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| Northern Cardinal |
I’ve been in Texas for 1 ½ days now after an eventful arrival from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Arriving in Trump’s America I was marched from the custom’s station to a separate interview space on the flimsy [but relevant] reason that I
a/ answered that I was going birding when asked what brought me the USA.
b/ couldn’t quickly show them evidence of a return ticket home, and
c/ that on my last few visits to the states I had not stopped but was more or less transiting.
In the interview waiting room one was not allowed to access mobile phones or cameras – so I could not communicate with my fellow birders; Steve Grainger and Russell McGregor from Australia and Jeff Manker from California, who were waiting for me.
Yes, I was concerned. Mainly because I was unsure whether this would be a fast process. At any rate, the interview went well. I showed my exiting airline ticket and was then welcomed to both the USA and the state of Texas.
Joined my ‘good ole boys’ in the parking lot of Sixt rentals where we picked up our spacious Chevrolet Suburban [the same make and model used by Ice Agents] and headed out for a late Mexican lunch.
Birding followed at the nearby Mercer Botanical Garden. Northern Mockingbird was followed by a huge number of Cedar Waxwings. Bird of the day was found here – good views but no photo of Brown Thrashers.
Common but charismatic species; Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Yellow rumped Warblers, Northern Yellow Warblers, Ruby crowned Kinglets were seen.
As well as a few decent reptiles; Anole, Skinks, Turtles and two snakes.
We stopped at Day’s Inn at Conroe. It was convenient to the highway and a few fast-food joints and a Mexican restaurant – Mama Juanitas.
