Winter Break 2016

January 3, 2016 -

Well Larry and I stayed put at home in November and December, but now it's time for another road trip!!

Sunday, January 3

We left LC heading to San Antonio for an RV show. It was a very disappointing show for us because we didn't see the kind of RVs we wanted to look at. Leaving SA we headed out to San Marcos via the hill country back roads, better known as the Devil's Backbone. Heading back into San Marcos we stopped off at Garcia's for some great Mexican food, then over to cousin, Barbara Trepagnier's for a quick visit. We were lucky enough to see her granddaughter, Josie who happened to come in about the time we were heading out.

From San Marcos, we followed the River Road along the Guadalupe River.

Next we drove over to Canyon Lake and Dam. It's been many, many years since we've been here!

Black Vulture - may not be pretty, but different species from the usual Turkey Vulture.

From the dam looking out to the hill country.

Monday, January 4

Today's travels have us heading to Lake Travis, Balcones Canyonland NWR, Lake Buchanan and Marble Falls via the country roads. Larry and I decided it's been some 40+ years since we spent time here at Lake Travis.

Had a hard time identifying this vulture, but finally concluded this must be a younger Black Vulture.

Lake Travis looking toward Hippie Hollow.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The last time we were here, there were just a few houses. Now the Mega Mansions are everywhere!!

Next stop Balcones Canyonland NWR

View from Sunset Deck

Moving on we headed to Lake Buchanan then to Marble Falls, our stop for the night. Spotted this Roadrunner at the park by the lake.

Love these chairs!

Lake Buchanan

Sunset over Marble Falls

Tuesday, January 5

Today we are heading to Inks Lake and Colorado Bend SP.

Spotted the Redhead Duck and the Lesser Scaup at the Inks Lake fish hatchery.

And the Osprey overlooking the Colorado River.

American White Pelican on the Colorado River

Deer in Inks Lake SP

Believe this is an Osprey in flight.

What do you think this Mallard Duck is doing??? Just too cute to pass up this picture!!

On our way to Colorado Bend SP spotted this Red-Shouldered Hawk.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker in Colorado Bend SP

Colorado Bend SP

Eastern Phoebe

As we were leaving this area we made the decision to go to Alvarado to look at a few RVs because the weatherman called for showers a good part of the day tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 6

Guess what we bought this morning?

We really hadn't planned on buying an RV when we headed out on this trip, but we did!! After our winter break trip, we'll make a trip back to Alvarado to pick it up.

Upon leaving Alvarado we spent the afternoon looking up Larry's family descendants on his Mother's side in Gatesville, Purmela and Hamilton.
Gatesville still has a drive-in theater!

Coryell County Courthouse

Voss family descendants buried here.

Bailey family descendants buried here.

Hamilton County Courthouse

Thursday, January 7

Today's travels have us heading further south -- Pedernales Falls SP.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Not sure about this one!

Hiking to the Pedernales River

Pedernales River

Next stop - Blanco State Park

And then drove through Luckenbach, and boy was it quick!!!

And our quick drive through downtown Boerne with a quick pit stop by River Road Park on Cibolo Creek where we spotted these Lesser Scaup.

Friday, January 8

Before we left the hotel, Larry spotted this Eurasian Collared-Dove in extremely foggy conditions.

Our drive today had us on the road less traveled, specifically the Farm Roads due south to Edinburg then over to South Padre Island.

Saturday, January 9

Today we decided to stay put on the island enjoying the beautiful very cool weather, watching Texans football (ugh), and walking on the beach. We had hopes when we planned this trip that it would be warmer than back home but from the weather forecast that's not going to happen!!

This is the shot from inside our condo.

Franklin's Gull

Beautiful South Padre Island Beach

Sunday, January 10

Today is all about birding as we are headed to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Here's what we spotted!
Green Jay

Altamira Oriole

Great Kiskadee

Black and White Warbler

Tufted Titmouse (Black Crested)

Common Yellowthroat

Rio Grande River

Eastern Phoebe

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Plain Chachalaca

More Green Jays

Northern Cardinal

Plain Chachalaca hiding out!!

Eastern Screech Owl - Unfortunately he wasn't looking at me!!!

He flew out of his hiding spot and caught his back side!

Leaving Rio-Grande SP, we then headed over to Estero-Llano Grande SP for some more birding.

American Avocet

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-necked Stilt

Tropical or Couch's Kingbird

Northern Shoveler

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Monday, January 11

Our day trip today had us heading over to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. Because of the cool weather, it wasn't as pretty as it probably would be in spring or summer. There was also a lot of construction going on, so probably not the best time to visit!! Here are a few of the birds that were NOT in captivity, but were just hanging around the zoo.

Black Swan

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

White Ibis

Neotropic Comorant

One of the few plants in bloom!

After we left the zoo, we headed out to the most southern part of the Texas coastline on the Gulf of Mexico that you can reach by car. Along the way we spotted many hawks on the power lines, but because of the cloudy weather and the distance, my pics weren't that good. Here are some other bird species we saw.

Royal Terns