the back corner for stabilization, clicked off a dozen shots with various settings. I checked photo quality on the computer, posted the best 2 on Facebook, headed back out for another look.

Eclipsed Moon and Mars

Mars shone brightly to the upper right of the moon and Spica blazed just below. A truly wonder site and worth the effort to get up and out for the experience.

In another location, I would have pulled out a comfy chair, wrapped myself in the "magic blanket" and watched at the moon slip out of Earth's shadow.  Considering the neighborhood, I opted to stay inside and cuddle up under the warm covers. When the next eclipse comes around in October, we should be on the Refuge at Anahuac and I'll only need to worry about mosquitoes, hogs, and alligators.

San Angelo SP

A short drive from Junction to San Angelo SP, again fighting a 20 mph, and gusting, Alvin was glad we were not traveling too far, only 107 Miles.
The draught is clearly evident along Hwy 87

 I did spot a few green spots with "cloth of  gold" down in some low-lying areas where the sparse rain tends to pool.












A few small patches of Blue Bonnet were also scattered in the lower areas of barrow ditches and medians.

We took the Loop around the south to avoid the traffic light at every intersection on Hwy 87 and approached the park from the south. We prefer the north entrance at the Bald Eagle Creek unit over the south entrance. We camp under towering pecan trees, even though they're just putting out the first catkins of spring, the bare branches still provide a modicum of shade. The sites in the south unit all have covered picnic tables but they are perched up on a windy hill overlooking the bone dry lake, while the Bald Eagle Creek unit is nestled along the edge of the North Concho River, which surprisingly has several wet spots. I'm thinking spring fed oases.

Deep Pool

Boat Ramp

Trail Head

Turtle Pond

One other spot near the restrooms that I didn't photo (???) had Blue-winged Teal and Northern Shoveler along with Great Blue Heron.


At the end of our walk, we were surprised by this very tired Sage Thrasher...

I think he had just arrived after a long night of migration and was just too tired to worry about our presence.














Love the variety of trees from location to location...

These two just seemed to speak to me full of personality...

one to talk

 while the other listened.

Next day we explored the amazing synapsid track of the Permian Period located in a dry ravine. Ranger Pat was kind enough to show us the location and give us a map to the area which is normally only open to guided tours. 

Walking amid those track of creatures that lived 280 million years ago was an amazing experience. I could feel the earth tremble with their passing.

Several sizes and varieties of tracks were easy to see and follow. 

Eryops obviously left the larger more widely spaced tracks. Would love to have more knowledge about these ancient animals that predated the dinosaurs. 

Lake OC Fisher, constructed in the 1950'ws by the Army Corps of Engineers, sadly is totally dry...

Becoming a state park in the 1990's, this was a favorite weekend boating and fishing destination for many west Texan's.

The park is currently inhabited by many oilfield workers who have portable septic systems serviced weekly in order to stay in limited service sites for extended periods. 

On the drive to the Highland Range Scenic Overlook we discovered a blue water pond with nesting Pied-billed Grebe

Maybe there is hope for this highly endangered park after all. 

April 9 Catch-up day again - long post

Moving Day April 2 Left Laguna Atascosa Volunteer Village at 10:30 in high winds, probably should have postponed moving a day, but we’re only going as far a Falcon SP 140 miles. Black-bellied Whistling Duck and Willet flying over noisily as we’re unhooking. On Hwy 510 picked out Bronzed Cowbird on utility pole. Paid more attention to the little place names on this drive, never realized there was a Havana before. Near Mission we hit a swarm of big bugs, sounded like hail on the windshield.

Wonder where the names come from, Arroyo Salada and Arroyo Garcia probably named for people who owned the land. Arroyo Quito - not so sure about that one. Arroyo Garcena, Arroyo Moreno, Arroyo Roma.

The terrain has really changed in this westward migration, we've left the coastal prairie behind for rolling hills.

Falcon SP was so hot when we arrived. 94° and no shade anywhere. #230, the first space assigned the 50 Amp didn't work so we moved to #227. Took several hours for the coach to cool down. 

We drove around the park at sunset, I left my camera in the coach, so snapped a couple with Alvin’s cell phone. The sun was a beautiful red ball complete with sunspots sinking into the clouds. Of course, the pictures don't show the details I remembered with my mind’s eye.

