I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. — before sunrise — because I’d heard that bird activity is richest at first light. At 6:00, I slipped into my boots and wandered quietly along the edge of the resort toward the state park trails.
The world was cool and still. Mist hovered over marshy patches. A barred owl hooted somewhere in the distance; I caught the flick of a tail as a woodpecker tapped in a distant tree. I paused by a thicket of flowering shrubs and watched as a gulf fritillary fluttered past, then a flash of yellow from a tropical parula. The colors seemed amplified against the soft morning gray.
I sketched in my notebook, noting bill shapes, wing bars, and calls. A fellow early walker joined me, asking if I’d seen the clay-colored thrush. We compared notes.
Afterwards, I returned to the RV and made breakfast: huevos rancheros with warm corn tortillas, refried beans warmed in a skillet, topped with salsa verde and a sprinkle of queso fresco. While cooking, I listened to the resort wake: soft laughter, water trickling, the hiss of morning showers being damped out.
We spent the rest of the day exploring The World Birding Center Headquarters and the National Butterfly Center, strolling guided trails that highlight native habitat. I was struck by how Bentsen Palm Village is so uniquely placed — nature is literally at your doorstep here.
That night, I fell asleep reflecting on the day's winged guests, dreaming of birds I hoped to see tomorrow.