Resaca de la Palma

This way off the “New Carmen” back avenue to Resaca de la Palma World Birding Center: http://www.theworldbirdingcenter.com/Resaca.html

“Long before humans recorded its work, the Rio Grande was shaping Resaca de la Palma. Abandoned coils of river bed, known locally as resacas, create wildlife-attracting ponds here when full. Along the natural levees of these shallow ponds are dense stands of banco woodlands and marsh vegetation. Elsewhere, drier Tamaulipan thorn woodlands include classic mesquite and anacahuita.”

Strange bean pod tree. I believe it’s Mexican Ebony -- Pithecellobium flexicaule (mexicanum). However, someone who identifies trees for a living would be better able to verify or provide the next best alternative name.

Miles away from the Birding Center, here’s the National Park Service entrance sign for the Resaca de la Palma Battlefield. At 4:40 on a Saturday afternoon, the front gate was closed but we checked out the grounds on foot. There was no one else there besides numerous salamanders, lizards, birds, foliage and possibly swirling spirits of the dead in eerie bushes of the ghosts.

The Battle of Resaca de la Palma entailed fierce fighting on May 9, 1846, a mere day after the Battle of Palo Alto.  Between the Mexican and American soldiers battling it out at close range, more than 200 men were killed.

High chaparral, scene of hand-to-hand brutality here at Resaca de la Palma and also the name of a pretty cool Western series that first aired from 1967 to 1971.

Today's Rune: Partnership.