Thursday dawned cloudy, windy,  and 72°. We had a quick breakfast of toast and PB before heading out for Salineno. The old Dewind place, now Valley Land Trust, was locked up tight. The only things at the river were 25 Cattle Egret flying downstream. We did see to big black ducks flying down river, but not enough of a look to ID as Muscovy. A Spotted Sandpiper bobbed along on an island in the river. 

The fields of multicolored Prickly Poppy made up for the dearth of bird life. They seem to come in 3 different colors, I'm thinking the Ph of the soil has an influence. 

We did see Long-billed Thrasher and Altamira Oriole and Ladder-back over the locked gate. 

We drove the dump road and explored the village. Just like driving through a time warp into the 19th century. 

 The Catholic Church is the center of town, even it and the post office are completely fenced.




Border Security?

Seems like more windows are boarded up since the last time we were here, probably 15 years ago. 

Roma - we've never stopped here, just driven through many times. Way back then, before WBC (World Birding Centers) there didn't seem to be anything to stop for. The WBC is located on the historic plaza, a National Historic Landmark site. 

The Bluffs are the main attraction. Native Americans used the bluffs as a landmark for the shallow river crossing where 3 arroyo trails converged. 

The view of Miguel Aleman across the Rio Grande is not the prettiest sight, cannot imagine the living conditions.

The city was founded in 1765 as a part of the ranchlands associated with the Spanish settlement of Mier and grew into a center of commerce, especially with the riverboat industry in the 19th century. The first building was the old mission church constructed in 1848. The original bell tower of the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Church on the north end of the plaza was built in 1856.

Bell Tower 1865

The buildings surrounding the plaza were stores and shops with living quarters above and behind. The distinctive brick architecture of Heinrich Portscheller and the wrought iron balconies imported from New Orleans are national treasures. 

All in different stages of restoration...

On the recommendation of the volunteer at WBC, we had a late second breakfast at Fiesta, a very popular tiny little local spot. Every table was occupied, but a very nice local invited us to share his table. A retired Appraisal District employee of 31 years, he recommended the breakfast taco as the only menu option. His wife is secretary to the superintendent of schools and scheduled to retire at the end of this year. Every person that entered stopped to shake hands with him and also with us. After relating much of the history of Roma, he picked up the tab for our breakfast, too. 

On the way back to the state park, checked out the county park at the four-way stop. 

Mexican Olive trees bursting with showy while blooms marched most of the way to the dam on both sides of the road.

 The park is seldom used any more and un-mown, so the b’flies were abundant as were numerous grass sparrows. Lark and Savannah and 1 very cooperative Grasshopper Sparrow. 

Grasshopper Sparrow

Black-throated Sparrow singing but not seen. Ash-throated, Scissor-tailed, and Vermilion Flycatchers, plus Say’s Phoebe. Century plant sending up the giant asparagus shoot in prep for this years blooms. A racer and striped whip-tail were engaged in a stand-off in the center of the dusty road, we may have saved the lizard from a horrible fate. 

 Pyrrhuloxia knows how to sing...

Roadrunner knows how to catch lizards....

Both ACs ran all day just to keep the temp bearable, observed Scaled and Bobwhite Quail, Curve-bill and Inca Dove in the “yard”.

Another gorgeous sunset drive around the park yielded many cottontails, Jack rabbit, Javelina, deer, and Lesser Nighthawk.  Nice ISS flyover at 9:15 PM. 

Friday is another travel day. Outside at 5 AM for some star gazing and Pauraque serenade. The summer triangle helped me orient the sky, been too long without stars. Losing my touch. Couldn’t locate Dipper and Cassiopeia. With the sunrise came a rainstorm, explaining the absence of familiar stars. 

We were on the road by 9:45. By the time we passed Tigre Chiquito and Tigre Grande, dry arroyos, we had reached an elevation of 448’. (Laguna has an elevation of 25’). Love those GPS units, much more than a road map. 

The ground is covered with “cloth of gold” bladderpod and Huisache just beginning to bloom where it has been blooming for more than a month on the Refuge. Another benefit of modern technology is the ability to surf while traveling. 

Falcon Dam

Falcon Reservoir was created in 1955 for flood control and to provide irrigation water. having a capacity of 98,960 acres and a maximum depth of 110’, due to the extended drought, it is currently only 40% full. 

