Calico shore bird turns escape artist

We were down on Bolivar Peninsula checking out the pre-storm conditions (with Hurricane Harvey moving up through the Gulf of Mexico) when I shot this photo of a Rudy Turnstone.  Because of the bright conditions, I didn't notice at the time that this guy had gotten snagged in what looks like a remnant from a net.  I checked the photos I took after this and notice that he did finally get free from his bondage.

Feathery sunset watchers of Bolivar Peninsula

The suns sets over East Bay on the Bolivar Peninsula ( on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico) while a Brown Pelican and a Gull take up their sunset posts at the dock by the Stingaree  Restaurant and bar to enjoy the view.

Fire-filled nightfall on Bolivar Peninsula's East Bay

A fiery sun slides into East Bay off Bolivar Peninsula as the boat docks grow quiet for the night.

Dark ferry ride conjures up phantom ships

Continuing from our ferry trip post of yesterday -- As we pulled out of Galveston Island's ferry dock, heading back to the Bolivar Peninsula,  the ship above passed by us, seeming a dark phantom on the water.  It seemed strange to only have the light from our ferry illuminating the silent somber shadow as it slid by.  However, out into Galveston Bay we were passed by another indistinct, light-less hulk that was even harder to distinguish except as it passed between us and the lighted shores. The cabin and deck lights were all off.

Though I had taken the ferry many times, this was my first night-time ride, and it was well worth the trip.

Laughing Gull gets the last laugh (and bravado)

This brave Laughing Gull landed on the hood of our car as we waited for the Bolivar ferry to Galveston Island. His was not just a quick landing and a scoot, either. He spent time enjoying the stay -- he probably went back to his buds and bragged about his coup.

Comorants take the lofty watchout

The Comorants are the generals of the birds that trail behind the ferry from Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston Island.  Gulls lead the charge, flocking up close to the boat to catch pieces of food thrown by the ferry riders. The pelicans follow close behind ready to swoop to a landing in the ferry's wake if they see something worthy of a meal.  The Comorants come in behind the noisy crowd only after the ferry is about a half mile from the dock.  They take the soaring overlook, with an eye out for anything that is worthy of their lofty watchout.

The long art of pruning your pelican feathers

Can you imagine combing your hair with a brush with a handle this long?  This pelican seems to have mastered the art, but it does give his neck a good workout. He was displaying his mastery at the Bolivar Peninsula ferry landing recently.

Feeling free on the ferry

It was a ferry good ride. We love to take the ferry from Bolivar to Galveston with the grandkids. It's an exciting ride with birds following the boat, dolphins swimming and the spray of the ocean breezes.

It's hard to decide if we want to get on top to see far away or down on the deck in the back to feel the ocean spray. Usually, the bow has a lot more spray and we keep our distance from that.

It's about a 20 minute ride across the bay. Many people come along the Bolivar Peninsula and use the free ferry for an alternate way into Houston, or its lower haunts.
--steve buser

Galveston, free ferry, Texas, Gulf of Mexico

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You are cleared for landing

Helicopter pilots have nothing on these guys. Drying to drop on those round pilings at the Bolivar Peninsula Ferry Landing, in a stiff wind is nothing to take lightly. Besides, helicopter pilots don't have a big beak to get in the way as do these Brown Pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). Hey, we all got our peaks to carry.

Notice though how carefully this feathery flyer works -- trimming his flaps up on one side and down on the other. Looks like he's be doing it all his life.

--steve buser

Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis, Bolivar Peninsula

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Beach biking

It was a windy day on the Bolivar Peninsula, but you can't stop a kid from doing what a kid is going to do. It this case, it was riding a bike on the beach. THe beach is still a little rough from the rubble of the recent hurricanes, but is returning rapidly to its sifted-sand appearance.

--steve buser

beach, bikes, kids, wind

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End of the ride, end of the flight

Our ferry boat comes sliding into Galveston as another ferry readies to leave.

