Finally time and weather co-operated so we were able to visit Estero Llano Grande State Park. It's about a 1/2 hour drive from the park and for some reason we had trouble getting there this year. It was a tad on the windy side so a lot of birds were hunkered down but we did manage to see a number of aquatic birds.

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and turtles sunning themselves.

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I think these are stilts (they were far away) --- we were on top of the levy attempting to not be blown away.

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One of my favorites .... Roseate Spoonbills

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The vultures seemed to be enjoying the wind.

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Everyone was staring across the pond at the Night Herons until I spotted this one a little further down the path but on our side of the pond.

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I'm guessing that this may be a wild poppy of some sort. There were a number of yellow ones as well.

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The cacti are very happy with the recent rains. The prickly pear are covered in babies.

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I thought this guy was very cute.

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these ones too!