Other than taking the opportunity to be 'playing in the water' on such a sunny day, Bud and I washed the car I drive, together....oops! Sorry Bud, I didn't mean to squirt you with the hose! The car really needed to be cleaned...bugs from driving the island highway and the salty sea air plays havoc with my tinted windows...they're already dark, and the salt makes it kinda dangerous driving around sunrise. Got that done. A much needed job of work.
BEFORE we washed the car, I drove to Mustang Island and decided to just walk and do some people watching....the birds are noted to be arriving for their Fall Migration [the early birds], but I haven't seen much of the new arrivals yet. Of course, I haven't been looking for them much either. Besides, along the boat channel [Packery Channel, not the Ship Channel at Port Aransas], the most frequent birds seen are brown pelicans, egrets, and terns. Once I get to the beach area, the sea gulls take over. On the beaches, we are privileged to have police and border patrol, PLUS in specific areas, Park Rangers, patrolling the sands...
...from the little village of Padre Island [don't confuse this with SOUTH Padre Island in Brownsville, Texas], just over JFK Causeway, you are nearly entering Mustang Island....and it covers a LOT of land area. Most of it is considered Mustang Island State Park. Well, if you happened to stop by my Bird Photo Blog this week, you know then that I FINALLY SPOTTED a rare falcon that I have searched for for nearly 12 years. I spotted a Juvenile perched on one of the many power lines along the highway. I was elated!! The very next morning I went back to the same area, and lo and behold I saw and ADULT falcon of the same species!! Well, the day I did some people watching, once I got back in the car I decided to drive the short distance to see if they were still there...I SAW FIVE!!! Three Juveniles and the two parents [adults]. If it wouldn't have been so darned hot, I coulda watched them for hours...the adults were teaching their young to hunt.
Here are the three [banded ID'd] juveniles. Look closely...this photo was taken from the highway - about 1500 yards or more away from the car window. I zoomed in on them once I was able to get out of the car...
Aplomado Falcons
Being Re-Introduced after near extinction [mainly 'cause of pesticides and habitat loss]
I need to get out and wash my car. It's looking pretty dirty.
ReplyDeleteExciting spotting those falcons. I popped over to the other blog to have a look.
Go visit Sandra...she has places you can get a FREE car wash! lol
Deletemy favorite photo today is the sunflowers because I love yellow flowers, but the thing is, your photos of yellow flowers make mine look pitiful.. I got my car washed in a thunderstorm last week, beat the dirt right off. I enjoyed the beach trip, all of it... the falcons are amazing. and pelicans are my favorite bird..
ReplyDeleteWishin' I had one of those car washes!
DeleteYou are so lucky to have such fine walking areas near you. What wonderful pictures of nature's finest examples. Thanks for the Falcon. I love watching the live cams of eagles close to where I lived in North Fort Myers.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to travel for miles to see eagles!
DeleteWonderful pictures of those falcons, but I was enchanted with the closeup of the pelican. Look at that eye! We are less than a week to the halfway point to the equinox, so the excessive heat won't be lasting too much longer (I hope). :-)
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we ALL get a break from this inferno.
DeleteI like people watching ...
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Especially when they wear boob tubes in this heat? lol
DeleteIt's so hot now that boob tubes have gone on a sit down strike! They make nice belts!!!
DeleteGod bless you.
You have me rolling!
DeleteI'm glad you finally captured the falcons! My Mister wonders what kind of fish the fellow caught. Do you know? My favorite photo of this series is the one with the interesting fence and the blocks with grooves - #6. It caught my eye. Angles, shapes = nice!
ReplyDeleteThose are cut boulders and fencing along the jetty.
DeleteHello, love the falcons and pelican. Reminder, I need to wash my car. The sunflowers are beautiful. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eileen.
DeleteI haven’t been to Mustang Island in years and years! That’s a placeLouis Dean and I could go! We are having a big vacation - a cruise and then a road trip back home in September. This may be our last big vacation but I do love the Texas coast and it will be fun to revisit it! One time Louis Dean and his Ellen lived in Dilly, Texas. They were school teachers and drove to Corpus Christi for an educational workshop. They were all excited about eating seafood and guess where they ended up? Red Lobster! He still laughs when he tells that story! Of all the places you can go......well, it was good, he said!
ReplyDeleteI know how you are anxious about your cruise!!
DeleteFabulous shot of the juvenile falcons, and also of people enjoying the beach. You must have been super sneaky! I love your pelican shots!!!
ReplyDeleteI try to get photos when they're not looking. lol
DeleteForgot to say the sunflowers are gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ginny.
DeleteFSCINATING PHOTOS AND COMMENTARY.YOU GET TO EXPLORE SUCH FUN PLACES.
ReplyDeleteI love getting out & about! Thanks.
DeleteGreat photographs, but the sunflower was extra special.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thanks Jan
DeleteSo cool to see a whole family of falcons! And I love, love, love your sunflower pic!
ReplyDeleteIt was exciting!
DeleteSure hope you liked your walk
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
I always do.
DeleteTwo years ago, we had a Juvenile Coopers Hawk hit the window in back of my chair. Luckily, there was a window air conditioner in the window at the time and the young Hawk, shook off the hit, and sat there for the longest time. I took many pictures and after about an hour or so, the Hawk flew off. I was so happy that it wasn't injured. I had the Fish & Wildlife Office phone number all set to call if the bird did not recover. But it did! And I got an amazing view of it, and a wonderful story to tell. You can read about it here: https://www.dackelprincess.com/?p=5226
ReplyDeleteOn my way!
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