Bird Accident

While Jim & Diane Hill were visiting with us on April 20, 2009 (Diane is my cousin), we were thoroughly enjoying watching a multitude of birds, who seemed to be putting on a special show just for us! They included the usual crowd of cardinals, towhees, bluejays, titmice, chickadees. PLUS a whole flock of indigo buntings, a single solitary painted bunting, blue grosbeaks, and our very favorite: the rose-breasted grosbeak - such a beautiful bird! Alas, one of the "rosies" had a surprise visit with the kitchen window, which thump startled all of us, and there he was, on the ground, stunned. Aha! Photo op! And here's his picture, while he was still wondering what hit him; plus a picture of the Underwoods and Hills.

Texas, March-April 2009

Birds we saw at Big Bend: Vultures, red-tailed hawk, doves, roadrunner, white-throated swift, ladder-backed and golden-fronted woodpeckers, vermilion flycatcher (beautiful), Mexican jay, ravens and crows, cactus wren, blue-gray gnatcatcher, northern mockingbird, black-throated sparrow, and finches.

Birds we saw at Ft. Davis: Acorn woodpecker, western bluebird, elf owl feeding baby, black-chinned hummingbird, and goldfinches.

Birds we saw at Brazos Bend State Park: Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" warbler, roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, little blue heron, white egrets, glossy ibis, white ibis, crows everywhere walking around inspecting everything; black-bellied whistling duck (and they weren't whistling dixie), and a gorgeous red-shouldered hawk who posed for us.

Pictures from our camping trip out to Big Bend National Park and Fort Davis.

Photos include various blooming cacti, Boquillas Canyon, two curious burros, a roadrunner, the Rio Grande, the Reata Restaurant in Alpine, and a pic of Nannie with Diane & Jim Hill. We have never been in such relentless winds, they never stopped and they gusted up to 60-70 MPH. We sometimes had trouble opening the doors of the truck & camper!