March 21st

Rained all night and most of today.  Nancy and Kirk got in a few jaunts, when things let up a little.  We spent a fair amount of time defending the Bigfoot from a crazed Black-Crested Titmouse, who had decided his mirrored window reflection was a territorial invader who required subduing. He was energetic and persistent.

Nancy put her feeders up, and was rewarded with a Black-Chinned Hummingbird.   

Kirk & I were out walking (!) and Kirk spotted a nine-banded armadillo foraging along the green forest floor in the campground.  The armadillo paid no attention to us, despite Kirk's frantic attempts to slip his lead.  Impressions: much more animated than I had expected, quick and busy.  Had his nose on the ground, under the wet leaves, flipping things as he trotted along.  Small front legs, large back legs.  I had a good look, then dragged Kirk reluctantly away.  Nancy returned from the birding blind shortly thereafter; when I told her of our armadillo encounter, she grabbed the camera and Kirk, I sent them in the general direction, and Kirk shortly homed them in on it.  Many pictures resulted.

Kirk & the Nine-Banded Armadillo

Neat habitat here in the campground.  Still lots of prickly pear cactus, and a type of beargrass, but lush green grass, no understory, and large old oaks.  The lush prickly pear appears unmolested, so the Javelinas must be hunted out locally.  We have seen a couple of wild turkeys, the male strutting about with a full fan tail display.

River bottom forest

South Llano River

Porcupine

Black-Crested Titmouse, sworn enemy of Bigfoot

About 100 miles south of here, across the Rio Grande in Mexico near Del Rio, was a border blaster radio station, XER.  With a 300 foot tower, and 5 times the amount of power legal in the United States, Wolfman Jack blasted rock and roll music across the entire continent.