New Texas state park is bird-watching paradise

Resaca de la Palma State Park -- the final link in the World Birding Center chain stretching the breadth of the Rio Grande Valley – has opened this year to nature tourists just west of Browsville. The 1,700-acre wing near the southernmost tip of Texas is the largest of the eight sites that comprise the World Birding Center that stretches some 120 miles along the Rio Grande corridor from Roma to South Padre Island, an area that is home to more than 500 species of birds.

Not a state park in the traditional sense, Resaca de la Palma caters to bird watchers and other nature lovers who seek an up-close view of wildlife in a natural setting that includes the resacas (water-filled coils of river bed), marshes, dense thorn-scrub, and mature palm and ebony forests.

The park doesn’t offer any camping facilities, but the does have an observation deck, visitor center, interpretation hall and numerous trails, some of which are handicapped accessible. There are 6.5 miles of dirt hiking trails and a paved 3.5-mile loop traveled by a free tram that makes two stops.

RESACA DE LA PALMA attracts a variety of birds due to its location along two American migratory flyways and its proximity to Mexico and Central America, some of whose bird species range only as far north in the United States as Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. Visitors may see colorful species such as the summer tanager, American redstart, Mexican green jay and Altamira oriole, as well as the black-bellied whistling duck, least grebe, purple gallinule and a host of migrating waterfowl.

Resaca de la Palma joins the other eight WBC sites: Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park (the WBC headquarters), Estero Llano Grande State Park, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, Harlingen’s Arroyo Colorado, Old Hidalgo Pump House, Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen, Roma Bluffs and South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. The Brownsville site charges persons 12 and older a $4 entry fee; children 11 and under get in free. For more information, call (956) 350-2920 or visit: www.worldbirdingcenter.org.

RVers get the royal treatment with this bird

We pulled into the parking lot of the visitor center at Padre Island National Seashore and were greeted by a flock, no a herd of shore birds of all kinds. They were just hanging out in the parking lot enjoying each other’s company while the guys were posturing in order to win the affection of a girlfriend. The Royal Tern, always the gentleman, stood elegantly amid the noise and rancor surrounding him. He didn’t even take notice of the car pulled up beside him. Some of these terns look like balding men while others have a full head of plumage. This dark “cap” is acquired early and briefly in the breeding season. The bill is dark orange and they have a forked tail. You will see these birds along the Gulf Coast and the eastern seaboard and in southern California during the winter months. I discovered how they acquired their name when one of them flew over the car leaving a royal mess. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Crazy bird dance entertains RVers

RVing around the country we see thousands of egrets. However one egret, the Reddish Egret, had us enthralled by his behavior. This guy would be a hit at any disco bobbing and weaving, tossing and turning delivering a fantastic dance performance all without the help of music. This guy is in his breeding plumage and performs this dance when he is hunting for fish. His bill is pink with a black tip and his legs are cobalt blue. His favorite dance floor is the salt marshes along the Gulf Coast and he usually prefers to dance alone. Very entertaining and delightful bird. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

An RV bird observation platform

We just pulled out of the Passport America RV Park on our way to Arkansas when a handsome red-headed woodpecker flew across the road in front of us. My wife and I instantly identified the bird and expressed our appreciation to each other about seeing this fabulous bird at the beginning of your trip. We often see spectacular birds while driving in our RV across this great land. Sometimes we see our first life birds from our seats in the RV. I like to photograph all the birds we see, so it's kind of frustrating for me because it is difficult to drive and take great photos at the same time. So these photos were taken of this grand bird while on foot. It's hard to sneak up on woodpeckers so I have to work especially hard to get photographs of them. I have collected many since we've been full time RVing and will share some fabulous photos of these creatures in future blog entries. Knowing what this guy can do to wood I'm glad our RV doesn't have a wood exterior. Keeping an eye on the sky - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer gets red crowned parrot surprise

