§ Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder....

These photos were taken just after sunrise along the park's beach in Rockport, Texas. I didn't realize it'd be like it was as the sun was peeking over the horizon, until it was up in the sky for about 15 minutes. I was walking along the trails and not paying much attention 'til I actually looked! LOL




This park, along the beach bay has been in the midst of a huge renovation since damages from hurricanes. I always like walking here very early in the morning...at the end of the trails, there is a rookery where several species nest in the Spring months.

This will be my last post for a while! I will be...

§ My World....in Rockport Texas

I left before sunrise. By the time I drove through Portland, Texas, as I turned on the curve along the highway, at the horizon, I saw what I thought was a giraffe!!! Can you see it? A cloud?

All the while I was walking in the park, the clouds were amazingly pretty. So between the camera taking photos of the birds, the cellphone was used to get some pretty cloud images....

I'm always hoping I'd see George Strait out and about on his yacht....he lives here [and other cities/ranches in Texas]. His Rockport house is somewhere among all the houses you see in the distance. I'm guessing it's probably on the other side, more on the open sea. But I can still 'wish!!!

Take me to Texas, on the open range
The Rio Grande is in my veins
It’s heaven there and so my prayer
Is that you’ll take me anywhere in Texas

~George Strait
Song from mini series "Texas Rising"

§ Ahoy, Matey!!!

On any given day I plan to go to Rockport Texas and walk their beach park, I leave in the dark hours of the morning, way before sunrise. Mainly ‘cause there is one section of highway that has a dangerous curve near Aransas Pass! If it’s timed wrong, the sun, as it begins to rise above the horizon, it’s right smack dab in your eyes…and it’s blinding even with sunglasses and the visor pulled down!!! The curve is right there…so, I make sure I’m past that area and heading north BEFORE the sun appears. So, on this day, I arrive at the beach park just as the sunrise begins, and I’m preparing my gear from the trunk to start my walking. At this park, I can easily get my 10000 steps in…it’s a large park. Bays, inlets, beaches that are lined with several thatch-roofed cabanas, park roads, pavilions, picnic areas, and a few miles of curves and stops to see the wildlife. As I begin my trek in search of migrant birds, I get out and don my binoculars, camera and jacket …the wind is blowing and it's a bit nippy!! This area is well-known to have many, many, different species that come to breed and raise their broods for Spring and into the early Summer seasons each year; at or near the rookeries. Come, walk with me….

At the beginning of the park, there is a parking lot for those that want exercise, or, your choice to enter the park by paying a fee, and driving in with your BBQ and picnic gear. I've done both, but when I'm alone, I park in the lot and walk the entire area on foot. My first stop is the boat launch. This is an ideal spot to make use of the binoculars [or scope] to look beyond the bay's inlet over to the rookery. For the main part, there are egrets, spoonbills, herons, gulls, and pelicans on this island. Today, mostly spoonbills and herons were spotted. As I leave this section of park, I can hear the seagulls....hundreds...courting and calling their sweethearts or making a ruckus defending their territorial space for nesting. By mid April to early May the grasses will have grown, and the nestlings will cover the cordoned off section of park!!! And, if I think it's loud now...if I return in mid May, the volume of bird calls will deafen any chance of hearing someone talk.  Even when they're standing right next to you!!!

The Rookery at a distance:

Acres of Seagulls, but I show you two with a courtship ritual [or perhaps a fight of territorial rights]. With the stance of the lone seagull with wings spread open, I'd say it's part of their courtship since this is how it begins. Dozens of times I've seen gulls with a foot missing and I surmised it was from a close encounter with a boating accident or tangling with fish line. But seeing this action with the one gull chewing the other's leg/foot [last photo in the sequence], I'm wondering now if this is an habitual, 'natural' occurrence:

Around the bend between the inlet and the channel that goes out into the bay and eventually, the Gulf of Mexico, I round the corner and find about a dozen Black Skimmers keeping out of the wind. Turning yet farther, this time heading in a southerly direction, the dried up tidal basin is completely filled with terns and hundreds more skimmers. All take flight, only to circle around and put out their landing gear and come back in to soak up the warmth of the sand!!

After the migratory section, I direct my walk to the beach. Here, I see pelicans - both white and brown, some terns hunting the water for breakfast and gulls cleaning up the beach of tidbits from people, littering. I see through the clear water as the surf drums along the shore, snail shells with hermit crabs and fish, Between the beach, bay and park trails, you see more cabanas, palm trees, and playground equipment. The pirate ship is a new feature since the hurricane....

§ Tule Lake...Rockport Texas

Wednesday morning, it was warm and humid. Again, the fog was somewhat of a hindrance driving, but I took off for Rockport Texas to see if I could find the Whooping Cranes before they leave their winter feeding grounds for the far north and their breeding areas in the Spring.

I stopped at a couple of places before crossing Copano Bay and heading to Lamar Texas [where Goose Island is located and the cranes]. My first stop was Tule Creek Trail and lake. Still damp, I got out and walked to see what birds were on the lakeside. Close by was an egret and a few Teal [ducks]. I then, crossed the foot bridge and hit a newly organized trail...Shellcrete Trail. This is an area that has historical value to the town of Rockport/Fulton....Shellcrete Square

Tule Lake Observation Tower


Tule Lake  [egret and teal in foreground - whistling ducks in the background]


Another Great Egret in the misty air perched on a tree limb


The new Shellcrete Trail


same...shellcrete Trail


End of trail...to the opening of the backside of Tule Lake


Black Bellied Whistling Ducks...


Shellcrete Trail...Tule Lake and White Ibis mingling with Whistling Ducks


As I approached, the Whistling Ducks flew yonder...


...and the Ibis went the opposite direction.

Back in the car, I continued and then stopped at Linda Castro Birding Sanctuary.  It was a short time spent there...a few ducks on the pond, some tiny unidentified birds flitting from brush piles to brush piles.  I heard a cardinal, and spotted a Ladder Backed Woodpecker. 

Then...leaving this area, I put on more miles, driving over Copano Bay Bridge/Causeway to Lamar Texas, Goose Island and hopefully some Whooping Cranes....