Remembering Hurricane Rita

This was the part of the scene of destruction from Hurricane Rita in Southeast Texas, 10 years ago today.

Watchful white-winged dove

As long as I kept a reasonable distance, this white-winged dove in my backyard didn't mind me snapping a few shots.

Grackles grapple with glass of goodies

The guy on the bottom seems to be saying "I tell you there's a way to get those seeds out.  I saw that little bird do it.  It CAN be done."  (They didn't figure it out.)

Gull glides by looking for lunch

This friendly fellow flew by me slowly several times as I was at Walter Humphrey State Park on Pleasure Island shooting pictures.  I guess he was wondering why I was throwing him some of the fish I caught (I wasn't fishing).   I don't know what the hanging leg was all about.  Maybe it was in case I tried to some of his food or something.

Ominous clouds can't deliver on rain threat

This was the weather system that blew past our neighborhood last night. Ominous as it might look, it was all bluster and no rain.  The air cooled down to about 80 degrees, and it turned breezy  -- but not even a sprinkle.

Black Skimmer in flight over Port Arthur

Skittish as they were, I was still able to catch this shot of a Black Skimmer while I was in Port Arthur Sunday.  As soon as they saw my head over the bushes, the squawking got visible louder and sharper.  However, a few of them flew past where I was standing. That's how I snapped this photo.

Black Skimmers having summer beach party in Port Arthur

Daragh Castillo posted on her Facebook page that Mary Meaux with the Port Arthur News had taken a photo of some black skimmers in Port Arthur.  Since I had never seen black skimmers, I took a ride down there and found these guys.  There were about 30 of them, but it was hard to get them all in the photo.  In fact, it was hard to get a picture at all -- they were so wary.

As soon as my head popped over the bushes, the call went out and they took flight. A white bird, not a black skimmer, was doing the watch-out duties and kept flying over my head and squawking -- just in case any of the black skimmers needed to know where the enemy was.

The photo below shows why they are called "skimmers" -- they fly just inches off the top of the water and all they have to do is open their beaks. The beak easily scoops up what they are after in the water.

Both pictures were taken on a sand bar beach on Pleasure Island just to the right about 200 feet where the bridge road drops out on Hwy 82.

Feather-flustered grackle

Size does make a difference.  This grackle was frustrated because he couldn't fit on the small lip around the bird feeder and all of his blustering and puffing was to no avail.  The smaller birds were thrilled to see him fly off feather-flustered.

Dragonfly defends his territory, but puts up with photographer

This dragonfly and I had a long visit, as I tried to photograph him with a short lens.  As I moved closer, he had a certain distance of comfort.  If I came into that space, he (she?) would take a short flight to assess the danger.  But in a few minutes he would be back on his perch. I suppose this stick gave him the best vantage point to watch over his neck of the ditch.  

There was another dragonfly (that had the same color markings) nearby.  But this guy made sure he stayed a couple yards away.

I suppose his little area was a prime one for hunting.  The stem was about a foot and half off the water of the ditch.  But the water was very high from recent rains.  I wonder if he will move when the water goes back down.

Wet Hibiscus Flower

When the sprinkler finished, I spotted this opportunity for a photo of this hibiscus.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck duo dodges danger

This pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were out on the Brentwood Golf Course but flew off in the direction of our house.  As we were walking home, I noticed they had taken to the safety of the top of neighbor's house.  According to eBird reports, this is about as far north as they are see in our area. They are more commonly see at the Terrell Park Cattail Marsh.

Green lynx spider lurks across sunflower

This gal was pretty conspicuous as she walked across the sunflower petals  -- from that, I assume he is pretty much at the top of the food chain in the sunflower petals realm.  I'm thinking this is a green lynx spider -- and she has a venomous bite, though it's more painful than dangerous to humans.

One of the things I love to watch on Galveston Island is the pelicans flying in formation.  They are taking advantage of aerodynamics to conserve energy -- getting a little lift from the pelican in front and a little to the side of them.

Their dawdling drift down the beach will put you in a mood to slow down and watch.

Sunflower-- the Dance of Spring

A sunflower will emerge, but it this moment, the orchestra is playing the Dance of Spring.

A yellow feast for a yellow jacket

A yellow jacket must get completely delirious when he sees a feasting field like this.  Colors on flowers probably help the buzzers to find the better varieties of nectar.  This white flower, however, must be fast-food giant of the nectar industry -- "We got it. It's yellow and it's yours."

Gulls gamble for ferry throws

"Come on dude, off my back, I was here first.  This ferry boat food is mine."  This shot is from a ride across the Galveston to High Island ferry.

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.

Pelican sentry caught eyes wide shut.

I captured this shot of this Pelican thinking he was looking out from the ferry landing, waiting for the next ferry (i.e. the next meal to come rolling in.  However, when I blew up the shot, I discovered the real truth:  Look at the eyes -- he is SLEEPING!

