April 10th: The group was up and packed and ready to load the van for departure at 6:20am. It was a very light misty drizzle this morning as we headed over to breakfast at the lodge. This morning everyone opted for breakfast tacos of some variety, with most taking two due to the long day ahead. Our waitress was lively and energetic this morning, and kept us entertained. After breakfast we made a brief stop at the lodge store to check out and to pick up souvenirs. We left the lodge around 7:30am with many good memories. Heading east along 127 we took the bat cave road south through desert scrub, ranch and farmlands. We made several stops adding a number of good species. One of the best was GRASSHOPPER SPARROW which most had not had good views of the day before. Eventually we would all get to see this several times including scope views later on. We also added our first CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS and a single BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (only seen by Bill and Tom) at a nice area of desert scrub. Also along this road we had good views of a number of VESPER SPARROWS and many more SAVANNAH and LARK SPARROWS. At an area of meadow and short grass we found spotted a WESTERN MEADOWLARK (identified by call note by Tom) and when we stopped to obtain a better view 5 UPLAND SANDPIPERS flew over and then landed providing scope views. Soon we turned east parallelling 127. At our first stop on this cross road we found a sitting BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK, and a great male BULLOCK’S ORIOLE which obliged us with scope views. Farther east we stopped at several small dried river beds with lots of thickets and scrub. In addition to many commoner species we added another YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, and our first and only AMERICAN ROBIN. At the last riverbed we also added our scope view of the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, plus our first WESTERN KINGBIRD and a male BLUE GROSBEAK (sitting on the wire long enough for all to get scope views). We then continued east and north eventually connecting with 127 where we turned east again towards Sabinal. Just before town we stopped at the feedlot, where we managed to get close drive by views of both female and male BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS. We then drove on to Sabinal where we stopped for gas and a bathroom break. Continuing south from Sabinal we drove cross country eventually reaching Interstate 35. En route we saw literally hundreds of SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHERS, a single WILD TURKEY, and many NORTHERN CARDINALS. At 35 we turned south to Laredo. Before reaching the city we found our first HARRIS’S HAWK. We made a brief stop on the south side of town on 83 to grab lunch at Wendy’s.

From here we drove south on 83 to the quaint old village of San Ygnacio. The small one storey stone and adobe buildings showed the Mexican roots of this village. As it happened we chanced upon the great great grand daughter of the original town settlers - a widower with three daughters who had settled here from Mexico. At the end of Washington Ave we drove to the parking area for birders and paid our $5 per head entrance fee. It proved to be well worth it. After a short while we heard a seedeater sing twice but then it shut up. Not long after the manager of the site yelled from the distance to another group of birders that he heard another seedeater, so we quickly marched over in his direction. The bird was singing loudly from a nearby impenetrable patch of grass and mesquite and was not initially in view. Fortunately we had many sets of eyes searching with ourselves, the manager and another group of four birders from Virginia. When the bird finally moved into view it was quickly spotted by one of the Virginians and soon we were all enjoying great scopes views of WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER with lots of time for third and fourth views. This was a lifer for all so there were high fives and hugs. Tom also managed to get some pics of the male as he sang away in the baking early afternoon heat.

We left the site after only half an hour with everyone thrilled with our success. We then drove pretty much directly to our hotel in Zapata (the Best Western) where we checked in around 2:45pm. On the way we did manage to get good views of our first CHIHUAHUAN RAVENS and HARRIS’S HAWK in the scope, as well as BLUE-WINGED TEAL and GADWALLS. The troops rallied again at 4pm after a brief afternoon break and a swim.

We headed south on Hwy 83 towards Falcon stopping to enjoy views of perched CHIHUAHUAN RAVENS and more HARRIS’S HAWKS. Stopping at the small pond on the way to Falcon Dam we added RUDDY DUCKS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, BLACK-NECKED STILT, LEAST GREBE, SNOWY EGRET, and NEOTROPIC CORMORANT. Next we headed over to Salineno via the Roma Bluffs. On the back road to Salineno we chanced upon a rare event - a pair of GREATER ROADRUNNERS copulating vigorously in the middle of the road. The female held a mouthful of lizard that the male had offered while he did his duty. It was a remarkable display. At the river we found the predictable Sunday afternoon collection of jetskis, 4x4s, ghetto blasters and partiers enjoying the beautiful day by the river. We head down a track and despite the small army of people we found a RINGED KINGFISHER (scope views), GREAT KISKADEE, COUCH’S KINGBIRDS, three LONG-BILLED THRASHERS, BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, and both LADDER-BACKED and GOLDEN-FRONTED WOODPECKERS. From here we headed over to Chapeno skipping the El Rio RV park and driving straight down to the river. Here it was much quieter with only one other car with two very laid back fishermen (more interested in drinking a beer and chatting than fishing). As luck would have it we soon had a juvenile BROWN JAY just fifty feet away squawking for the parents. Over the next half hour we would see at least four more adult BROWN JAYS, plus a single fly over RED-BILLED PIGEON, two ALTAMIRA ORIOLES, a CASPIAN TERN, and another RINGED KINGFISHER. It was a really nice productive visit to the river and the conditions were very pleasant as the day cooled towards evening. From here we headed due north to Zapata arriving back at the hotel at 7:40pm to freshen up and have dinner at El Paraiso restaurant in town. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we were back to the hotel by 9:15pm after gassing up. Here we added our last species of the day LESSER NIGHTHAWK spotted by Barbara as we exited the van. There were at least six feeding around the light standard next to our rooms! This was our 92nd species for the day and 137th for the trip. All in all another great day!