Okay, to continue what I started in my previous post. After sharing the beautiful sunrise, and the fog dying off as the sun dried the air, I began driving again to get to my destination target...birding refuges. I watched all the bird activity a while at one area, then went to a 2nd one.
Leonabelle Refuge
Paradise Pond
After that, I ended up at Port A's community park and began walking along the paved pathway that leads to the ship channel [no, NOT the jetty] and among the the pasture land. Behind the ball park, there is a pond which you see here in the photo. There is a covered observation deck and bench to sit and watch the water fowl. Since it's been so dry and lacking any significant rainfall the past month, I decided to venture off the winding paved trail and head onto the natural path. THIS particular path leads through the pasture and ends up at the mudflats. It's a vast area. In normal, seasonal, rain accumulation, the mudflats are filled with collected precipitation...forming a large shallow lake [not the photo]. The lake, attracts wildlife who love to congregate in or near the mudflats. What I was hoping to find, didn't come true. NO larks at all, only one Golden Plover and many, many killdeer [which are closely related to plovers]. Now, I mentioned that my step count was very low...only 2 1/2 miles total [round trip] Why? The mudflats [about 4-5 miles radius at this point], tho dry, was VERY soft! I sank with each footfall. Eventually it became a pain, literally, for my lower back. About three fourths into my return to the park's path, I had to stop and massage my back so I could continue.
Being that that is said and done, as I walked, I also saw many many animal tracks. Even bobcat tracks. Thank goodness there were no serpentine trails in the dried up mud! Well, then again, if there WERE snake ruts, I probably wouldn't be having back spasms. I certainly woulda returned back to the car a LOT sooner. lol
Now you have the story. Here is a look at all that's left: a look 'behind the scenes'....
An old fence line?
Where there WERE water puddles, the killdeer were aplenty! Everywhere you looked.
Top two prints -Javelina
Bottom two prints - Raccoon [left] and Killdeer [right]
Bobcat
Back at the car, I headed home, stopping at The Willows about the half-way mark. Willow trees hide a small oasis for migrant and local birds, while the Mexican Palm Trees line the street.