Hiding lizard is outed

 

I caught this crafty little guy hiding in one of our outdoor wall ornaments.  He was hiding between the letters in "God Bless Texas."  Despite his cloak and dagger posture, he was willing to pose for a couple of shots before he went off to his clandestine duties.

Grasshopper get going when the door opens

This new best friend, and me got a real good close look at each other when I opened the garage this morning.  As much as he appreciated our new friendship, I am sure that spending the night in the garage was not what this grasshopper considers luxury.   He quickly made his exit with hardly a word.

Moths also share the bees' secret meal

This moth was siphoning the nectar from a flower that just appeared this week in our front yard.   He has his proboscis firmly in the center of the flower, and our moth buddy was show no concern for my looking on to his sweet-tooth meal.

New flower looks blooming good

I don't have a clue what they are called but this is one of the new flowers that appeared last week on a bush in our front yard.  It's a real beauty.

Bees buzz through palm trees flowering bonnet.

This is the palm tree in our neighbor's yard.  The flowering tree attracted a couple hives worth of bees into its bonnet of flowers.   Our palm trees' flowering is covered under branches and never attracts much of a bee following, but the buzzing bonnet bouquet bumblers swarmed, putting on a flower power show.  Must be some pretty good nectar.

Mosquito Hawk --- a mosquito's worse enemy.

This Mosquito Hawk landed right in front of me.  After all the rains if this week, I was glad to see him on duty, preying on mosquitos.

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.

Angry skies trumpet a fierce summer storm

Angry skies rumbled in ahead of a drenching thunderstorm this evening. The lightning, while not quite a fireworks show, had some deep earthshaking booms to it.

Tree houses pose dangers for birds

Life is dangerous for creatures who live in trees.  This year was a good example of that.  I found five dead birds in my yard this spring.  They seemed to be victims of stormy winds that blew them from safety before they were ready to fly.  This seems to be number six.  It is hard to make it out from the ground, even with a powerful lens.  But it looks like a young chick didn't get very far before it was flipped over the side.  The nest is at the very top of a large azalea tree.  Such is life.

Thistle is bugged

This must be a bug's dream: slightly shaded from the wind and sun, and entangled enough to ward off lizards and birds that might pass by. Still, it seems a strange place to find rest, but what do I know -- I am not a bug.

Flowers advertise to passing bees

Summer flowers abound these days.  Just along the roadside, this bee attractor was advertising its remaining nectar and pollen.  It had several buds that had not yet bloomed, so this business was going to be open for a good while.

Gull turns on a feather

We need some air breaks here!  Time to do a quick correction change. Feathers, don't fail me now.  (I am interpreting here for the gull.  My gullian may be a little rusty). This was shot from the rear of the Galveston to Bolivar ferry.

Pelican's flight floats above the froth

A brown pelican shows off his gliding skills as he skims across the Galveston, TX, shore waters looking for breakfast.

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.

There's more than flags flying on the Fourth

On the Fourth of July, when the flags start waving and the barbeque starts burning, the fearsome comes out in us all.   Slade demonstrates how to stick the perfect dive (to celebrate the USA, of course).

Fourth of July Celebration was an eye-feast

We enjoyed the fireworks display last night in downtown Beaumont.  We were running late and pulled into downtown just as the booming started.  No wait at all.
The sky-lighting zingers were right overhead.

Raindrops bounce on the pool

You know the rain has gotten to you when you are sitting shooting pictures of raindrops hitting the swimming pool.  At least last week's rain is now history.  On to the oppressive heat -- weather du jour.

Gray Cowbird ups the backyard musical ante

I haven't seen this guy's kind in my backyard before.  This Gray Cowbird gives the Mocking Birds some competition in the "repeating-other-birds'-songs" category. That keeps the backyard sounding very musical.

Crawfish: Bugs you love to bite

The crawfish were huge, seasoned perfectly and as good as I have ever eaten, at an event yesterday out at the Wingfoot Club that our neighbor invited us to.  However, the prize of the day was the boudin.  I have never had boudin that tasty nor that spicy.
C'est la vie, chère!!

Bees buzz to new nectar fly-in

Bees are just like humans it seems.  When a new flower restaurant opens up, they all swarm there to see what the food is like. This is the magnolia at our house.

Broken eggs crack many smiles

Sloan walks away looking for new adventures after cracking open a bevy of plastic eggs found in and Easter Egg hunt.  Rabbit eggs scattered in the grass hint of many shared smiles.

Azalea pollen going fast

The Azaleas in the front of our house exploded into spring's color party this past week and then in a few days, the ground was littered with glories gone.  As I shared my photo shot with a bee in a fury to find the dwindling supply of nectar, I wondered about the market scheme Azalea's use -- everybody in the shopping center (Azalea bush) advertise at one time, splashing up a color flag no bee could miss.

Spring is unfurling

I have been noticing this year how many things "unfurl" in the Spring.

Hug this ugly mug?

Today is the last day for the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont.  It is your last chance to get up close with this beauty who has a face only a mother could love.