§ Sometimes....

....it's not all about birds and birding. I do take photos of other critters, I just don't post them often. But, today since I have nothing of importance to share, I thought I'd put up some of my "other passions" besided flowers and birds. Ready? Set? Go.......One morning, walking the jetty in Port Aransas, I had to ask the two gentlemen fishermen just what this species of fish was. I had never seen a fish with yellow tail and fins. They gladly informed me it was a "Jack Fish"...Crevalle jack. I guess - once I got home, and researched them, they must be good to eat. Lucky Catch!!!

Here....lizard, lizard, lizard! Actually, it was teasing Isaiah. If the patio door glass wasn't in his way he'd consumed some lizard sushi no doubt. And I'd be cleaning up gato vomito!!

Next up was a drive along the dunes to reach Padre Island National Seashore Federal Park. When I arrived at the park's cotillion and parking lot, several deer were foraging for their morning meal. A couple stopped to watch me watch them!! So much beauty and tranquility early in the morning with these special critters and the nearby sea.

Of course, I'm on the look-out for birds during all this "other photography". At a pond, in search of waterfowl, in nearby Flour Bluff Texas [a suburb of Corpus], a couple of cattle were vying for the rights of territory or perhaps a female closeby? I really don't know. I focused on the two rivals mostly! After minutes of jousting the superiorities they both gave up and went back to grazing like nothing out of the ordinary just ocurred. It was like T-t-t-t-h-at's ALL folks.

...to be continued

§ Over the Rainbow...

On the day I photographed the "new" ship, I also took other pictures as I walked in some of the areas where I stopped. Wild flowers, fisherman, the beautiful stormy cumulus cloud formations and reflections on the lake at Leonabelle Birding Center. The lake was very clear near the observation tower where I could look down from the platform and see fish below the surface...clear as a bell. As I left, I noticed the wild poinsettias in "bloom" and the magnolia tree had the formation of the seed pods after blossoming. I was also hoping for some dolphin activity along the channel, but that was a 'nada'. And, as I thought, no special birds seen except for the usual ones that reside here year 'round, like the brown pelican in front of the ship's bow wake. But there were still beautiful spots to enjoy the morning including a very faint, barely seen full rainbow above the channel.... 

...and to continue showcasing my Trolls...

↓ My 24th and 25th Troll Share ↓

TROLL DOLL COLLECTION Holiday Themed Halloween Frankenstein *2 circa: 70s & 80s

§ Foggy Morning Breakdown....

Be FORWARNED...LOTS OF DISTURBING PHOTOS FOR SOME, FOLLOWS 

 

It was quite an odd morning for me. Eerie and a bit upsetting when I got out of the car to walk on the beach. Let me back up a bit... I had a clear drive...being that I could see the road, but overcast sky! LOL But, when I arrived on the beach, the fog was coming in off the water. Okay...pushing forward to opening the car door. I was hit by the odor of rotting flesh!  My Covid mask came in handy for a whole new use!! Where I parked, the sand was clean. I started walking. Then, the scene unfolded to wildlife disaster! Dead fish everywhere I stepped. They all perished with the cold water from the weather change the week before. That morning, Tuesday, the Gulf water, was still a chilling 53°. That's too cold for many. I walked and eventually the city crews arrived and started a clean-up effort. I left the area and went to another section along the beach by another access road. Still, the same scene.  I ended up walking the Channel Jetty...and there is where I spotted the HEART [above]...painted/or stenciled on the paved walkway!

On my drive to and from the beach, along the shore, in subdivisions and along highways, I saw a lot of distressed palm trees. I'm sure they'll take a while to recover from the cold!!

§ Along the Channel - Beach

...those that arrived before me:

As I posted in my previous post, He is Strong, the day began early for a lot of us. By the time I arrived at the beach, shortly before sunrise, the surfers and sports fishermen were already there. A lot of them! As I drove into the parking lot to begin at the paved walkway along the channel, the sun was peeking over the sand dunes. I enjoy the rising of the sun more than setting. It's a new day, a new beginning...

I'm a sucker for LOVE. This couple walking hand in hand on the warm beach oblivious to that that surrounded them...

...the dune vines/flowers were just beginning to open. With the rainfall aplenty the last couple of weeks, the white morning glory vines were quite abundant - all OVER the dunes! The pink railroad vine was lacking as was the yellow blossoms, but I did find a few. At the entrance to the beach access road, the warning flags were blowing in the wind...red/dangerous rip currents and orange/caution for surfers I believe. I am not really sure.

Once back home, I made a blackberry pie, using my Texas shaped cookie cutter for the top crust [all made from scratch -including the crust]. I only show you this, 'cause the oven is clean...

§ Vitamin SEA Overdose...

source:  Google Quotes

Along the area of beach, Zahn Park Beach, I walked a bit longer after taking photos of the sea turtles. I found a small piece of dried coral. This is known as Northern Star Coral [among other names]. It's habitat is along the western coast of the Atlantic, around the peninsula of Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. This particular piece reminded me of a peanut by its shape. I left it there, even tho there was an urge to pick it up and take it home. That would mean MORE clutter, right? lol

Plenty of fishermen [and women] were waded out, some were along the jetty...




...a few boats went out further into the sea. Fishing...





...I love the early morning along the shore. But oftentimes I think of being lost at sea. Can you imagine the feeling? Nothing can compare to the loneliness one would experience. At least I think so...





"Until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, you will not know the terror of being forever lost at sea."
~Charles Cook