Author Archives: Richard

A Rest Stop Surprise

Posted on April 11, 2015 by Richard

We spent a nice day cruising up the Natchez Trace Parkway after spending the night at Natchez State Park. You drive the Trace at 50 mph which in itself is calming and the lack of trucks (or traffic) with everything … Continue reading →

Posted in life bird, Life list, Natchez Trace, Southwest trip 5, Winter2015 Trip | Comments Off on A Rest Stop Surprise

Leaving Goose Island

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Richard

I saw my first fireflies of the year early Monday morning before dawn. Like the predawn birdsong and seventy-degree temperatures, it will all will soon be put aside for the realities of April in New England. We have launched on … Continue reading →

Posted in equipment_issues, Goose Island State Park, return_home, RV Travel, Southwest trip 5, Trip Planning, Winter2015 Trip | Comments Off on Leaving Goose Island

Finally, Some Warblers

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Richard

Ten days of south wind resulted in few migrants but that changed Friday with a weak cold front and wind shift to the north. Saturday was better as I noted in my last post but Sunday mid-day to evening was … Continue reading →

Posted in fallout, Goose Island State Park, Southwest trip 5, Texas birds, Washington County | 1 Comment

Thanks, Larry, for the life bird

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Richard

On Saturday morning, I joined a dozen other birders for a "woods" bird walk led by Judy and Larry Geiger from Wyoming. I have known these folks for years – Larry is a "pokey" who birds very slowly and really … Continue reading →

Posted in Bird walks, Goose Island State Park, life bird, Life list, Southwest trip 5, Texas birding, Texas birds | Comments Off on Thanks, Larry, for the life bird

Easter Weekend at a Texas State Park

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Richard

*Things started to change around Thursday as the vacant sites on our tree-lined park road started to fill up and the voices, energy, and comradarie of Hispanic families brought a new vitality to the neighborhood. Pickups full of camping gear, … Continue reading →

Posted in family camping, Texas state parks | Comments Off on Easter Weekend at a Texas State Park

Some Monday Birds

Posted on March 31, 2015 by Richard

I was out walking the dog before daylight, listening to the morning chorus of birds and frogs when far off, I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting. After another coffee and bagel it was getting light out so Penny and … Continue reading →

Posted in Birding_trips, Southwest trip 5, Texas birding, Texas birds, Winter2015 Trip | Comments Off on Some Monday Birds

A Morning Jaunt to Aransas NWR

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Richard

One of the "must-do" trips when we are a Goose Island State Park is to get to the [Aransas National Wildlife Refuge](https://www.vtbirder.com/aransas-national-wildlife-area/) so we loaded up some lunch, our birding gear, and the dog and headed out yesterday morning. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Goose Island State Park, National Wildlife Refuges, Southwest trip 5, Texas birding, Texas birds, Whooping Cranes, Wildlife Watching, Winter2015 Trip | Comments Off on A Morning Jaunt to Aransas NWR

Taking Princess Ariel Home

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Richard

I did some geocaching at Choke Canyon State Park and want to introduce you to an interesting trackable that I found in a cache there. I love geocaching in Texas parks: they all have multiple caches, the traffic is pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgia birding, Southwest trip 5, Texas state parks | Comments Off on Taking Princess Ariel Home

Whole Lot of Frackin’ Going On

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Richard

We started seeing signs for "ecolab services" and similar PR-approved company signs as we drove into Tilden, Texas. As we turned the corner toward Choke Canyon State Park I said to Mary, "I thought this was a sleepy cow town … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, Southwest trip 5, Winter2015 Trip | Comments Off on Whole Lot of Frackin’ Going On

Rain is Forecast – Too Little, Too Late

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Richard

Shortly after we arrived at Choke Canyon State Park, I drove over to check out the 65-acre lake where, six years ago, we had seen a rare [Northern Jacana](http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_jacana). I recalled the dainty prancing of the bird on the floating … Continue reading →

Posted in Drought, Southwest trip 5 | 2 Comments