Archive for the ‘javelina’ Category

More from Choke Canyon

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

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Still at Choke Canyon State Park. It has been cool, but not freezing. Have not had to use much propane. I am the only camper in my section of the campground, which is nice.

Have not seen the bobcat again. It has been to cool to sit out and watch for him.

Above, scissor-tailed flycatcher and vermilion flycatcher.

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Green jay with an acorn. Looking forward to seeing lots of green jays in the Rio Grande area.

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In South Texas’ thorn forest it is easy for javelina and bobcats to hide.

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Beautiful young white-tailed deer. Deer graze all around my rv. Enjoy watching them.

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Egret with mouse. Have also seen heron’s hunting for them.

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Harris’s hawk

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Last Views of Big Bend

Monday, February 16th, 2009

The pictures above are of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. The first one is a view of the mountains from the west entrance of the park. The second one is the Chisos Basin Campground area. The campground is in the center of the picture, if you squint. The “V” in the mountain is a window to the Santa Elena Canyon area.

The park warns against trailers longer than 20 feet, or motor homes more than 24 feet, from driving up the mountain road or staying in the campground.  My not being able to stay at the campground is probable one reason I did not spend much time here. Next time I come here I’ll go on some of the trails. This was more of a get aquainted driving tour. Staying in the non-hookup Rio Grande Village, I did not want to leave my dog either in my rv or truck.

I did not see many javelinas. The park warns campers not to leave their pets unattended outside. Pets have been killed and eaten by javelinas. This is the first time I have heard of this, and I have been other places where they are. They may be coming into campsites looking for food and attack a curious dog. I recall my dog, Jake, barking at a javelina from my truck at a refuge. The javelina briefly showed its’ sharp teeth, then went back to looking for food.

The road from Lajitas to Presidio, Texas, goes through Big Bend Ranch State Park along the Rio Grande. It has 15% grades in some places. This is why I got a Ford 250, not the 150. I didn’t have any problem going over the grades. The road is like a roller coaster in some places, where water has flooded over it in the past.

At the top of one high grade, some people were looking up in the mountains and taking pictures. I would never have seen the bighorn sheep above if not for them. The sheep have a long way to go to get water at the river.

World Birding Center, Mission, Texas

Monday, March 10th, 2008

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I am at the World Birding Center at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Texas. It is made up of a number of sites in the Rio Grande Valley, but this is their headquarters. Cars are not allowed in the park. A tram circles the road every half hour, so you get on and off where you want. Very nice for biking and hiking. Have to get a bike!

Above is a great kiskadee, a tropical flycatcher found only in South Texas in the U.S.

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An altamira oriole

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Chachalaca’s. They are a chicken like bird that moves like a road runner and likes to climb up trees.

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A dove and a squirrel on a bird feeder.

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A mother javelina grooming her child. The tourists here love seeing the javelina, but I noticed that nearby Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge considers them a pest.