Scouting around Brownsville, Texas in our RV towed we were in search of red-crowned parrots. I had read there was a colony roosting at the University of Texas at Brownsville campus. We were hanging out at the Old Fort student housing watching Whistling Ducks perform their antics while Muscovy Ducks occasionally waddled by. As the sun began to set a flash of green caught our attention as a flight of and green parakeets circled and landed in a nearby tree. Next we saw a red-crowned parrot land on a stump in front of the car. As we were admiring this view a head poked up out of the palm tree stump and this is what we saw. I just love this picture of a nesting parrot and I was lucky to get it because it only emerged for a few seconds and we didn't see it again. We were delighted to see both the red-crowned parrots and the green parakeets in the same area. RVing is a great way to see the country and do some serious birding at the same time. The same is true for those of you who enjoy butterfly and moth watching. In fact, many hobbies are enhanced through the use of RVs because they provide a cost effective way to combine travel, lodging and meals. RVers can cover vast areas or focus on one specific area all the wile living comfortably in the shelter of their RV. Always looking up - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

RVer Bitten By Aggressive Pelican

RVing in the Corpus Christi, Texas area brought me and my fishing pole out to Mustang Island. Mrs. Professor was there to do some serious birding and I was there to do some serious fishing. Some folks next to me were feeding the pelicans small perch they were catching and apparantly the birds came to believe us fishermen were their personal food service providers. My fishing neighbors left and these two freeloaders came calling. I pulled up a little perch and one of the pelicans scarfed him into his bill hook and all. I yanked the fish out of his mouth knowing that a fish hook is not the way he should get his daily iron requirement. As I was pulling the fish off the hook Peter the Pelican holding up a sign "Won't Work For Food" grabbed the fish out of my hand and in the process punctured my hand with the tip of his bill. He actually drew blood requiring immediate medical attention and a tetanus shot for the bird. I scolded him asking him where he had left his Texas manners. The fish was completely traumatized caught in a dark peristaltic tunnel wishing he had not dropped out of school. And me, well, I was thinking that I'm sure glad Pterodactyls don't exist anymore. In fact, I'm burning those old Pterodactyls in my RV fuel tank at over $4.00 bucks a gallon. Now I'm thinking about how I can do that with pelicans. Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

High Island RV Birding Adventure

High Island, Texas is one of the top birding spots in the United States. Boy Scout Woods is a great place to view warblers during migration and the occasional "fall-out" where birds just land exhausted after crossing the Gulf of Mexico frequently pushed off course by a storm. The Houston Audobon Society manages the bird sanctuaries on High Island. An admission fee, based on the honor system, is $5.00 per person and includes admission to all the birding areas on the island. There is a white board at Boy Scout Woods where birders leave messages about bird sightings. This birder with an obvious sense of humor tells everyone there were "Emperor Penguins sited matting at Broadway and 45th." Boy Scout Woods has wood plank walkways and a nice photo blind which will accommodate about seven photographers at one time. There wasn't much happening at Boy Scout Woods since we were there late in the season. The real action was at Smith Woods where No Dogs are allowed. Apparently a dog with a Smith and Wesson expressed his dismay with some target practice. Smith Woods has a rookery that is simply amazing. There are numerous birds nesting here including egret, roseate spoonbill, tricolored heron, cormorant and others. There are also alligators, turtles and frogs to greet the observers who can view them from several platforms scattered around the refuge. The bird noise is tremendous and you get to pretend you're a National Geographic photographer. Here is a spoonbill doing a tight rope routine. Here he is waiting for applause. These nests are literally full of hatchings. These two egrets are almost old enough to leave as one of the parents disgorges (don't you just love that word) the catch of the day. There is no doubt about it, South Texas is a birding paradise and if you are a serious RVer and birder, you need to explore these places. Oh, don't forget to bring bug repellent. There is a nice RV park at High Island and several on the Bolivar Peninsula. If you are arriving from the South you can take your RV on the free ferry from Galveston to Bolivar Peninsula. RVing the Texas Coastal Birding Trail - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVng