Biking, Birds, sunburn and friends

What a weekend, we began by biking about 15 miles to a local park to look for birds.  we did not see any new ones but did see a few of our birder friends. They try to put us on birds but.. we are not good at finding them.  we keep trying. We then went to the local state park to ride and bird. The morning was cloudy but by afternoon the sun came out, we got sunburned! that has not happened in a long time.  When we get back to Wisconsin we will look really dark compared to the ones that stayed behind! No sunburn in Birchwood this time of year.

Working on understanding the new camera.  I did take a few photos, they were all a bit blurry except for this close up of a Goldfinch.

Friday we headed west to Salineno, Roma and Falcon State Park.

We met up with friends Judy and Hermy (they were at Santa Ana last year, this year in Roma) at Salineno, a bird watchers paradise. We seen the three orioles: Altamira, Hooded and Audubon's. Of course I only got pics of the Altamira.

the kiskadee:                                                   a pair of Cardinals

we parked by the river..  across is Mexico

looked for the Zone Tailed hawk.. missed it by 30 minutes!

after a great lunch with Judy and Hermy:

we went to the State park and to Roma Bluffs

no birds in Roma but a few pretty butterflies

trying to get used to the new camera.. so lots of blurry pictures..   seen our temporary visitor center director at the state park.  we seem to run into someone we know at each park. 

Saturday after a bike ride (Eric) and a jog (me) we went to the Reveg area to thin our grass seedlings. took us about an hour to do 6 flats. then off to Estero LLano Grande State Park to look for a few birds.  did not see any on our list but did see a few good ones.

Anhinga                                                           little Blue Heron

Common Pauraque

 

there is actually 2 birds here, can you see them?

yellow crowned night herons                                       beautiful butterfly

Cactus flowers

and of course lunch time                                    Eric’s is all gone by the time we remember

                                                                        to take the picture! here is mine!

another hot and humid day. but a beautiful day. we are so fortunate to be here.

Sunday started out pretty slow. In fact the whole day was slow.  we just hung around, cleaning a bit, packing some stuff up, reading and looking at wildlife in our yard. playing with the new camera.

Northern Mockingbird                                                     House Sparrow 

Ladder back Woodpecker                                    Lizard?

 

Golden-Fronted Woodpecker drinking from the hummingbird feeder

 

and finally sunset, the barb wire kind of lends a harsh effect but still beautiful

Hot and Humid again

Temps in the upper 80’s this week. Humidity pretty high too. We started out our work week at the Reveg area.  planted another 9 flats of grass seed.  was hoping to thin out the other ones but they are not ready yet.

maybe next week we can begin our thinning.

wild life today: Texas Tortoise and Armadillo

 

a Black Chinned Hummingbird at the feeder

activity on the refuge kept us from working the trails after lunch. just after lunch we were walking down a trail where we have to walk down and back.  on our way back we ran into 5 UDA’s, we called Dispatch who sent Law Enforcement and Border Control out.  they got 2 of the guys and their drugs…  we ended up cleaning the parking lot! we prefer to be out on the refuge but they wanted us near the visitor center.  this is a hot season for the drug runners. 

Tuesday was my half year birthday.  temp was 91, sunny and humid.  after work we headed out for dinner, tried a new place:

it was downtown McAllen.  the theme was of the surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.  the service was very good, the beer ice cold and the food fantastic.  we started with Queso Fundido, Cheese and Chorizo then onto to Chicken and Shrimp fajitas.

a great half birthday celebration. at this age we need to celebrate every 6 months.

and a little shopping for my gift:

  I have been looking at this camera since Dec. but wanted to wait for it to go on sale. 

We first went to Best Buy but could not get service, only one person working in the camera department. after dinner we went to Wal Mart. Was able to get my camera but the credit card company put a hold on my card, (had to use debit card).  took care of that when we got home.  (the charge at Wal Mart was for too much money, so they suspected fraud). To my great surprise the camera was $50 less at Wal Mart than at Best Buy!  So my future pictures should be a lot better!

Wednesday was again hot and humid. today we seen a raccoon, suspect it was the same one we seen last week.

and a scorpion!

another great work week here in the Valley!

first weekend in Feb

our final month here in South Texas is here! We really love it down here and hate to leave but all good things must come to an end..

Thursday we took one of our interns around town so she could get some chores done.  she does not have a car so we were happy to run her around.

Friday we went to:

it was a bit windy, a beautiful walk but not any new birds. I did not cut my hair, my hat won’t stay on unless I shove my hair under it.  one size does NOT fit all!

looking across to Mexico to for birds.           two of the native trees. mesquite and palm.

lunch at a local seafood restaurant.  Fish and Shrimp.  pretty good, not a repeat.

On to Gladys Porter Zoo;

lots of beautiful birds and scary animals!

long day but had to stop for food:

I did not take a picture of his very huge smoker. but the food was “all good!”

Saturday we went to a couple local parks to look for birds.  we actually seen two new ones in the fields as we were driving! then off to Harlingen for Market Days.

did not buy anything but it was a beautiful day to walk around.  temps about 85 and sunny.

Time to go home and eat BBQ from Joe’s and have our first fire!

first have to set up the computer to listen to WOJB from Reserve Wis, and the Chiminea

time for the fire!

 

Eric is really loving this retirement life. Feb 2, and the temp was in the low 80’s, now it is about 73, calm winds and the stars came out along with Jupiter and 3 of its moons!  beautiful day.

Sunday another bird walk at Santa Ana: got another 3 new birds..  we really have a hard time with the little ones.  so it makes a big difference when we are with people that know them.

then a Pre Super Bowl Party at one of the neighbors:  good food, good friends, good fun

another great weekend here in South Texas. we are so fortunate to be able to spend our winter here.