§ Spring Break....

For the next two weeks, it's Spring Break here in the Coastal Bend. Of course, for me, that means no day trippin' to the beach until all the college students [and high school] go back home, and it's safe to be out walking on the shore and driving the island highways. So, Thursday, I took my last drive to go birding and get some steps in while I could. It was a beautiful morning!  Just after daybreak, warming sun, mild sea breeze, quietude of the hour, and birdsong and bird calls serenading me while I watched all the activity.

As I drove along I just couldn't help but notice all the brown. Normally this time of year, it's green along the dunes. Even most of the palm trees are lifeless and the fronds are weeping a nice shade of rot. But the one I photographed [above] at the Willows was still in good shape while others were long damaged by the freeze. Sad. I don't think I've EVER witnessed such winter kill before in the South, ever. By the time I arrived at Port Aransas, the wetlands across the highway from the Post Office was full [literally full] of waterfowl! I slowed down, debating to stop there at that time, or go to my favorite refuge first then come back as I leave for home....I stopped then!

There were Roseate Spoonbills, White Ibis, Egrets [both Snowy, and Common Great], herons, White Faced Ibis [dark maroon color with off white speckled heads [non-breeding] and white eye rings in breeding season. They are similar to the Glossy Ibis seen East of the Mississippi River.], gulls, avocets, cormorants, and much more. All were quite active, mostly bathing [and the cormorants were playing...they do LIKE to play in the water!!]. I heard a kingfisher calling but was unable to locate it. The birds preened, flew from one bank to another, fed, and entertained me for a long time. Why, I even spotted a Nutria [aka: coypu; a water rodent] swimming across the pond!!

After taking several photos and enjoying the warming sun, I left for the popular Refuge. I was hoping to see the Whooping Crane Family of Three that has been reported there for several months. Still, for me, no sighting there again. White Pelicans, gulls, and stilts dominated this area. I left and went walking on the beach after a short stop at Paradise Pond. At the beach, still work goes on repairing the jetty. A few ships were waiting near the channel for the 'okay' to enter, while one was leaving the port area. I saw dolphins, but none were guiding the ship out, they were just surfacing for a second and back underwater in the blink of an eye. Gulls and Terns covered the sand as I walked the shore to the pier. I left shortly after and stopped at a residential area just before leaving town. This subdivision juts up on the waterfront. I didn't have to drive INTO the subdivision before I saw the Whooping Crane Family near the access road!!! Needless to say, I pulled off the road, got out and snapped the shutter button. Good!! I saw them before they leave for their breeding grounds way up north, and didn't have to drive the 60 mile one way trip to Goose Island for another popular wintering ground for them. Yay!! My winter birding for South Texas is complete. Now, it'll be Spring Migration. Once the migrating students go back to class. lol

By the way, my first stop? When I headed back to Corpus, the wetlands had emptied out!! I'm glad I stopped there first!

§ 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!!

§ ...with a Moo Moo here

When you hear or read "Texas", what do you associate with it? Cowboys? [not the football team] Oil? Perhaps Dallas, Houston, or the massive Universities and medical research? Or cattle? At one time, before oil was discovered, cattle was the largest industry in the state's history. Of course, my post isn't about oil, population or universities...it's about cattle. I seem to like best animals with shades of gray! My favorite horse is the dappled gray, I love cats with gray or silver coats, and that doesn't leave out cattle. My favorite breed of cattle is the Brahma [or Zebu, or Brahman]. A couple of weeks ago, while out hunting for the elusive Whooping Crane, as we strolled around the fenced in pasture, there were Brahma cattle compounded within. I, naturally, had to photograph the papa grandé!! He was magnificent in stature, color, and so picturesque. But, this I did not know. I asked Bud, who has raised cattle when younger and single, I asked him if he knew how the breed got started and where...he said he thought somewhere in Asia. Well, he was right. In fact, the Zebu originated in India. They've been exported to the subtropical areas and deserts around the world...mainly 'cause they can withstand the extreme temperate zones best of any other breed. Also, reading wikipedia, the cattle that roamed the Indian fields, are the ORIGINAL breed of cattle known to man. All other species of cattle have the Brahma DNA. Anyway, the prominent fatty hump on the UPPER * part of the shoulders, their floppy ears, and the huge dewlap are what make this particular breed so beautiful to me...not to mention the dark, charcoal colors against the slate gray hide. In my opinion, they're the prettiest [if a particular cattle can be pretty] of all. While reading the information, the Brahma is bred for the hides, the milk, the beef, as well as the by-products, for fuel and I'm sure horns...tho some are naturally born polled [without horns]. In Asia, they're still used as a labor source in farming. At one time in history they roamed the land, wild. The cow, I'm assuming the bull's mate, wasn't too far a distance from where we stood. I also read while out on wikipedia, that the Brahma could also have a red coat/hide. This I didn't know either. When someone mentions Brahma to me, I naturally assume...gray! Well, now, you live and learn. The cow in the field on this particular day was of the red coloration. There were some calves, scattered here and there, roaming around among several other adult cattle of mixed breeds, one calf in particular was quite interested in my camera and walked right up to the fence line; quite curious. I had to get a photo of the sweet, sweet, face peering through the wire. So so very precious and cute little bugger!! And 99% of the time, where there are cattle grazing there always seems to be a vulture or two. Either seen soaring high above, or traipsing around in the grasses, looking for a food source...

the one with the gray face is a Black Vulture, the one with the red face is a Turkey Vulture

Oh, and if you've continued reading to this part of the post, today is the day I have posted the endangered Whooping Crane Photos on my Bird Photo Blog!!! [the link is found on my sidebar "I'd Rather B Birdin'" or connecting to the "Bird D'Pot" link below -posting time scheduled to publish at NOON CST] Tho the photos are not that clear because of the distance between me and the birds as they meandered thought the fields, I still wanted to keep a record. Also, if all goes well, Bud and I plan to return to the area the beginning of next month in hopes they'll still be there before the Spring migration begins and they return to Canada for the Summer. And hopefully the new camera with larger zoom will take much clearer, better photos of them....

connecting to:

Saturday Photo Hunt [challenge - upper *as in upper shoulder & upper views of the vultures]

Camera Critters

The Bird D'Pot