Good bye to South Padre Island. This was the view from our balcony on the only sunny day we had there.
Today dawned and it was grey and foggy. It was so foggy today that we could not see the long causeway from the bridge and we have been able to see this causeway the other foggy days. The temperature was warmer with only a small wind; sweater weather. This was our last day on South Padre Island. We headed through the fog after 9 am to the World Birding Centre down South Padre Road. This is a beautiful center with probably a mile of boardwalks over the salt and fresh water marshes. The fog cleared a bit but it was still pretty thick.
We managed to join a birding walk and this was very informative as the center has done some cutting of the mangrove swamps. The mangrove trees had grown so thick up to the boardwalk, it was impossible to see anything except green. The same for the cattails which had choked the freshwater marsh. Permission was sought from the environmental authorities and was granted. The new cutbacks of vegetation have given much life to the different marshes. In addition people can see into the areas.
We had the American Coots following us in the water as we walked along the boardwalk. There were the usual wading birds and Common Moorhens (now called Common Gallinule). We could see many many Redheads in the bay through the fog but it was hard to get a good photo. There were more shorebirds out there and we saw some quite close up. In the freshwater marsh the alligator was up on the shore. By this time probably around 10:30am the sun was starting to burn off the fog but it was still foggy. The Clapper Rail came out just as the group was there. So did the Pied-biled Grebe and a really lovely Blue-winged Teal with its pale blue wing patch showing very clearly.
There was a Brown Pelican that was really funny grooming itself and then taking a look at us.
The same for the Tricolour Heron. After two days of fog here, everyone was sprucing up!
We decided to have lunch outside in the parking lot in front of the water feature at the World Birding Center. The sun was finally out and the temperature rapidly rose to the 80's. We sat and watched the Great-tailed Grackles and what ever else came by. I finished my lunch and picked up my binocs to see if there were any Bronzed Cowbirds in the crowd of Red-winged Blackbirds. Nope but there was a Brown Cowbird and a female Yellow-headed Blackbird!
We said goodbye to South Padre Island and surprisingly the island was still foggy and the drive over the bridge was still foggy. We came down the drive from the bridge and everything became clear. It was as if a curtain was lifted - no fog!!! It was a sunny day here. We drove down Texas 48 again, this time to Harlingen and Resaca de la Palma State Park. This park has a unique environment with different trees and vegetation. Unfortunately the park has little water. We visited the quiet blinds and feeding stations. It was that lazy time of the afternoon and it was hot.
The park runs an long tram ride. We got on the last one at 3:30 pm. The volunteer guide/driver was very good telling us about the trees and the birds that were in the park. He also said that the park was getting water to fill up the resaca (temporary creeks) so that that the water would attract the birds. He also said that the park had to buy the water from the water authority and this water would last about two weeks. The good thing about this situation is that there are no alligators here as the water source is inconsistent. We walked to the blinds again and this time we saw some activity along the trail and it was a lovely White-eyed Vireo.
We are staying in Harlingen tonight and plan to visit Arroyo(creek) Colorado Park tomorrow.
For supper today we went to get take-out food and the restaurant was jammed...Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
Barbs
Today dawned and it was grey and foggy. It was so foggy today that we could not see the long causeway from the bridge and we have been able to see this causeway the other foggy days. The temperature was warmer with only a small wind; sweater weather. This was our last day on South Padre Island. We headed through the fog after 9 am to the World Birding Centre down South Padre Road. This is a beautiful center with probably a mile of boardwalks over the salt and fresh water marshes. The fog cleared a bit but it was still pretty thick.
We managed to join a birding walk and this was very informative as the center has done some cutting of the mangrove swamps. The mangrove trees had grown so thick up to the boardwalk, it was impossible to see anything except green. The same for the cattails which had choked the freshwater marsh. Permission was sought from the environmental authorities and was granted. The new cutbacks of vegetation have given much life to the different marshes. In addition people can see into the areas.
We had the American Coots following us in the water as we walked along the boardwalk. There were the usual wading birds and Common Moorhens (now called Common Gallinule). We could see many many Redheads in the bay through the fog but it was hard to get a good photo. There were more shorebirds out there and we saw some quite close up. In the freshwater marsh the alligator was up on the shore. By this time probably around 10:30am the sun was starting to burn off the fog but it was still foggy. The Clapper Rail came out just as the group was there. So did the Pied-biled Grebe and a really lovely Blue-winged Teal with its pale blue wing patch showing very clearly.
There was a Brown Pelican that was really funny grooming itself and then taking a look at us.
The same for the Tricolour Heron. After two days of fog here, everyone was sprucing up!
We decided to have lunch outside in the parking lot in front of the water feature at the World Birding Center. The sun was finally out and the temperature rapidly rose to the 80's. We sat and watched the Great-tailed Grackles and what ever else came by. I finished my lunch and picked up my binocs to see if there were any Bronzed Cowbirds in the crowd of Red-winged Blackbirds. Nope but there was a Brown Cowbird and a female Yellow-headed Blackbird!
We said goodbye to South Padre Island and surprisingly the island was still foggy and the drive over the bridge was still foggy. We came down the drive from the bridge and everything became clear. It was as if a curtain was lifted - no fog!!! It was a sunny day here. We drove down Texas 48 again, this time to Harlingen and Resaca de la Palma State Park. This park has a unique environment with different trees and vegetation. Unfortunately the park has little water. We visited the quiet blinds and feeding stations. It was that lazy time of the afternoon and it was hot.
The park runs an long tram ride. We got on the last one at 3:30 pm. The volunteer guide/driver was very good telling us about the trees and the birds that were in the park. He also said that the park was getting water to fill up the resaca (temporary creeks) so that that the water would attract the birds. He also said that the park had to buy the water from the water authority and this water would last about two weeks. The good thing about this situation is that there are no alligators here as the water source is inconsistent. We walked to the blinds again and this time we saw some activity along the trail and it was a lovely White-eyed Vireo.
We are staying in Harlingen tonight and plan to visit Arroyo(creek) Colorado Park tomorrow.
For supper today we went to get take-out food and the restaurant was jammed...Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!
Barbs
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