Goose Island SP

Serendipity is OK, but not nearly as good as Bayside was. Even though we were on the water, couldn’t see the bay, just overlooked the boat slips. The only bird we saw on the water was one Pied-billed Grebe and saw only one dolphin from the seawall.

Sunday was cold, windy, and dreary… Tried to find the Long-tailed Duck again without success. Looked at hundreds of Buffleheads though.

Monday morning, we packed up, bought propane and fuel and headed for Goose Island SP. Only 70 miles, good thing as very windy. This wide open flat coastal prairie has nothing to stop the wind. Arrived at SP about 1 PM, picked site #15 right on the bay. Beautiful sunsets and a clear view of the bay. Surprised at how easy leveling was, considering the layout of the site.

Tuesday sunrise was bright and cloudless. We explored the park, looking for Whooping Crane on 4th street where Sandhills feed thanks to the spin cast feeder provided by the property owners. One Whooper present, but he flew just as I came into photo range.

That tiny white dot has a 7 ft wingspan

Visited THE BIG TREE, 11 feet across the trunk, 35 feet around, 44 feet tall, 89 feet across the crown, 1100 years old. Would love for him to be able to talk to me, what wonderful stories they would be.

Eastern Phoebe calling in all directions, American Goldfinch also plentiful, Field Sparrow, Lincoln Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Carolina Wren. All the birds were in the shade, so I had to find a sunny spot to warm up every now and then.

Spotted 3 Whoopers flying toward 4th street, watched them turn and land near a small pond just off 8th street. Seems they had joined a juvenile there.

A flock of Turkey Vulture called my attention to a skeletal remains of a dolphin at the water’s edge. At least that's what I think it is.

Can’t resist old cemeteries, good places for birds plus love the history written in the headstones. Lamar Cemetery was founded in 1854 for a city named for president of Texas Republic Mirabeau B. Lamar. When the Big Tree was 850 years old, Union troops were burning the town of Lamar during a Civil War battle.

Lamar Cemetery

Texas hero John Fagan died 1860

Next to the cemetery is a quaint little Catholic chapel, Stella Maris -Star of the Sea - has provided services for 150 years.

The court yard was graced by a lovely Nativity scene complete with singing cardinals.  

A bank of sunflowers hosted a gathering of Queens, this guy stopped long enough for a photo shoot. 

Yesterday, I also saw a Monarch nectaring, but when I returned for photos I found him laying on the sidewalk. 

A tour through the woods provided an array of Christmas colors with Virginia creeper adorning a large live oak. 

Last stop was the bay to view a flock of dowitchers, based on the sound I called them Long-billed even though they were in salt water. 

Sanderling

Least Sandpiper

Surprised to see this jellyfish consider the water and air temp. 

Lousy photo, doesn't show the double sundog (parhelia)  as I had hoped.  Created by the refraction of light from plate shaped hexagonal ice crystals in high and cold cirrus clouds always 22 degrees on either side of the sun and at exactly the same distance above the horizon as the sun. 

Finished the day with another gorgeous sunset over Aransas Bay.