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.