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decourcy4

Finally in Texas!

But, to be honest, I almost didn't make it into Texas, as there was amazing birding in the SW coastal area of Louisiana.


Purple gallinule

I wasn't actually on the coast, but on the very flat area just inland. I would stop wherever I could pull off the road, and watch/listen for birds. I saw/heard 49 different species, and got some good pictures of some.



There were also alligators...



I saw this guy swimming, and next think I knew, he was right by my car. Yep, I stayed in the car.


My plan was to cut back up to the interstate (I-10) and go to the Texas welcome center to find out about where I could camp, but I spent so long birding that the welcome center had closed by the time I got there. I looked on line and found a state park near Port Arthur, but its camping sites were full already. I gave up and just got another hotel for tonight, but I don't plan to do that again any time soon! I've got my campsites for the next two nights lined up already. Tomorrow night I'll be at a county park in Matagorda that allows free camping, and the next night I'll be at a state park (Mustang Island State Park) on the north end of Padre Island.


The area I explored in Louisiana, the southwest coastal area, was decimated by hurricane Laura in 2020. There were many houses that were damaged and not occupied. In some cases, all that remained were the frames. I didn't take any pictures, as it seemed inappropriate. Laura hit as a category 4 storm, and the land is so flat—there is nothing to protect the area from the storm surge.


So I'll head down the coast for a couple of days. From South Padre Island to Big Bend is over 600 miles, which means I'll head inland on Saturday morning at the latest. I don't imagine I'll have much to say, but I should have some good pictures!



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