Falcon State Park, 12/26 - 27/17

56. We stayed in Air-Conditioned Shelter #23 because of other travel considerations and it worked out nicely.  The Air-Conditioned Shelters are big enough for 2 very sturdy, wooden bunk beds, a large aluminum table, 3 windows, 2 outlets and the air-conditioner, which also heated very well.  Unfortunately, the weather did NOT cooperate with us - the morning of the 27th we awoke to 42 degrees and drizzle.  The birds (who were the main attraction) had hunkered down and the trails were muddy, so we decided to leave that morning (we'd originally planned to leave on the 28th). The park staff were super nice and even refunded our money, which we weren't expecting at all! 
A note for future shelter use: bring the biggest (widest) twin mattress you can find (park doesn't provide mattresses or bedding), bring extension cords so you can reach your phone while it's charging, and bring a small table on which to set things that are plugged in 4 feet above your head!  :)

Inside the shelter.

Shelter 23.

Crested Caracara.

Osprey with dinner.

Falcon is near Zapata and Roma.  Zapata is a county seat; its new courthouse is built to look old and gorgeous (most newer courthouses are modern-looking).  Zapata has grocery stores, restaurants, antiques and other places of interest.  

Roma is closer, but is much smaller with fewer amenities.  However, Roma does have it's own World Birding Center and between Roma and Falcon are at least 2 more renowned birding sites.  Roma's old part of town is lovely, but not well cared-for.