Inns and Outs...

outside our hotel room window...the reflections of the sky
in the window by the mermaid fountain
and a
landscaped resaca for ambiance
linking to:  Weekly Top Shot - Skywatch Friday - Weekend Reflections

Along the banks of the Rio Grande River, in Cameron County, Texas, there are resacas. Resacas, the term, could be derived from the Spanish rio seco meaning 'dry river' or resacar meaning to 'retake'. Either way, in reality, they are similar; being that the river itself, when flooded, formed many areas that held the flood waters eventually drying in areas, then forming from the silt channels of water that turned marshy; swamps. At Santa Ana, when we walked several of the mile long trails, we came upon a quiet, peaceful, area that is a resaca. The vegetation was 'to die for' pretty. The stillness, except for bird calls, was pure enjoyment. The variegated verdant shades, the richness of silver, dried wood and moss...all beautiful to the eye. The shadows and reflections - the dense woods - the Spanish Moss draping off the branches, swaying in the trickle of the slight morning breeze, the many sections of boardwalks crossing the mossy green water, bright contrasting red and yellow and indigo blue feathered birds flitting from branch to fallen stumps or dancing just ahead of us through knee high grasses....it was just short of paradise. Actually, I was so busy drinking in the surroundings, I never did take any photos of birds. It was all about the resacas that day...

...read more on resacas in Texas

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Walking along some other areas, birding of course, we came upon a new species we've never seen before...a squirrel!! Neither of us knew what it was until we were able to get home and have time to research with our photos at hand. It is a Mexican Ground Squirrel. And cute; ever so cute!!



...tho a rodent from Northern Mexico, a Mexican Ground Squirrel can be found in the southern, and west-central part of Texas. It's habitat is sandy, dry, grassy areas. Sizing it up, they can grow to 15 inches in length, their distinctive marks are NINE rows of white dots along its backside, a white eye ring, and very small, rounded ears. It is omnivorous...meaning it eats fruits, vegetation and also consumes flesh....often seen eating carrion along the a stretch of highway from roadkill.


...read more on Mexican Ground Squirrel

linking to: Camera Critters - Saturday Critters