§ Goose Island on a Sunday Walk in the Rain...

This past Sunday I drove through Portland, to Rockport, Texas and over Copano Bay then, turned off at Lamar, Texas. The nearly 50 mile drive was through a foggy stretch and misty rainfall. I then, drove through an oak tree covered park road to the shoreline road in hopes of seeing some of the Whooping Cranes that winter here each season. Through the busy windshield wiper blades, I spotted two cranes feeding in an adjacent field. Too bad it was quite a dark, and gloomy, morning...they were in the open field, but my vision was marred with wet windows; unable to get good, bright, colorful pictures of those gentle giants [largest land bird in America]. I rolled down my window as I slowly came to a halt in the middle of the road, snapping the shutter button on my camera. Cattle were grazing, egrets were following the cattle, and a few northern shovelers [ducks] were feeding on a small pond surrounded by cattail reeds, I drove around the circle and then came to the "Big Tree" [this tree is most likely pointed out on any map of the area, it's famous for its longevity; hundreds of years surviving many devastating hurricanes - - it's still standing]. I made a U-turn and returned to the shoreline road, back to the cranes and stopped, exited the car after pulling off the road, and took more photos. I figured this is probably the last opportunity for me seeing them before they all head up north to their breeding grounds in North America and Canada this season.

The rain had nearly stopped by then, and I got back in the car to enter the state park, Goose Island State Park. I paid my entrance fee, and drove the park roads that meander through the camp grounds and up to the fishing pier. Well, by the time I got to the area where the pier should've been, I then found out that the pier, highly damaged from Hurricane Harvey in 2017, has not been repaired or replaced....the road was cordoned off and no unauthorized vehicles or pedestrians allowed. Bummer....there are usually Loons out in the bay. Maybe next year. Okay...so another U-turn and back through the camp grounds where I pulled in to park at the trail head for the nature trail. The last time I was at the State Park, this trail was closed...also from heavy damage.

I got out and headed to the beginning of the trail. The pathway was open...but the farther I got into the area that once was dense oak tree canopy- the path of destruction was unbelievably stark...and sad. To see all the downed trees and work that has been done to clear it all out over the last 18 months or so, was really disheartening. It will take decades for any regrowth to become as it was prior to the storm. When the wind blew through the area as I hiked around, the oak trees sprinkled me with leftover rain accumulated on the evergreen leaves. [Live Oak does NOT have a dormant winter period; unlike other oak trees].   I continued. I had plans of walking the entire way and coming out at another area, to walk back along the park roads, back to the car. That came to a screeching halt!!! My way out was under water!! Like I said many times in the past several months, South Texas has had rain and more rain since last September...where we broke records of total accumulation. And the ground is completely saturated. When it rains now, lakes and ponds form in the lowlands immediately!!

That's my introduction for my day tripping over Sunday morning. Now, I'll share photos:

Uprooted trees and damaged limbs were evident throughout the trails...





Water was everywhere ...





...but there was beauty in the silence of it all. If only for a fleeting moment!!




Oh oh....water and flooded trail!! And just about at the end of the path too. Nothing more to do that turn around; make yet another U-turn, and go back the way I came. This is the month that wood ticks come out in the grasses and trees. And they're hungry for blood. I was playing it safe; staying out of the high grass!!!

Note: More, better photos of the Whooping Cranes will be shared at my bird photo blog, I'd Rather B Birdin', on Saturday

§ Art of Connection...

Traveling to find the wintering Whooping Cranes at Goose Island, I stopped at a few other sites.  I posted a partial photo album in my previous post - - And this is the continuation of my hunt for the wintering birds....



LINDA CASTRO BIRDING SANCTUARY


ALONG THE BAY on Goose Island Park Road


A massive bull in the field and boardwalk along Tule Lake East


A hidden stone marked for Valentine's day "HIS" and a Snowy Egret

The 'hidden rocks' campaign is to promote random acts of kindness - "The ART of CONNECTION" This is the 2nd one I've found while out on my birding treks. Kinda fun, and I'm seriously thinking of joining in on this fun way of spreading kindness to those that would appreciate a smile and good thought toward them!!!

