White Shifting Sands...

After I left the turtle hatchlings [link] at Malaquite Beach on North Padre Island, I took the 'back' road from the parking lot. With a sole purpose of birding. Some time ago, when Bud and I drove the area I took, we saw Bobwhite Quail. So, naturally, I take that exit instead of the parking lot exit. lol Well, in the golden light of the early morning, I didn't spot any quail - BUT...I saw two white tail deer. They looked young...one had new antlers in velvet. Naturally, they no doubt spotted my car long before I saw them. They were grazing on all the green grasses! And it IS green. Usually, by mid-July the dunes and surrounding area are parched and drying...

After stopping to photograph the pair, I headed out of the federal park land with a short detour onto another park road that traverses through the dunes to another beach access. Again, looking for birds. No special sightings; year 'round residents, gulls and pelicans. Railroad vine and sea oats dotted the landscape...

...one last pit stop back on the park highway, a duck pond with a duck blind. Looking out the peep holes, some of the turtle watchers were leaving and the white sand along the dunes lit up the backdrop...