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They actually had the breakfast stuff out before 6:30 the next morning, so got
to eat there, then headed out.
Didn’t take long to get back into caracara and Chihuahuan Raven country, and
around 10:00 we arrived at
Lake Casa Blanca State Park in Laredo.
This wasn’t a particularly birdy spot; they didn’t even have any hiking
trails, but I got the impression that it was primarily a recreation (read:
playground) and camping area within the city limits, as it appeared to be
surrounded by urbana, the lake itself notwithstanding.
But it had some nice mesquite brush habitat in addition to the lake,
which had a pair of Osprey, some Least Terns, Neotropic Cormorants, and a couple
of new herons for the trip list.
Took an exercise walk along the road and had a pretty Pyrrhuloxia, but aside
from Mockers and a Bewick’s Wren, that seemed to be the extent of the songbirds.
A Swainson’s Hawk sailed overhead, and a Black Vulture was on the post at
the fishing pier. Odes were all
over the place, but none of them sat still so I could shoot them; I think at
least one of them was a Needham’s Skimmer, and had a definite Black Saddlebags
cruise by. I didn’t even bother
taking any habitat shots, but did have a very pretty and very cooperative Laredo
Striped Whiptail pose for pictures!
Stopped for a burger then headed in, listening to talk radio on the way (welcome
back to the real world…). Was
nearly knocked down by a Black Witch coming in the door!
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