Along the shore of Copano Bay on the park road, I spied a few -five- of my targeted bird!! [more photos will be shared next Saturday on my bird blog]. Behind the cranes and the road sign is the bay...not visible 'cause of the fog!!!

§ Goose Island

Bud and I took a drive early one morning this past week to Copano Bay, Rockport-Fulton, and Goose Island. After crossing the causeway bridge over the bay waters, we turned off the state highway and entered Goose Island State Park area. We had an ulterior motive for this trip. Soon, the wintering whooping cranes and sandhill cranes will be leaving for the northern parts of the country [and into Canada] for breeding. We wanted to see 'em one more time for this season of those that spend their winter days here in this area. Altho we saw only three whooping cranes [two adults and one juvenile/1st year], there were several sandhill cranes, vultures, roseate spoonbills, ducks, ibis, herons, grackles and a few sparrows about. The whooping cranes were at such a distance away from the park road that photos were nearly impossible to get any clarity. Several head of cattle roamed the fields, with young calves close by their mamas. The turkey vultures always seem to follow the herd. But the cows didn't even take notice. The sandhill cranes, on the other hand, were a bit closer to the road at the curve that heads toward the "big tree". Parking at the tree, I walked back to the fence line along the road and took a photo of a couple of sandhill cranes and headed back to the tree to take a break from the warm sun, sitting in the shade of the mighty oaks! The area within the park and outside the boundaries are, in parts, the bay waters, the state park, a cemetery, an historic chapel, fishing piers and boat ramps, along with some residential sections, and beautiful twisting park roads all dappled in sunlight and shadow from the canopy of the many, many oak trees. While driving, slow down!!! For many-a-times I've had white tailed deer jump out of the tree cover in an unsuspecting instant!! Open your windows as you drive thru ... bird song and flashes of red from the abundance of cardinals flitting from tree to tree are very numerous. Now, the "Big Tree" area --- this Live Oak Tree is a 'hotspot' for tourists and residents alike...it's a small fenced off, shady area and a relief on a hot, hot, sultry day.


90 foot canopy
35+ foot circumference
height 45 feet
Approximated at up to 2000 years old
One of the most famous trees in the world!
After some picture taking we walked the park road with camera at the ready...A nice sized flock of white faced ibis came into view over the bay waters [enlarge the photo by clicking on it, and you can see the ibis in the sky above the water!]. As they neared where we were, I took a photo of them directly above us. They landed in the field, near the pond and cattail reeds where the cranes and cattle were feeding.

Luckily, as the morning wore on to where it was time to leave the park to head to a couple more birding areas in the Rockport-Fulton area, a lone whooping crane bid us adieu 'til November when they return to Lamar Texas for the winter months. Perhaps they'll bring some offspring!!

§ A Walk in the Woods...

Lately, Bud and I haven't been home much.  The weather has greatly improved and we...well...The two of us were anxious to get back outdoors, hiking the trails and doing some birding! We drove to Rockport-Fulton Texas one day, over the Copano Bay, and onto Goose Island State Park in hopes that the largest land bird, the whooping cranes, would be out in that area. Along the north bay shore, there were TWO spotted. At such a far distance, the photos aren't that good, but they'll have to suffice for my 2016 year records. With the two whooping cranes, there were a few Sandhill Cranes and one lone great blue heron in the field. Of course, where there are cattle grazing, you're bound to see a few vultures too. Black vultures soaring high above the cranes and cattle. Where the car was parked, on the shoulder of the park road, several grackles were scrounging the grasses between the road and the bay water.

