Southwest Highways Texas Outdoors & Farm November 2012 | Page 17

With a side of good ol' french fries. The rest of the menu looked delicious as well; a crab burger, lots of Seafood, and a good selection of sandwiches. Fin's has a full bar as well. Full and satisfied, I decide to go look for birds at the many nature preserves on the island. The Birding Center is located at the Back of the local water treatment plant, and has a boardwalk over a wetland area. This place is appropriately named, since I see gorgeous Roseate Spoonbills, a Least Bittern, a Fulvous Whistling duck, and a Northern Harrier gliding overhead hunting for food. The island's other preserves include Charley's Pasture, a vast tract of land with trails and boardwalks wandering through the mudflats and grasslands filled with birds (and tarantulas, I soon find out). Paradise Pond (behind a Taqueria) is a heavily wooded seasonal pond filled Birding Center with warblers and dozens of other birds migrating in the spring. After birding, I stop at the Taqueria San Juan for chips & salsa, and a glass of cold lemonade. I'm not normally a fan of lemonade, but Fulvous theirs is really good! Whistling Duck Roseate Spoonbills Texas Outdoors & Farm Magazine November 2012 16