Estero Llano Grande State Park

What's more beautiful than a Guava Skipper? A Guava Skipper caterpillar! Ranger Abran found this munching away on Guava this morning! Thanks, Ranger Abran!

Thanks, Steve Franklin, for the photos from last Friday's Butterfly/Dragonfly Tour (every Friday 10:30 to noon). And a big thank you to all the participants who filled our air- conditioned Transit van to make the trip to Alligator Lake so cool!

You may recognize the setting for the recent Archery training-- it was right here at Estero in the Southside Thicket auditorium! Air-conditioning no doubt made the training much more enjoyable than being outside in the high heat of August's Dog Days! See if you can pick out our Ranger Priscilla (whom you've no doubt seen at the register) and Ranger Veronica (new to the Park but bringing ten years experience at Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center. Maintenance Rangers Jose (who was previously an Intern here!) and Joshua you may also recognize as they keep up the Park. Special thanks to Resaca de la Palma State Park's Ranger Amanda for arranging the training, and for posting the fine photos!

Get ready for an adventurous Butterfly/Dragonfly Tour from 10:30 am to noon in our air-conditioned van! Check out some photos from last week's excursion to see what's in store!

AUGUST COASTAL CLICK BEETLE, new for the park from Moth Night, identified down to species by (former Bentsen State Park Natural Resouce Specialist)Josh Rose (now in Massachusetts) on iNaturalist where only thirty observations of it are listed! Bugguide reports, "First US record in 1987 and 1989 in Sabal Palm Sanctuary!"

Join us on our ranger-led programs! Archery is every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ages 8 & up. Registration is open. Still too hot outside? How about joining us for Discovery Night on August 10th and 24th, where we search for nighttime animals. For any questions about our programs or to register for archery, please call us at (956) 565-3919.

Mr Cuckoo is reminding you that tomorrow Saturday at 8:30am the Weekly Birding Tour will begin and go until 10:30am. Also, he says, the weekly Archery class will begin at 9am and go until 11am tomorrow! And, he reminds us, our Park Store will be available for any required refreshment or snack needs. Ice cream for a dollar, he exclaims?!!

Unleash your inner Pokémon trainer! David, our talented intern, has designed one-of-a-kind Pokémon cards showcasing fresh and exciting Pokémon that you might encounter here at the Park. Can you catch 'em all?

Looking for an adventure? Look no further than the Butterfly/Dragonfly Tour! Last week's tour was a thrilling experience, showcasing hundreds of magnificent American Snouts. Thanks to Steve Franklin, we have some incredible photos to remember the tour by. And good news: our comfortable air-conditioned van is back in action!

National Intern Day came and went without us posting about all the wonderful interns we have had, year after year! How could we?! Forgive the lateness of this post as we honor David, this year's intern, who has been a very big help, ever courteous and upbeat. If you haven't yet met David, feel free to stop by and meet him, and ask to see his drawings from his current college class!

Before the Birding Tour had even begun two Red-Lored Parrots posed for Steve Franklin's camera! Not native to the Valley, they are probably descended from lost-pet ancestors. They ARE native in near-by south Taumalipas all the way down to Brazil. Those yellow cheeks! We had about 55 species, with Sandpipers and Orchard Orioles already returning-- southward migration is begun! There were also large numbers of each species as nests are being emptied of a fresh new generation of youngsters. Thanks, Steve, for the use of your fine photo!

Did you see us at Pokefest at the McAllen Convention Center?

Guess whoooooooooooo's back at his Allligator Lake beach house? Okay, Screech-Owls don't hoooooot, but they don't either. They purr like kittens. From yesterday's Birding Tour.

Another Valley Specialty (ie found only in South Texas in the US) is the Mesquite Lizard. Some call it the Graphic Spiny Lizard, but that's not only too long, but also not as descriptive since one usually finds this guy on Mesquite trees. In addition to being well-camoflauged, he's like a squirrel always going to the opposite side of a tree-- he is really good at hiding. They get to about seven inches and have live babies, meaning they don't lay eggs. It's hard to purposely go looking for them, but if one is lucky one stumbles upon them here and there at Estero.

Has a rabbit ever stuck his tongue out at you?

Thank you, John & Cindy McKee, for the fantastic photos from the Butterfly/Dragonfly Tour! Today from 10:30am to noon we'll see what dreams may come as a result of the recent rains!

Just when you thought the only good rat was a dead rat... White-tailed Kite from yesterday's Birding Tour.

Hey, I have a Question for you...

Postscript: Not to be too cryptic, the Question Mark is named for the punctuation mark on its underside. It is a common butterfly of the Eastern US, but migrates north in the summer and south in the winter. Some adults don't migrate, and so it is this particular one didn't head north this year and was found on the Hoot Hoot Trail at Estero Llano Grande State Park. It is one of those butterflies that doesn't nectar from flowers but instead "...sip liquids from overly ripe fruit, animal dung, and oozing trees."

About 150 Red-crowned Parrots gave us a Fourth-of-July fireworks display of the Third Kind, quite unlike the usual fireworks and the unusual first-of-its-kind-in-the-area Weslaco Drone Fireworks, a few minutes later! Thanks to all who participated!