Wednesday Happenings-Rockport, TX 3/8/2017

We goofed off this morning and didn't leave the motel very early. Headed into Rockport and stopped at the water's edge across from the Heron/Egret Rookery. Could not get really good pictures but maybe you will get the idea. The trees are all Live Oak and windswept. It is interesting to see what prevailing winds can do to trees

                                                   

  Walking back to the car I saw Tiki looking to see where I was. She is not shy about getting into the front seat. 
                                  

We left Rockport and drove to Aransas Pass. Just before getting there we found a park along the water. Spent a good bit of time there looking at the various Gulls.

OSPREY

RING- BILLED GULL

HERRING GULL

LAUGHING GULL

YOUNG LAUGHING GULL

BROWN PELICAN

FEREL PIGEON

                                                                               

COMMON LOON

COMMON LOON

COMMON LOON

COMMON LOON

He was really putting on a show for us!

SHRIMP BOAT

We started to drive to Port Aransas. the further we drove across the causeway the foggier it became. Not good for taking pictures so we turned around and headed back towards Rockport. Stopped for lunch

Before going back to the motel we stopped at the quilt store

Golden Needles and Quilts

Nice shop. Loved her models and looked like she had some fun classes. While I was inside browsing Galen found a few more things to photograph.

         

PHAON CRESCENT BUTTERFLY

MOTH

Since we had a big lunch-yes another crab cake with fries and onion rings we stayed in tonight and ate the salads I bought yesterday!  That gave the chance to finish the binding on one of the quilts I brought along to work on.

Pineapple Blossom by Bonnie Hunter

PINEAPPLE BLOSSOM

It is a scrap quilt I started early last year, put it aside when we started the remodel. Picked it up again early Fall. Had it quilted by my friend Kerry and now it is finished! 2 more to finish binding. One of those will be finished before we head home and hopefully will have started the last one before heading back to Round Rock.

Tuesday in Rockport, TX 3-7-2017

We had a busy day yesterday looking for birds. We left Rockport and drove SW out of Rockport, towards Aransas Pass. Then headed north on 188. There are several places along 188 where you are close to Copano Bay with parking areas for kayak people and of course fishermen!

                                                 

                               Trying to get a picture of a very uncooperative song sparrow

                                                              Evening Primrose

                                                Our next stop was Copano Retreat Road

LEAST SANDPIPER

WHITE IBIS

SNOWY EGRET

SEASIDE DRAGONET

WILSON SNIPE

On our way to the end of the road we saw quite a few big white structures and were trying to figure out what we were seeing. It turns out is is a big shrimp farm-aquaculture.

SHRIMP FARM

It pays to get off the main roads and learn something!!!!!

Then it was back on to 188 until we turned right on 136 towards Refugio. There you cross parts of the bay. The girls and I spent quite a bit of time pulled over on the wide shoulders while Galen was out catching birds with this camera.

MARBLED GODWIT

they were pretty far out-only so much a long lens will do

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER

PECTORIAL SANDPIPER (maybe a least sandpiper-still checking)

CAPIAN TERN

He was in with some other birds so not a great picture

WHITE PELICAN

AMERICAN AVOCET

View in my side mirror. Tilly always wants to check out where Daddy has disappeared to when out of the car

One of the many abandoned roads to an old ranch

The photographer

Once back on 136 we turned on to Egery Island Road.

But before turning we found some Spoonbills

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

And this is another reason I end up being the driver!

BLACK-NECKED STILT

LESSER YELLOWLEGS

STILT SANDPIPER

DUNLIN SANDPIPER ( a new one for Galen)

WILLET

GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER

GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER

Hard to read but we basically were at the red dots on the left hand side of the map-the top one being Egery Island Road.

We got back to our room after a brief stop at HEB (grocery store for you non-Texans)

crashed for a while, fed the girls, then took off for Moondogs for dinner

Fried Calamari

                                                               Grilled Peppered Shrimp

Then checked out the Marina!