We have had a really cold winter at Casa del Rio Riverhouse. With the leaves off the trees you can see the hills beyond and watch the animals scurrying around. The birds are beginning to sing their spring song and the sound is exciting. There are many birds in the area, and a naturalist staying here saw these species of birds:

Ash throated Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Lark Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, Summer Tanager, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren, Greater Roadrunner, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Yellow Throated Warbler, Black and White Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Gray-headed Vireo (Solitary Vireo) Turkey Vulture & Black Vulture, Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Green Kingfisher, Northern Oriole, Rough-winged swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin, Chimney Swift, Purple Martin, Painted Bunting, Bewick’s Wren, Golden-fronted Woodpecker & Great-horned Owl. WOW!

This is a place of great importance to bird watchers. The river is singing its song also rushing over the rocks and winding through the land. The bass, catfish, sunfish and others can be seen through the clear water. Fishing and Fly fishing is a fun activity as well as canoeing up to Angel Falls. Spring will soon be here and a marvelous transformation occurs when the trees begin To get their leaves. The hills disappear into the background, and the cool Guadalupe Water invites tubing and swimming.

Each season has its beauty, and the tranquil life here sooths the soul.

-Betty Matteson