Great Blue Heron in the open field

After taking several photos of the cranes.... we hopped back in the car and drove to the state park entrance to walk the Lantana Trailhead through the massive Live Oak trees. Very few birds were active, we saw mockingbirds, cardinals, gnatcathers, sparrows, one very large hawk flew from one area, startling me...and disappeared in the branches to not be seen again...perhaps it was an owl. I'm not sure. We found a couple of glossy leafed magnolia trees among the oak and one lone pine. We both had hoped to see some white-tailed deer while in the woods or out in the open meadows...but no luck. On the return trek, to the car, I spotted a couple of cute black crested titmice/titmouses [plural is NOT tit-mice according to my guide books -BUT the wikidictionary shows this: NOUN titmouse ‎(plural titmouses or titmice)]

Come take a walk with me through the woods:


Black Crested Titmouse

§ Duck, Duck Goose...as in Goose Island

Yep, for real...Goose Island State Park. The park is for RV'ing, Birding, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and beautiful all around. There are homes that will dazzle the eyeballs, there are scenic views that will take your breath away, there are historical cemeteries/churches, and remarkable LIVE OAK trees so majestic you'll be speechless coming upon their size, stature, and stories told about surviving devastating hurricane force winds!! Oh, and one more thing...this area is also the winter home [and areas much farther north along the coast] for the nation's tallest bird in America!! The Whooping Crane, which I'll share photos Saturday at I'd Rather B Birdin', migrates from their summer habitat to grace our lives with their residence here on the coast. From mid Autumn they arrive and remain here until March when they once again make their trek north to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. Bud and I made sure we went to the island before they leave us until next year. We thought we'd best go since the weather was perfect. Warm, sunny, and NO RAIN...

We drive from Corpus Christi through Rockport, Texas. About an hour's time if lucky to travel without road work delays. After leaving the small picturesque fishing village of Rockport, we cross the vast bridge over Copano Bay. For several years now, the old bridge is being replaced with a new, state of the art, bridge as you can see here. The photo was taken from the fishing pier in the state park, looking toward the unfinished bridge; under construction. And look closely, the dark boat in the center- I zoomed in on it as seen in the photos below...

All images have mouse-over captioning!!

Once you leave the highway and turn off to enter the park road, you could easily be enthralled by the gravity of the wooded forest you drive UNDER...by that I mean the oak trees that are canopied across the blacktopped route with the overhanging branches; dappling the lane in shade and sunlight. White Tailed Deer can be seen crossing the road in front of your car. The rich, vivid red of the Northern Cardinals can be seen as they fly from one tree to the other. I lack in descriptive words of the beauty and silence within this area. The historical value of this island is a town that once was. Reputed as a ghost town, but so many homes here, I can't fathom a 'ghost town'...it's Lamar, Texas. Here, on the island you can find an historical cemetery and a small antiquated chapel. Often, along the roadway, signs direct you to "The Big Tree" [reportedly one of the most famous trees in the world].  I posted photos of the tree and its historical markers HERE.   Arriving at the tree and the educational signage, take a short walk to the shore. On the right, there is a rather small ranchland with a pond filled with cattail.  Cattle graze the pasture. This is the area that the winter whooping cranes reside!! On one side, the grasses for livestock. On the other side the glistening bay's inlet. Perhaps you could be lucky enough to hear the common loons call from near the islands in the far distance, or the whooping cranes as they announce their upcoming arrival.   Their size can't be ignored. Adults reaching 5 feet - 1.524 meters in height! And the cinnamon tones of the juvenile cranes cannot be mistaken.


After photographing the cranes and other shore birds seen in the area, Bud and I drove to the park's entrance and got out of the car and walked the long, winding fishing pier to the end.  We watched the angler's trying their luck [or expertise] from the wooded walkway. We marveled at the diamondesque sparkle on the water, watched the birds in flight and along the oysterbeds. From far off, the shrimp boats and private small craft filled with more fishermen having a leisurely morning. Eventually, we left this area and drove to Lantana Loop Trail and walked among the oak trees in the wooded forest. I'll keep the photos small in size to help the page load faster, but they can be enlarged by clicking on them for the lightbox slideshow...


Views from the Whooping Crane area and Park's Fishing pier---



In the park: Lantana Loop hiking trail---



...and to round off my post a bit of fencery and more 'wild' life found on Mustang Island [15 minutes from home]

Yellow Rumped Warbler [Myrtle Warbler]

Orange Honeysuckle on Adobe Wall