Okay, to continue what I started in my previous post. After sharing the beautiful sunrise, and the fog dying off as the sun dried the air, I began driving again to get to my destination target...birding refuges. I watched all the bird activity a while at one area, then went to a 2nd one.
Leonabelle Refuge
Paradise Pond
After that, I ended up at Port A's community park and began walking along the paved pathway that leads to the ship channel [no, NOT the jetty] and among the the pasture land. Behind the ball park, there is a pond which you see here in the photo. There is a covered observation deck and bench to sit and watch the water fowl. Since it's been so dry and lacking any significant rainfall the past month, I decided to venture off the winding paved trail and head onto the natural path. THIS particular path leads through the pasture and ends up at the mudflats. It's a vast area. In normal, seasonal, rain accumulation, the mudflats are filled with collected precipitation...forming a large shallow lake [not the photo]. The lake, attracts wildlife who love to congregate in or near the mudflats. What I was hoping to find, didn't come true. NO larks at all, only one Golden Plover and many, many killdeer [which are closely related to plovers]. Now, I mentioned that my step count was very low...only 2 1/2 miles total [round trip] Why? The mudflats [about 4-5 miles radius at this point], tho dry, was VERY soft! I sank with each footfall. Eventually it became a pain, literally, for my lower back. About three fourths into my return to the park's path, I had to stop and massage my back so I could continue.
Being that that is said and done, as I walked, I also saw many many animal tracks. Even bobcat tracks. Thank goodness there were no serpentine trails in the dried up mud! Well, then again, if there WERE snake ruts, I probably wouldn't be having back spasms. I certainly woulda returned back to the car a LOT sooner. lol
Now you have the story. Here is a look at all that's left: a look 'behind the scenes'....
An old fence line?
Where there WERE water puddles, the killdeer were aplenty! Everywhere you looked.
Top two prints -Javelina
Bottom two prints - Raccoon [left] and Killdeer [right]
Bobcat
Back at the car, I headed home, stopping at The Willows about the half-way mark. Willow trees hide a small oasis for migrant and local birds, while the Mexican Palm Trees line the street.
Hi Anni great post ,i enjoyed your pics thankyou for sharing xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheryl....glad you stopped by.
DeleteI do love mudflats and swamps, a couple of these are like a swamp. the animal prints are fascinating.. looks like a beautiful day for walking, I understand the soft walk making back ache. my back is fine if I am striding swiftly along, but walking in wet grass or mud would make me turn back also.
ReplyDeleteMost don't like pavement when walking, but for me, I'd prefer walking on a hard surface compared to what this was like that day! Very strenuous on the lower back.
DeleteMe'thinks you are very brave, to walk alone, in all these remote places. Even ones where you see bobcat tracks!
ReplyDelete🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
I really have enjoyed the solitude of hikng/walking alone.
DeleteThose are some impressive paw prints. I enjoyed trying to figure them out, unsuccessfully I might say. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was surprised not seeing deer tracks. At least the section I walked
DeleteYou'll have to share if that was an old fence line. Your photos as always brighten my day and those two cardinals appear to be ready to duke it out! Their expressions are priceless! Nope that's my peanut you may not have it! Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the only logical explanation is fencing. It's a historic pasture.
DeleteImpressed with your tracking knowledge. I was guessing and mostly wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda easy when you know the wildlife in the area.
DeleteWhat a story! First, isn't it dangerous to follow Bobcat tracks? I seem to remember a news story where one attacked a child. Maybe you did not get the usual amount of steps, but it was likely even more exercise since you had to use your muscles so much. I bet you were sore the next day! I used to know what a Javelina is, but have forgotten...some kind of wild pig i think. Maybe only in Texas. Your posts are like reading a great adventure book!
ReplyDeleteI never heard the "legend/bobcat tracks". But I do now!! I keep my eye open...and carry a weapon. Yes. And actually a javelina CAN be just as vicious as a bobcat.
DeleteI am sorry you didn't see more, but oh, I did enjoy the photos. It would be nice to have so many places to go to.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great area to live.
DeleteA hiker and a tracker who is also a birder and photographer. Was it you who removed the sign on the palm tree trunk? You forgot the nail. Glad that you had a good day all in all, even if your back wasn't happy.
ReplyDeleteNothing gets past you. No one else mentioned the nail!
DeleteFirst thing I noticed was the crisp photos and the narrow black frame. This really makes the pictures look fantastic, in my opinion. Lovely scenes. Oh, that sounds hard to walk in a soft area like that.
ReplyDeleteGlad you mentioned the black border...I was testing it out for my blog in the new year
DeleteI wouldn't be able to identify any of those tracks. I'm pretty sure thought that if I was out there and knew that was a bobcat track I would be hightailing it out of there.
ReplyDeleteThey were going the opposite direction. Lol. (Not to say they coulda circled around & watching BEHIND me.)
DeleteI believe the terms I heard for mudflats would be...marsh and or a bog.
ReplyDeleteBut I love sound when walking though it.
mudflats is really just flat land that collects water from heavy rain, or some areas tidal waters (depending on how near the sea) Otherwise, dry & flat.
Delete12/08/2019
I like your print photos. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteI like walking on a hard surface better too.
Much easier ... at least for the lower back.
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