Poodles and Quilts

Nothing is on the wall now, but I did finish the Charmed Star flimsy. It will go to the quilters today, tomorrow at the latest. CHARMED STAR Don't know if I mentioned we were taking off for a 2 week vacation on 2/13. We did go but did not stay at South Padre the whole time. It is disappointing when promised one type of room for those 2 weeks and getting something entirely different. Somehow the view of the back of the big beach bar, parking lot and dumpsters does not equate to a full ocean view. And that is the room we were promised and have always had. But no matter, we stayed there a few days and then headed north to North Padre Island at Corpus Christi and explored that area for a few days. Galen did get some great bird pictures and I did a lot of chauffeuring him from place to place. Easier that way and I don't mind driving. This was a great catch for Galen-it is a White Morph Red Egret along with the black necked stilts. Taken at South Padre Island Convention...

As we left Corpus Christi we stopped at Hazel Bazemore County Park. It is on the north side just off I-37. There were several viewing stands there for bird watching and Galen took advantage of them. LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE AMERICAN AVOCET RED SHOULDERED HAWK AMERICAN AVOCET IN FLIGHT GREATER YELLOWLEGS SNOWY EGRET SNOWY EGRET BLACK NECKED STILT AMERICAN AVOCET                                                                  GREAT EGRET                                                                WHITE TIPPED DOVE                             ...

We didn't get a very early start this morning. Tiki didn't seem to be feeling well so we stayed in the room for a while longer. We drove back across the causeway today and went to Hans Suter Refuge. It's across from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. The girls and I hung out in the area not far from the car for most of the time. We did take a quick walk down the boardwalk to the viewing stand for a few minutes. When we got back to the car the girls and I watched an Eastern Phoebe catch bugs for lunch. Mexican Oleander Boardwalk going to the water  Northern Shovelers Wetlands Eastern Phoebe Now on to Galen's pictures with the long lens! Northern Shoveler Snowy Egret Tricolored Heron We leave here tomorrow. Not sure if we will make any stops on the way home.

Should I say that Galen takes a lot of pictures. I think 79 for the day. Not all keepers of course. Thank heavens for digital cameras!!!! After lunch at Subway we headed to Mustang Island. It is between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas  Mustang island history   and   Mustang Island State Park . The next link is for Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. I think we are saving it for another trip, but I could be wrong!!!!!    if you are interested in Whooping Cranes On to more pictures! Fish Pass on Mustang Island  Long billed Curlew Prescribed burn area Why we have off road vehicles. this picture does not do the "road" justice! More prescribed burn Crested Caracara American Kestral Crested Caracara-first year juvenile Sanderling