It’s called dipping. There was a tropical parula in the Valley before we leftWe went to see it, but missed. We dipped. We came to Houston for better chances at more birds. We looked for the Sabine’s gull at the Kemah Boardwalk, but missed it. Now it hasn’t been seen for five days, so we were just a little late. We went for the red-vented bulbul. Now *it* hasn’t been reported for four days. No greater pewee or rusty blackbird at Bear Creek Park. But wait. A great black-backed gull the other direction on the Dike Road outside Texas City. Dip. December 2017 Trip Map We saw a lot of birds, but no new ones. The weather is cold here. Time to go home. 474 Seems like a pretty good count for the year.
We did it!
My continuing education is done for the year. Birding……not so much. Still one short. A cool misty morning at Lake Texana.
We’ve moved on to southeast Houston. There is a bird we’d like to get in the middle of town. This is as close to the middle of Houston as we want to get in the coach. December 2017 Trip Map In the meantime, we took a look at the Kemah Boardwalk. There is a gull there we haven’t seen yet. Still haven’t seen it. Consoled ourselves with some Bubba Gump shrimp.
There wasn’t much moving outside. We’ve got wind-chill in the thirties. The gull may have frozen and dropped into the sea. Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 0
We’ve moved on to southeast Houston. There is a bird we’d like to get in the middle of town. This is as close to the middle of Houston as we want to get in the coach. December 2017 Trip Map In the meantime, we took a look at the Kemah Boardwalk. There is a gull there we haven’t seen yet. Still haven’t seen it. Consoled ourselves with some Bubba Gump shrimp. There wasn’t much moving outside. We’ve got wind-chill in the thirties. The gull may have frozen and dropped into the sea. Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 0 Lake Texana Park
We need one more bird. It doesn’t seem to be happening in the Valley, so we loaded up the motorhome and headed north. We have a plan. We’ll drive around until we find one more bird. December 2017 Trip Map Here is what the park looks like on google earth. Lake Texana Park Love this park. We got here in time to take a nice long walk around it. We saw canvasback ducks, black vultures, a red-shouldered hawk, a red-bellied woodpecker, a Carolina chickadee, and a Carolina wren. Nothing new for the year. Henry saw an armadillo.
The armadillo snuffled around in the grass and dirt
Until he saw Henry. Then he galloped off.
Really. That’s a full-on armadillo gallop. Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 1 Almost there. For both.
The armadillo snuffled around in the grass and dirt Until he saw Henry. Then he galloped off. Really. That’s a full-on armadillo gallop. Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 1 Almost there. For both. Merry Skype Christmas
Warm and comfy at home, we got to start the day with a white Christmas at Becky and Brian’s house.
Henry got to visit with the parakeets.
Moved to the kitchen to visit with Becky while she got the morning monkey bread treat started.
Then we relocated to Arizona with a little warmer weather at Matt and Lindsay’s house.
The kids are younger, so it’s a little wilder there.
Got to chat with Steve, Lindsay’s Dad.
A Merry Christmas at our house.
Wishing a Merry Christmas to you and yours! Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 2 Merry Christmas
Our family dinner this Christmas Eve.
Got Tom and Kathy over for ham, scalloped potatoes au gratin, cranberries, green beans and bacon. You know. The usual.
Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 2
Got Tom and Kathy over for ham, scalloped potatoes au gratin, cranberries, green beans and bacon. You know. The usual. Countdown:Birds: 1CPE hours: 2