A Lovely Day in Castroville, Texas

As part of my recent car camping adventure, I was trying to find a natural area to stay overnight. I was delighted with this city park in Castroville, Texas. Unfortunately, I was unable to stay the night, as car camping is not allowed (only tent camping, which is not as safe and is more damaging to the grounds).

A mama squirrel got a little belligerent with me, but I couldn't blame her. All in all, I spent a very enjoyable day walking through the park, except for the part where I wasn't looking where I was going and ran into a steel pole, giving myself a fat lip! Oh, well...

Earlier that day, after leaving Walmart, I drove around the town. Everywhere I went the poppies were in bloom. I stopped at a garage sale, where I saw this beautiful, rustic setting. I can't remember the name of this tree, but the flowers were so beautiful!

I stopped at a garage sale, followed by a wonderful antique store!

Headed for the Hills!

 

I've been enjoying the beautiful weather here on the bay and the Island, but I got a wonderful opportunity to visit family and see the Hill Country outside of San Antone when I found out my son and his family were going to be there for the weekend. So I got my car all ready for some car camping and set out.

The cactus flowers were all in bloom, which made for a nice drive up.

The next morning, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise as seen from a Walmart parking lot. 

What will the day bring???

Before the Crack of Dawn

 

I'm an early morning person. I think I set a morning alarm, maybe, once or twice a year. I usually rise naturally before 6:30 a.m. Once in a while, I even wake up before 5 a.m., as was the case today. So I was able to get to the beach well before sun-up.

It was one of those mornings where the clouds were hiding the sun . . .  

. . . but as soon as it rose about the cloud layer, the clouds seemed to dissipate and it turned to into a beautiful, golden sunrise.

Now, that's worth waking up for . . .

Herons and More

 

Today, for my morning walk, I went to the north beach and I saw a tricolored heron perched in the greenery of the dunes. After the walk on the beach, I decided to go all out today and walk along the boardwalk at the Birding and Nature Center as well. And, what should I see, but another great heron!

But there was more to see, by far!

Including much to see in the water . . .

I went home pretty tired, after having a double walk. 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

 

Today, I wasn't feeling well enough to do a lot of walking, so I just walked around the neighborhood, down a street along the bay. There was a lovely sunrise, which I dressed up a little bit. It made for a lovely silhouette. 

It's a nice neighborhood for a walk. I saw a few mockingbirds singing and flitting from tree to tree. 

Even the common grackle looks like something really special when it's backdropped against a stately palm tree.

A little later in the day, I decided to swing up to Laguna Atascosa for a quick drive-through.

It was a cute little roadrunner - certainly not something I would expect could get the best of a "Wiley Coyote!" But cute!

A friendly biologist connected with the wildlife reserve pointed out this Altamira oriole's nest - a pretty impressive dwelling, but I don't think anyone was home. 

 

Maybe next time.

The Return of the Black Skimmers

When I left early this morning, I was pretty sure it was going to be - once again - one of those super-cloudy mornings that would feature no spectacular sunrise, just a gradual diminishing of darkness. I almost talked myself out of going, but I keep telling myself that, even without a glorious sunrise, it is still well worth the effort to go and walk along the beach. The sound of the waves, the pleasure of being able to get some exercise with my feet in the sand, the seagulls and other waders, the occasional heron, and whatever else might happen to show up. And I was so glad I went!

I was so enthralled with the black skimmers that I first became acquainted with at the SPI Birding Center a few months back, but I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see them again. Well, today was the day! 

Only this time I got to see them, not over the bay, but over the ocean waves, and it made my day. I love watching them fly back and forth over the water with all the grace and synchrony of a perfectly matching figure-skating duo. 

I hope they will be back soon!

Pelican and Fisherman

I knew it was going to be one of those sunrises that would not bring a great variance of color - just the sun finally making it past the thick cloud layer, bringing the light with it. But I've learned that that has it's own kind of beauty, and that there is still always something to enjoy. 

Today, the waves on the beach side of the jetty were really pounding. 
Here, a lone pelican is one of the first of the morning,

surveying the rocks for a charitable fisherman, 

willing to share his throw-aways. 

And he found one. 

But there were more pleasant sights to come . . . 

A Very Brief Outing

 
I was so exhausted after migration fallout week - so much so that I had to take a really long rest. But I have to say that it was worth it to see all the new birds. Today and yesterday I got out for the first time in a about a week. The migration influx is tapering off quite a bit, but there were still some pretty birds to be seen and captured. I think this is an oriole of some sort, but it's a little different from the ones I've seen thus far. Someone told me it may be a young female Baltimore oriole. 

I've seen birds that look very pudgy sitting on a branch suddenly stretch out and look really thin.

Wouldn't it be great if we could be like that?!? 

This one was a bright yellow - very pretty! 

Looking toward the setting sun - time for me to go home. 

Los Fresnos Nature Park

I just found out that Los Fresnos has a nature park, so I had to check it out. It is really nice! They have a nice birding habitat, but unfortunately, I don't think they are feeding. I saw a green jay and an indigo bunting flitting by, but nothing hanging around the habitat but a nice butterfly in the flower garden. 

 As far as aesthetics, I would have to rate this park as one of the prettiest I've seen. I understand that the birds really love the crowded thickets, but this park has that, as well as a very pleasing, more manicured view as well. 

I saw several birds in the trees along the walkway, 

but was not very quick with my camera today.

Mostly, I just enjoyed walking and taking in the sunshine. 

Maybe I'll have some birds to share from a future visit. 

Butterflies

 

I love seeing all the birds in such beautiful backdrops - 
including beautiful plants and trees - and butterflies!

Beautiful all the way around. 

Hooded Warbler, Tree Swallow, and Brown Ibis

 

My third day in a row at the SPI Convention Center, I was absolutely thrilled to get a few shots of the lovely hooded warbler. 

The great bird migration is really showing its colors!

I walked around the birding area briefly, but there were so many birding enthusiasts in the area that I soon went to walk the boardwalk so others could get a closer look. 

I caught a glimpse of something shimmering in the trees...
and finally I got a better look. 

I was in awe! I thought it was so beautiful. When I asked a few others if they knew what it was, they casually replied, "Oh, it's just a tree swallow." Well, I think it is absolutely gorgeous. 

When I got back to the birding area, I saw a small group of beautiful brown ibis, foraging among the trees.

One clearly had a hurt leg and was lagging behind slightly. 

Poor thing. 


I'm hoping I can continue to experience this wonderful migration fallout. I have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities) and the combined fragrances of the increasing crowds get to me after a short time. But I will continue to do my best.