Most people aren't aware of this route into Galveston from the East. You jump off of I-10 in Winnie and head south for a ride along the coast on Bolivar Peninsula. At the end of the peninsula, the ferry takes you across to Galveston island.

At the landing here, as we left the ferry, the gulls that had been following us settled in to wait for the next boat to leave.
--steve buser

Galveston, Texas, ferry, birds, gulls

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Wave-to-wind hop sets him sailing

A Brown Pelican which had been sitting on the water warching our Galveston-Bolivar ferry pull into the ferry landing, suddenly decides it''s time to get up amd move about. He timed a wave pretty good and pushed off strong with his feet to send him skyward.

--steve buser

Pelican, Galveston, ferry, Bolivar Peninsula, TexasPowered by ScribeFire.

Dolphins in the bay

As we were riding the ferry from Galveston Island to Bolivar Peninsula South of Houston a couple weeks back, this was part of the school of Dolphins that were frolicking and splashing a couple hundred feet from the boat. They were hard to see because the sunset was behind them.

--steve buser

Dolphins, Galveston Bay, Bolivar Peninsula, Houston
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When you live by the wind, you freeze by the wind

Standing in the middle of strangers, a couple of gulls are just thankful t have anything to block, the wind on the Bolivar Peninsula Beach. It may have been quite warm down there today, but when this picture was taken a couple of weeks ago, it was cold and blustery. In fact, I was kind of surprised these cattle egret and two gulls didn't find a more protected space up in High Island.

--steve buser

Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, catte egret, gulls, wind, beach
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Feather flapping frenzy fascinates

Expectations run high for these gulls that follow behind the Gavleston to Bolivar Peninsula ferry. They are used to finding a least a few morsels thrown their way. My wife and our grandson Sullivan (from this photo of a couple of years ago), were more interested in how close they got to see the gulls and the tremendous activity of flapping feathers.

-steve buser

seagulls, Galveston ferry, Bolivar Peninsula, birds,

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Birds of different feathers flock together.....

It was a bird convention on the bulkhead of the ferry landing on the Bolivar Peninsula.   We were driving to Galveston, and had to wait for the ferry, so I jumped out to snap a few shots.  This is mostly Cormorants and American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos).   There may be an Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) or two in there.  There were some Brown Pelicans to the right of this shot, but I cropped them because it made the picture to long.

What got me was the White Pelicans snoozing out on the piers.  I tried to do the geometry of how they got into that shape, but my geometry was rusty.

--steve buser

White Pelicans, Cormorants, Anhiga

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Old blue eyes

A Cormorant sitting beside the ferry landing on the Bolivar Peninsula of Galveston County.  I think the place is a favorite for birds because of all the fish stirred up by the passing of the boats.

--steve buser

Cormorant, birds, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

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Jealous bird

When a bird wants a rest, a bird wants a rest.  This Laughing Bull (Larus atricilla) was keeping and eye on me, but did seemed concerned.  Probably because he was sitting on a pole a few feet out in the water, and I didn't seem the adventurous kind.   I got as close as I could, but he still sat there.  Then I noticed a Willet a little ways down the shore line and turn to take a picture.  When I turned back our gull was gone.  Probably jealous he was getting all the attention.

One thing I did notice in all of this is that nasal passage in their beaks goes all the way through.  I never got close enough to notice that before.

--steve buser

Laughing Gull, Larus atricilla, gulls, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, feathers

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Dry water

This picture from a few years back is a road side ditch on Bolivar Peninsula. It was just after a rain, which followed a long dry spurt. So the bottom of the ditch was drought-crack and the top was gully-washing rain water.

--steve buser

dry, water, cracks, drought, downpour, rain.Bolivar Peninsula, Texas

Beached

Where once stood a house, now stands piers on a beach on the Bolivar Peninsula of Texas.
The peninsula runs along the Gulf of Mexico for 40 + miles. It took the brute force blow of Hurricane Ike.

Land that was reclaimed by the ocean by Ike's strong hand, will revert to the state leaving homeowners without even a lot.

--steve buser

Texas, Hurricane Ike, Bolivar Peninsula, severe weather, beach