Saturday March 2, 2019 Texas Independence Day

Texas Independence Day Day is the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. With this document signed by 59 delegates, settlers in Mexican Texas officially declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas. (from Wikipedia).     Who knew.   Some stores had sales today for Independence Day.

I went to bed really early last night and I slept until 5 am.  I got up as I had to visit the bathroom.  Once there I thought I have to be quiet as I wanted to leave for birding in South Dallas at 6:30 am.  So I got myself ready and then I took Darla out for a walk.  It was still pitch dark.  I got her back in the house and pick-up my stuff for birding (lunch bag, liquids, snack, travel binocs and gloves.  I could not find a headband in any of the stores I looked.  It was cool and there was a wind.  I stopped at MacD's for my coffee and off I went for a 45 minute drive to south of Dallas.  The route was I 30 E to exit 30 to the 360 S to the I 20 E to Exit 458 to the Cedar Ridge Parkway to Cedar Ridge Preserve.  There was a birding outing there.  There so many cars there and only a half dozen birders.  The park is heavily used by runners, hikers and dog walkers and some boot camp warriors.  The parking lot which was as big as a used car lot was almost 3/4 full at 7:25 am when I arrived.

I joined the group and for a change I did not know anyone to start but my friend was going to show up and in the end two friends showed up.  We walked the trails by the building and the gardens in the back lead by Kate and Tom who volunteers in the park also helped.  We saw many many American Robins probably thousands.  And many Cedar Waxwings.  That group is probably who pooped on my car the day before!   We had Ruby crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows to name a few.  There were peach trees in blossom and a tree with pink blossoms called a "Red Bud" which is quite pretty.  Some trees are going into leaf already and the grass is green.  So different from home.  Once the birding walk was over Tom mentioned a Spotted Towhee and we got the co-ordinates for that bird.  We had to go up the ridge and we climbed a lookout which was a gorgeous view over Joe Pool Lake which is a reservoir lake, like most lakes in Texas.  Once up there on the ridge we came down into a valley or canyon and looked for the Spotted Towhee.  We did hear it respond but we did not see it.  One of my friends called it a "taunting bird".  We continued on the hiking trails and there were always people on it.  Once we were done I called it a morning as I had told the kids that I would take care of Lu and they could get out for a lunch together or whatever.  So once we were done at this place, I said farewell to my two friends.  It then started to rain as I walked back to the car.  The return journey was easy as I was prepared this time for the construction mess at one of the interchanges.  Lots of traffic in the later morning.





The kids went out for lunch together and Lu and I played with his magnet sets and we built multi-story houses and Lu build one himself and it looked like a castle.  We then read some books and had a snack.  Mom and Dad came home and Matt packed up for his trip and then it was time to leave for him.  Lu and I had a simple supper and Cassi continued to study.  Lu is pretty good amusing himself too which is good.  Cassi joined us for a documentary on Apollo 13 which was pretty good. Then some TV Frasier shows and it was time to wash up for bed for Lu.  He had a good day today.  I took Darla girl out in the drizzle which she does not particularly care for.  I got a lot of walking in today so I think it will be an early night for me.    

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