Thanksgiving at Estero Llano Grande

Spending Thanksgiving in state parks is my second favorite way to give thanks on this all-American holiday.  Spending time with family and friends is my first favorite—that is if any of these good folk join me at a state park!  J

Estero Llano Grande State Park is a part of the RGV’s World Birding Center network of destinations.  It makes for a relaxing day of birding or just walking the lovely trails that meander through an old orange grove and around a series of ponds.  Dogs are welcome, if on leash and any poop is scooped.

The park has a covered veranda, with chairs, that looks out on one of the busier ponds; a park store and a nice set of bathrooms flank the veranda.

I especially enjoyed  yesterday's visit to this lovely park.  It was my first full day of NO RV-related maintenance work.  I give thanks!

I got exactly zero stellar photos, but it surely felt good to sit in the RV last night and develop my day’s digital view.  I thought I'd share a few:

A first photo of one of Estero Llano Grande’s ponds.  All of the ponds have nice, wide hiking trails and/or boardwalks surrounding them:

 

A photo of a Northern Pintail in the foreground.  (Note the Gadwall, at photo's back center, and the Green-winged Teal at back right).

 

This photo shows a Cinnamon Teal following what I believe to be a Blue-winged x Cinnamon Teal.  I see a lot of Blue-winged Teals at Brazos Bend but yesterday it was lovely to see so many of all three species:

 

Mr. and Ms. Gadwall watching me with a Pintail’s bottom up:

 

And I know I’m in the RGV because Least Grebe’s are everywhere:

 

And Great Kiskadee’s are watching my every move:

 

But this Upper Gulf Coast gal never tires of seeing “my” locals in other habitats, such as this pretty Tricolored Heron:

 

Well, my laundry is done—time to go outdoors and play!