§ MIDWAY in the Week, and MIDWAY...

First, before I begin for my day trippin' stuff, I want to mention that Bud and I went to the 1st showing of the movie, MIDWAY, on its opening day, Friday.  I can't say enough about it...in my opinion it was an extraordinary movie.  90-99% accurate in historical value, acting was exceptional...and effects were awesome.  Why the first 2 minutes of the movie had me hooked.  Wow...the aircraft carrier coming right towards me!!  Okay...movie review done, now I move on....Another morning, just before a strong cold front moved in, the fog in the air was patchy. Here and there dense fog; while other areas along my drive it was trying to show a bit of early morning sunlight. I was driving over the harbor bridge to Indian Point Park in hopes of seeing some migrant ducks [buffleheads and mergansers mainly]. In the east the sun was breaking above the horizon and the misty air gave the sky a mixture of muted colors along the bay and tidal pools....

Arriving at the parking lot, the pier was silhouetted by the calm sea; the stillness of the hour set up the tranquil scene...

Along the shore herons, cormorants, pelicans and gulls were resting on the rocky outcroppings, while a couple of turnstones were in search of breakfast. Early arriving fishermen were gearing up to head out on the pier and hope for catching a flounder or two. Maybe sea bass. As I was viewing the city-scape on the shore across the bay, the fog laid among the high rises and the harbor bridge was only faintly visible...

As I was looking toward town, from my peripheral vision, off my left shoulder, I saw a darker area on the top of the water, with a bit of movement!! As I turned my head, I could see the rippled remains of something that had dived below the surface. I stood and waited for whatever it was [I had an idea of WHAT] to come up for air. After what seemed an eternity, it made itself visible again. Yes!! It was a loon. And it had a large catch in its mouth. This instigated a walk on the pier for me. I wanted to get a clear photo of the migrant bird. [by the way, I LOVE their calling]. As I took steps, I'd stop to watch the bird. Then, it dived underwater again....its common ritual/habits. As I inched my way, it'd resurface and dive again. I did get some photos. But, not good ones...the weather wasn't cooperating, not enough light OR color; even tho the bird is mostly black and white, the bay was gray and the sky was grayer!! LOL When I finally decided enough is enough, I started walking back to the car and a heron landed on one of the pier's lights....

Nearing the end of the pier walkway, along the shoreline breaker, I notice again, some movement. This time on the rocks! I played a bit with my Paintshop Pro software on the two photos I snapped and put them into ONE image:

Can you "spot" it?
...if not, look HERE

To get my step count up, I left the car at Indian Point and walked the park road to the trail that takes me to Sunset Lakes. This is a co-owned area...Indian Point is Corpus Christi, while Sunset Lakes is maintained by Portland Texas Parks. It's only about a 2-3 mile walk round trip. I walked the trail and returned to the car to call it a morning and head home. But, I did take a few photos along the trail. And I ended up playing with THOSE photos with PSP pro too. I used the soften tab on the original [the original is in the insets] and then framed them...

Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!  Today, 244 years in the making!!  Oooorah.

§ All in a Morning Walk...

On the beach one morning, the people [at least some] are staking their claims for the last holiday of the summer....Labor Day Weekend...here are campers that more than likely will stay for the duration...

...then, there are perverts!!
(I'm not sure I liked how that guy was watching those women!)




...and fishermen on the pier

...walking along the shore, I spotted some more brown pelicans. The moon was still up in the west as the sun made its appearance. I shot these three photos...

...It was getting to be mid morning, and I was looking for some relief from the hot sun. Finding it under the pier in the shade with a cool breeze coming in off the water...

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One more little ditty before I close this blog. If you're a frequent visitor here, you know I like to find heart shapes in the strange places. Well, one was an obvious drawing in the sand. While the other was the very same morning I drove to this beach and pier. While driving on the freeway to North Padre Island, the sun was behind a HUGE cloud formation. When I could safely glance toward the cloud, I noticed a distinct shape forming...or at least I thought it was. After a couple miles down the road, before getting to the bay crossing, sure 'nough, it DID form a window into my heart....

I had to get photos along my drive...I know, I know...distracted driver!!!! But, I couldn't resist, I pulled off onto the shoulder, traffic and all, and snapped, drove a few yards more as the cloud continued to form different shapes, pulled off and snapped one more time...

...see the heart below, in the cloud?

§ Hash Tag? Or Pound Symbol?

I've often said that too many people follow those in the profession of acting. Especially those that are politically inclined to follow those said actors/entertainers that work hours in the year portraying fictional characters and living from day to day in a fantasy world!! Well...I rest my case, I was sent this & had to laugh---

95% of Hollywood and liberals are ignorant--as an example...

...when you realize most adults in the world still read the symbol "#" as "pound"...  and they named the women's movement against sexual harassment #METOO.

Oh the irony and ignorance!

Clipart courtesy of Google Images


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Corpus Christi has the distinction of being called "The Sparkling City by the Bay" And as I was walking along the shore near Bob Hall Pier the other morning, I came across this bird that seems to be saying...Poop on it!! The sign in smaller text above the marker number says to "keep it sparkling". Ha!! "Take that Corpus"!!!