Tiny little rest area on Hwy 83 north of the Border Patrol check station produced the first House Finch in many months along with Bewick’s Wrenn, Verdin, Bell’s Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Black-throated Sparrow. Not a bad 15 minutes. Lots of floral diversity, too. Verbena, Bladderpod, Paperflower, White Daisy, saltbush, wolfberry, javelina bush, Christmas Cholla and Prickly Pear.

 

About the time we crossed the Dry Frio River encountered the first of season Blue Bonnets. Arrived Garner SP at 4:45, had to wait in line for 15 minutes to get a campsite. This has become one of the most popular parks in Texas and the river rats are not very good neighbors. Has almost become too big. Also, the “Black Hole” of Texas. We were off the grid during the entire stay. 

Pair of Vermilion Flycatcher fell in love with the jeep, would have nested on the side mirror if we had stayed any longer.

 

Junction SP had no vacancy, so we booked 2 nights at North Llano RV. Dropped the coach and hit Lum’s for BBQ sandwiches. Walk-about produced Blue-grey Gnatcatcher in breeding plumage - that black forehead and those enormous white eye-rings make him look quite fierce. Didn't take my camera. A flock of Lesser Goldfinch decorated the river rock and Cliff Swallow skated on the water’s surface. 

A skunk toodled past my window to visit a camp site where the humans bailed out and left their dog to face the mustilid alone. He raised his hind legs and tail but failed to spray. 

Pine Siskin

Field Sparrow

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spotted Towhee

Great Blue Heron

Black-throated Sparrow

Lark Sparrow

Nine-banded Armadillo

Sunday morning was cool and misty but we braved the elements to bird the state park. The 4 blinds there are the best in the state. We tallied 43 species in just over 3 hours. 

A virtual sparrow-fest: Lincoln, Field, Chipping, White-crowned, Lark, Clay-colored, Black-throated, and Spotted Towhee. Yellow-throated and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Bell’s, Yellow-throated, and White-eyed Vireo, Black-crested Titmouse and Carolina Chickadee, Pine Siskin and Western Scrub-jay, plus the usual stuff. On the river, I flushed a Wilson’s Snipe and had flybys of both Belted and Green Kingfisher. South Llano is noted for the large population of Wild Turkey, they did not disappoint today. 

Courtship feeding of each other

After a tasty subway sandwich, we birded the city park and the Easter Pageant area where we picked up Canyon Wren. 

My cell phone still stuck on the tower at Laredo, I’ve tried turning it off multiple times and checked every setting to no avail. Guess I’ll  find a Verizon store in San Angelo. 

Monday another travel day… only 105 miles to San Angelo SP. A slow moving Northern Harrier accompanied us for a while near Menard. 

The numerous box culverts had swallows streaming out, I’m guessing Cave Swallow strictly based on habitat. The I-10 overpass leaving Junction had obvious Cliff Swallow nests. 

Again technology provides a diversion from navigation duties. Using Alvin’s phone I discovered Tom Green County was named for a Confederate Brigadier general in 1875. The first county seat, Ben Ficklin, was destroyed by the flooding Concho River in 1886 that killed 65 people. Moved to Santa Angela, near Fort Concho. The US Post Office changed the name to San Angelo at a later date. 

We’re in our usual spot in the state park,  #5 in the Bald Eagle Unit on the north side. Had to drive to the south unit to check in as the gate house was closed today. Needed water filters and black water tank treatment, too. Found a Verizon store to get my phone revived. Sim card was pulled and reset was done so I’m back in business again. Yeah!!!!

Back at the park, visit from a Summer Tanager and Eastern Phoebe. 

Strange phenomenon about 7:45. A wind suddenly came up from nowhere, slight rain showers, but no clouds in sight. Lasted for 5 minutes or less, then complete calm again. 

Tuesday morning, I was up at 6 AM for a quick peak outside when I turned on the coffee pot. The sky was black velvet with salt crystal stars scattered about and the Big Dipper hanging between two anorexic pecan trees. By 6:30 most of the stars had faded away but brilliant Mars blazed next to Spica and luminous Venus graced the eastern sky. After a year of murky humidity, the transparent West Texas skies take my breath away. As much as I love Anahuac and Laguna Atascosa, I’m so happy to be back home, almost.