Hankeu, James 1975 Journal Mexico trip - Rio Grande Valley State Park -> Brownsville 28 April Had a rough time sleeping because of the 1000 hrs warm temps. + mosquitoes. Woke at dawn to a loud chorus of birds and investigated. Several boat-tailed grackles, chaclacacas, golden-fronted woodpeckers, & ladder-backed woodpeckers were present. After showering in the park we drove out, at the same time seeing lightman's orioles, Scott's oriole (seen only yellow throat) crystal covets in flight, white-fronted doves, blue doves, and a crowned caribid. A Sigmodon hispidus was found as seen active in an opened area alongside the road near a campsite. Continuing on to the town of Mission for breakfast we first stopped to release photograph and return the tortoise found yesterday and found one large (> 4') Pituophis melanoleucus alive on Hwy 83, 2.8 mi. W of Mission, on the Edge of Palacios 1400 hrs After breakfast we continued E on US 83 towards Brownsville. We stopped at Besace del Rancho Viejo, a small stream crossing US 53 2.3 mi. W of the junction with farm road 802 just E of Brownsville, Hidalgo Co. Texas. The setting was somewhat similar to the canal area visited yesterday