two great birds

The day didn't get off to an auspicious start.  The coffee in the room was crappy.  The stuff in the restaurant was almost as bad.  I don't think Texans have progressed beyond cowboy coffee yet. [Later, we did find a great little place in Ingram, the next town, Spirit Wind Java.] Our hotel is full of bikers; I've never seen so much spandex in one place in my life.  My husband said his appetite was ruined when a rather mature woman in bike shorts stepped up to the buffet next to him.  "I could see every lip, fold, and wrinkle in her vulva," he complained. There are also lots of Harley riders. This must be perennial and not seasonal, click photo for a local house of worship.

The weather was also sketchy, and we were pretty depressed after driving through miles of ranchland grazed to the nub by cattle, goats, antelope, and other non-native unglulates.  We went to Kerr Wildlife Management Area, an area managed mostly for deer, having started out covered with native Ashe Juniper, much of which they've aggressively cleared.  It's a great place for the endangered Black-capped Vireo, a species which has declined due to habitat destruction, much of which was due to overgrazing (click on photo for typical Hill Country scene). They've only started arriving on the breeding grounds within the last week, but I did locate one singing right near the road and we had great looks.  This is a really stunning bird -- brilliant! 

On the way to Lost Maples State Natural Area, we found a Zone-tailed Hawk.  This species mimics the very numerous Turkey Vulture, since small prey is not threatened by the sight of vultures wheeling low overhead.  Lost Maples was a great place, not only because natural areas are quite the novelty in this part of the state, but because it is situated in a low valley between two rivers.  Due to the topography and climate, many deciduous tree species occur here that are not found within hundreds of miles.  It's the place to go for another bird species that is endangered due to habitat loss -- the Golden-cheeked Warbler.  We heard one singing on the hillside right near the entrance, and finally got a look.  But the great looks came at the trailhead, where two were foraging.  The more colorful individual flitted right down between us.  Mission accomplished.

We headed up to Fredricksburg to Wildseed Farms, which grows lots of wildflowers. This was pretty impressive even though things weren't blooming in their fields.  Bought seeds for ourselves and for gifts.  Had a great dinner back in Kerrville at the renovated train depot, Rails. Now we're just aiming for a good night's sleep.  We're trading the louder-than-an-airplane room heating system for the roar of traffic.  We'll see which is less disturbing.