High Wind Warnings...

The other day we had tropical forced winds blowing thru our area. That means very little bird activity which is my main goal for exercising as I do--counting steps and bird photography. Like killing two birds with one stone...sorry. THAT was distasteful of me. But, it was such a bright, clear day, with mild temperatures and low humidity, I still ventured out walking. My first stop was Packery Channel Park [the boardwalk with the oak motte and this time of year a great amount of wildflowers], and then from there walking uphill to the Audubon Sanctuary where I spotted a Crested Caracara [Mexican Eagle] atop a power pole, and then traversing through a residential area where there is one lady that feeds the migrant birds from Spring to Autumn. I've seen many lifers [once in a lifetime sighting] in her yard with her numerous feeding stations! When I arrived at her house, there were two black bellied whistling ducks on her home's roof! What a hoot. You'll see them in the photos below. But, back to my walk in the high winds. As I walked TO, the wind was in my face. Luckily, walking back and around, the wind was at my back. LOL

When I returned to my car, I left this area and drove to the channel's [about 3 miles from the park along the island highway] jetty so I could walk the paved trail along the channel water and eventually arrive at the Gulf on foot. I was expecting a lot of surfing activity because the high winds will create great waves. I was correct. I stopped at the end and then climbed down the sand covered boulders to sit [I couldn't stand very well without being blown over] and watch the parasailers and the windsurfers for some time, trying also to capture some of the curls of the waves. That'll be my next blog post....