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Bob Hall Pier- - -





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It's been quite hot here by midday [in the low 90s], so I rarely get my targeted goal of step count before I force myself to turn around and head back to the car. I turn on the A/C first thing and leave the area only to drive to another spot in town after cooling off in the car. This particular day I stopped at Lakeview Park. And while walking around the lake the geese [attraction for the little kids to feed] were coming my way....They were honking the tune "Here we come...walkin' down the street, gettin' the funniest looks from...everyone we meet" as they crossed the bridge...Funny thing is....you woulda laughed if you saw me step aside as I gave them the right away. I've been bitten too many times by geese when it's breeding season....besides, I wanted to get photos of the promenade!!!

§ Silhouette on Sunday....

I missed out! Bummer!! George Strait, who is a Country's top recording artist [and a part time resident of Rockport Texas where Hurricane Harvey made landfall last month], paid a visit to Rockport this Thursday. Bud and I had other plans, but only if I had known beforehand, I may have got his autograph and perhaps a life time opportunity to get a photo standing by him. Oh well.  Needless to say, all morning I've been humming one of my favorite George Strait songs...Amarillo by Morning.

I just liked this 'cause of the "mushroom-form" cloud seen above my watermark signature

Then, another day, another view of the morning cloud formations and one silhouette that I thought made a mighty pretty scene. These were all taken along the drive into Indian Point Park. The park, early that morning, was still gated shut. But, I sneaked under the gate and walked. I found out that there were still some downed-power lines along the road, so that explained the closure. I didn't stop much for the fact I kept thinking I may be arrested for being there at the time. A hurried walk in and out. But, not before I got a few photos as I quickly focused here and there and made my way back to the beginning; at the gate. Sunset Lakes [an adjacent park via a walking trail] was opened, so once out, I walked and tallied up my 10000 steps there instead...

Early morning clouds above the fishing pier at Indian Point and then, some of the fresh water ponds along the paved park road [3 photos]

The sun rays and the water reflecting the sunshine was awe inspiring this particular morning!!

A lone seagull silhouetted. Distant seagulls calling in the background made for a heavenly, peaceful walk!! Perhaps it was 'cause I was the only fool one to take my chances where everything was closed to human traffic. S'pose?

Along the 2 mile trail, I spotted many birds in the ponds and along the pavement were many plovers and sandpipers. I veered off the trail at one point, through the juniper lined landscaping, to view the Gulf of Mexico [Corpus Christi Bay] and found plenty of gulls and terns and a couple of black skimmers at rest on a shoal in the shallow bay waters.

Coming up on 9500 steps, I reversed my direction and diverted to the area on the opposite side of the trail...

A Great Egret in the vegetation dwarfed the snowy egret beside it as they foraged the standing water. The other image is a 2nd snowy egret that popped up from its hiding while feeding - double the pleasure!!

At a rest stop so I could cool down from the morning heat before getting back into the air conditioned car, I really liked the shadow of the youthful mesquite tree against the fresh water lake. Still, the silence was so terrific, I didn't want to leave all too soon.

§ Old Man and the Sea...

...and on this morning...the Old Lady and the Sea!!

An early morning drive took me to the fishing pier on North Bay. There was a dense fog warning, but my drive was nearly clear all the way until I reached the causeway. There, fog was off to my left and once I reached the pier, a fog line, low, along the water's surface as it followed the city boundaries and the harbor bridge created a misty, serene sight. At times the sun tried to shine as the cloud cover broke and the day began. While I walked the perimeter of the parking lot along the rock barriers and the open water, seagulls were chattering and laughing to all who would listen. A few bright-eyed fishermen [and a couple of women] were already on the long pier with their poles in hand; some were propped up on the railing [the poles, not the people!], and their lines in the sea. One at the pier's edge reeled in his first catch. Looking farther out to sea I sighted many dark forms on the still, quiet, mirror-like pool of the salt water. A gentle shimmer of the sun's reflection  temporarily blinded my vision as I tried to follow the shadows, looking for a particular water bird that shows up in abundance this time of year. As I slowly made my way along the length of the pier, I spotted MANY eventually. The gulf bay was literally swimming with the species I was searching for!! Common Loons. They were popping out for air after their...what seemed like eternal underwater dive...everywhere I looked! In front of me, in back, to the left, over my right! [enlarge the photo and see the dark form near center...that's a loon]. I stood there at the pier's end and watched all around me, some would come to surface only to dive again instantly, while others would float silently and then disappear only to reappear several feet away. Others came up, preened. Yet, more would come up with THEIR catch of the hour....raw oysters in their beaks; swallowed whole, of course!! And I took dozens of photos for my bird photography blog, I'd Rather B Birdin'. Eventually I turned to leave the area. I watched one loon behind the building as I turned to leave, it flew toward the causeway, under and disappeared where the Nueces River joins the bay. For the most part, the fog had dissipated, the sky was now partly cloudy and the temperature was warming up for another beautiful winter's day. I had a short drive ahead of me to Sunset Lakes in Portland, Texas. This is where I can walk the trail and accumulate my 10K step plan. In turn watch the joggers, the bikers, the birders, and those just out enjoying the fresh air as we all make use of the 2 mile-long track between the tidal ponds with the bay and the ship/boat activity just on the horizon. Leaving the area in the car, several spoonbills were seen. The position of the sun at the time gave me an opportunity to capture one nearly in silhouette!