November in Mercedes TX

We had a good first night in our little house.  We are used to pitch black at night, this place does not have room darkening curtains and lots of lights outside.  Luckily I brought my eye mask for sleeping.  It was very quiet just light..  

Our first full day we went to our fav park.. It was a 3 mile drive to go right next door.  Its a 1/4 mile from our little house if we walk on the levy.  It was pretty empty as the Winter Texans have not shown up yet. 

Common Pouraque, this little guy is a Rio Grande Valley speciality.  He looks for food at night and rests on the ground among the fallen branches.  Not easy to find but we know where to look for him...

Another Rio Grande Valley speciality. the Green Jay

Afterwards we went grocery shopping then a little time in the pool.  Temps are 88 deg for a few days here but change is coming.

Wed Nov 3: off to South Padre Island, about 1:15 minute ride if we go straight there.  But we stopped a few places before getting there.  We found the Aplamado Falcon on the Bahia Grande. A few new gates and buildings on the Bahia since we were here in March 2020.  We also stopped at  HEB and the Valley Trust Fund Lot before getting to the Birding Center.  We were the only ones at the center at first.  We finally seen a few other people near the end of the boardwalk.  But when we got back the to parking lot it was quite full.  Lots of kids and parents coming to the 11:00 alligator feeding.   Next stop was the Convention center.  Again not too many people wandering around.  Its a bit early for the Winter Texans to arrive, assuming by mid month and all of December to see more and more people in the parks. 

We were going to go to Louie's Backyard for lunch but it was close for repairs?  We went a few buildings down to Tequila Sunrise for some great fish tacos and fried shrimp basket.  It was pretty good.

We went to the beach for a little while, jus to go in the water and walk the beach. 

Eric did go in a bit deeper but was chased out by a Jelly fish!  don't want to mess with them.  The water temp was pretty warm, the air was 84.  Again not too many people hanging on the beach. 

We stopped at our favorite restaurant/market Los Tortugas in Port Isabel.  They moved in January, they used to be right in front of HEB in Laguna Vista.  So glad we found them.  We bought some delicious Fish and Shrimp Ceviche and raw shrimp.  The ceviche is the best! there are others that are good but we like this one the best. Makes for a light dinner!

By the time we got back home the temp had risen to 91, a little dip in the empty of people pool was perfect way to get a bit of exercise before dinner.  

Storm came through after midnight, thus cooling us off.  High of 64 for Thursday!  Good day for laundry and cleaning out the car, a bit of shopping and walking around the park.

Saturday we finally made it to Santa Ana NWLR.  the ponds were full of water, we have not seen that in years!  Hopefully the ducks will find their way there.  Another great afternoon at the pool after a great lunch at Nona's. 

back to the beach day!  it was a bit overcast and windy but great for walking the beach.  Eric could not resist touching the Jelly Fish.  They were all over the beach!

The Sanderlings like to eat the Jelly Fish!

We picked up Kim G. for a wonderful walk at Bentsen Rio State Park 

Afterwards we had a great lunch at Itzy's.  We had a great day visiting and catching up!

Close to the border:

across the border:

We went looking for a rare bird here in Texas the Forked Tailed Flycatcher!  and we found it!!!  #521 for the year!!

We went to the Parrot roost in Brownsville, they are so loud when they come in to roost in a local park.  

It seems everywhere we go we run into the same bird tour groups.  

Not sure if we are stalking them or they us.  We began the week going out to Salineno, about 85 miles from here.  That is where we began running into 2 different tour groups and a few single people. 

the search for the Golden Crowned Warbler!  Yes we did find it!

I have the wingspan of a Turkey Vulture!

Nov 17: more and more people are arriving at the park. The pool is getting more crowded.  Thursday is Fish Fry at our cafe.  $2 draft beer and $10 all you can eat fish fry.  the fish was good, not a 8, 9 or 10 but we can walk there.  A cold front had come in early in the day, we had the outside all by ourselves.

Friday Nov 19: #530!!  the Social Flycatcher.  We have seen this bird in Mexico,  only 4 documented observations of this bird has been seen in the U.S. The first in 1890, then in 1990, 2005 and now! 

We go to some strange places to look for birds and some places that don't smell too good!  We went looking for the Grooved Billed Ani.  No luck, others found them later in the day.  We will keep trying...

Sunday Nov 21: Eric got his booster!  We had been waiting for the CDC to open it up to everyone.  He was a bit nervous about going to Vegas without it, we lucked out again!  

Monday Nov 22: off to Las Vegas for the week to meet up with friends for Thanksgiving and a bit of birding.  We leave Texas with  530 year birds and 208 month birds.  Going to look for a few more year and month birds in Nevada. We are hoping our flights are on time and not cancelled and our rental car is waiting for us at the airport!  The weather looks to be good this year, sunny, mid to upper 60's for the highs.