Channel and Beach Scenes

I started my morning driving to Packery Channel to walk the boardwalks and inspect the small Audubon Sanctuary for my first steps. As I vacated the car after grabbing my camera off the seat, and pocketing my cellphone at the parking lot, this sweet thing greeted me with his shrill call and headed in the direction of his mate. They both, then, made a 50 yard dash to the edge of the park road and disappeared into the tall grass. I ventured up on the boardwalk and saw no other birds,  so I watched the sky....

At the Audubon Sanctuary Pond, the water level was very low and seen was only one bird, wading, and that was a snowy egret. It flew off in the direction of the sunlight so, no real good photo op. I retraced my steps and walked along Sand Dollar Road to a wide open oasis feeding station for migrant birds [a woman who owns the property has humming bird feeders year 'round and seed platforms for her winter, summer, spring and fall visitors]. On this morning, one dove and a handful of hummingbirds. Back to the road again, heading to the channel. I had plans of walking along the shore and going in the back areas to find what I could find. When I got there, there was NO SHORE to walk. High water....I walked through the tall grass to get farther back in the open land....I shoulda known better [ticks LOVE the tall grasses, and I later found one on me crawling up my leg once back home!!!]. By the time I reached the shore after walking the grassy knoll, the water was still TOO high up the banks. I left again after seeing a heron, a plover, a willet, a migrant flycatcher, and several seagulls. AND wildflowers....

Before leaving to drive to the beach, back at the car, I spotted a lone osprey on a street light. I walked near, and took some photos just before it flew away. In a tall palm tree behind me a grackle was making a ruckus and feeding on the tree's seed...

Back in the driver's seat, I turned the car to go to Bob Hall Pier [I wasn't sure I really wanted to go to that particular spot 'cause there was a drowning just the day before, the swimmer was caught in a rip tide current and died on the way to the hospital]....but I was on the island, didn't have but half my 10,000 steps tallied. It was a beautiful morning! Many people were out and about taking in the sunshine and enjoying the surf. People with children, walking their dogs, leisurely hunting shells, watching birds, and walking/jogging, and camping.

With me, I carry a large knife at all times. I've only had to use it a couple of times...not for protection [its purpose], but to cut birds free from fishing line when they get tangled up in it and can't free themselves. I spotted an oystercatcher that had line wrapped around both feet. It was trying to get out of the tangle, but was unsuccessful. I tried walking up to cut it free, but it flew away. I felt bad, knowing that eventually it will lose both feet and part of one leg. My knife remained in my pocket. I took pictures of the bad situation and will share sometime on my bird photo blog. Here are the last of my photo shares of the morning along the beach ...

....nearing the pier to leave for home, I watched a young gentleman with his dog. It happens to be one of my favorite breeds. So I stood and watched them play fetch. He'd throw the large stick into the surf, the dog was eager to retrieve ....and the ritual would repeat. The guy greeted me with a "good morning"....and I said "Hello...beautiful dog!" He then told me the story of their morning together, two lost racquet balls disappearing in the Gulf water, some other sticks lost, and all the while the two of us talked,  the wonderful fur baby waited patiently for attention and more play. Oh ya, the dog's name is Toodle.