Feb. 22: Bird Watching

We drove up the road we're parked on a State Park. Paid $4 and drove thru there and walked a couple of trails. Nice walk but no birds. Came back the same road to our corner where we were to head south to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. By now, Larry was hungry so we stopped by the Chili Willie and I had a hamburger and Larry had calamari. Both were very good. Moved on to the refuge center. Birds were everywhere. Got lots of pictures of the green jay (first bird photo) that I'd heard so much about. Lots of Cardinals too. Drove around the perimeter of the refuge and found even more unique birds. Got a picture of an Osprey, a White Ibis, a Crested Caracara and a Reddish Egret (shown in photo). A very different park - like Padre Island National Park - just not what we expect to see in a park. We're more use to trees, lakes, maybe mountains and canyons. This was flat, lowlands with lots of cactus and yucca (which grow very big here and are blooming) and one crocodile. The tide was out so the birds were feasting in knee (if a bird has one) deep water for a long way out from shore. Also, a really cool sign about an Ocelot crossing.