In Search of Whooping Cranes

One of the big attractions here in the Fulton/Rockport area is the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and its population of Whooping Cranes. On Monday of last week we took a trip on the Skimmer out of Rockport to visit the Refuge and see cranes and other shore birds. What an experience! Captain Tommy Moore was a very knowledgeable guide. He knew where to find the Whooping Cranes, and skillfully maneuvered the Skimmer onto the beach and cut off the engines so we could observe the birds. Our group consisted of photograpers and serious birders, so we took full advantage of the information and the opportunity to watch and photograph. It was a fantastic day, clear, bright and calm. We were fortunate to see 31 of the Refuge's Whoopers, many of them quite close.

The first Whoopers we saw were a pair known as the Lobsticks. They are named for Lobstick Creek in northern Canda where they spend summers and hatch their young. This pair is unique in that the male was fledged in 1978 and is now almost 33 years old, quite venerable for a Whooping Crane. Whoopers mate for life, and normally live 15-20 years in the wild. He looks pretty good for an old man, doesn't he!


Although the Lobstick male is not banded, observers can identify him because the cranes are very territorial and return to the same locations each spring and fall. They defend their homes and drive off any other cranes that try to move in. This year, only the Lobstick male and female returned to Aransas. They did not bring a young crane with them. Either they did not have a successful nesting season, or the youngster died or was taken by a predator.






Male and female Whooping Cranes look alike, except that the male is larger. They stand almost 5 feet tall, and have a wingspan of 7 feet. In flight, their black wingtips are quite striking, and you can recognize them by their necks extended straight forward and their legs trailing behind well past their tails.  These cranes are searching for blue crabs in the marshes alongside the bay.  The second bird has a small friend which I think may be a Lesser Yellowlegs.  However, I'm a photographer, not an experienced birder, so I'll cheerfully accept a correction if someone has better information. 

Juvenile Whooping Cranes have a mixture of brown and white body feathers with black wingtips. We observed this juvenile and his or her parents searching for blue crabs in the marshes beside the bay. Not all juveniles can be identified, but this one carries bright bands on one leg and an antenna and radio transmitter on the other.  He should be easy to identify as he moves back and forth between Aransas and Canada.

The parents stay close to the youngster until they return to their nesting grounds in Canada. Then they will drive him away and raise a new family. The young cranes band together in groups called cohorts until they reach maturity at about 3 years. Then they choose mates, find territories and begin the cycle all over again.

As we returned from our trip to see the cranes, Captain Tommy brought the Skimmer carefully alongside a Great Blue Heron rookery. Great Blue Herons are among the first of the resident shore birds to breed and nest, sometimes as early as December or January. The rookery was crowded with herons. In breeding plumage, they are quite spectacular with long, trailing feathers and bright faces.

We saw a number of smaller shore birds on our trip, including this rare Long-Tailed Duck that was just bobbing along by itself in the bay.   I'll admit, it just looks like a duck to me, but all the birders on the boat were very excited to see it.

It was a great trip, and one we highly recommend if you're in the area.

"Skunked" Again

We're still having a great time on the Texas coast, and have recommendations for many places to go and things to see if you're in the area. However, processing photos and updating the blog took a back seat this week. We had another adventure....but not the kind we recommend.

We planned a trip to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday, but stopped en route to let the dogs stretch their legs in the farmlands between Fulton and the Refuge. We found a deserted dirt road between plowed fields. Perfect, wouldn't you think? Not really! There were several abandoned barns and outbuildings 100 yards or so off the road, and the Bagley Pack made a beeline for them. We tried to call them back, but they heeded another call. By the time we got there, Lucky Dog and Nickie had found a skunk and were doing their best to annihilate it. The dogs won.....or maybe the skunk did. It didn't survive, but it did exact its revenge.

We spent most of the rest of the day washing dogs....at least L.D. and Nickie. I'm convinced that Feathers whispered in Dakota's ear and told her to stay away! She didn't participate in the skunk eradication, but she also didn't spend the rest of the day being scrubbed with scent-neutralizing soap. Fortunately, one of the local vets had a skunk-odor-emulsifying product which worked fairly well. It's at least as effective as the hydrogen peroxide-baking soda-dish detergent mix we used the last time. (Unfortunately this wasn't their "first rodeo" in the skunk department.)

Life goes on. We're trying to remove the odor from the inside of the Tracker and will see in a couple of days if we need to bathe them again. If I can get past our "adventures," I'll post the highlights of our Rockport/Fulton stay, and images from our trip on the "Skimmer" to see the Whooping Cranes. Stay tuned.

Feathers and Scales

We've had sunshine and moderate temperatures for several days now, and everyone here is positively giddy.  Walking dogs (and lots of people have them) in cold, windy, weather isn't fun for anyone, except maybe the dogs. 

On Saturday, we drove 35 miles east to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge to stretch our legs and see if there were birds and other critters out and about.  The spring migration hasn't started yet, so we only saw a few resident birds.  The Whooping Cranes were hiding, but we did see several flocks of Long-billed Curlew alongside the road on our way in.  There were also graceful White Ibis feeding in marshlands along one of the trails we walked.  The White Ibis is a medium-sized wading bird with red face, red legs, and a long decurved bill.  In flight the adults like this one are especially striking, with black wing-tips offsetting their snowy feathers.  Maybe I'll get a shot of one in flight before we leave.

The splotchy brown Ibis are juveniles.  We almost missed the one on the bank because it so perfectly camouflaged.  

We also saw a number of these small, sparrow-like birds.  They should be called a Yellow-rumped Something or Other.  However, so far I haven't been able to find them in my Peterson Field Guide.  I'll let you know when I identify them.  

A raccoon skittered along the edge of the pond but didn't come out for photographs and we also spied an armadillo.  When we rounded a turn in the path and surprised one of these iconic Texas critters, the dogs almost pulled me off my feet.  Fortunately I was able to stop them before we all disappeared into the bushes after the 'dillo. 

Aransas also has a healthy population of American Alligators.  We were advised to keep all pets on leash, and I understand why.  As we walked the trails we saw these two 'gators, which we estimated to be about 10 feet long. 

We didn't have to drive all the way to the wildlife refuge to see birds, though.  Right in our RV park is a sizable flock of Black-bellied Tree Ducks, also known as Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.  We see them beside the ponds and on the water during the day.  Then, as the sun sets they take off and soar overhead in shrilly-whistling "V" formations.  As you can see in this photo, they have long pink legs and a coral-pink bill.

The ponds at Bay View have signs warning us to watch out for alligators.  We were told that at least 18 were removed from the park a couple of years ago after they threatened guests and their pets. So far as we can see, there are no more in residence, thank goodness!  However, we'll keep the dogs out of the water just the same.

Post from the Coast

John's cedar allergies finally convinced us to get out of Central Texas for a few weeks until the pollen count goes down. On Thursday, January 27, we traveled south some 200 miles to Rockport/Fulton (or, if you're in Fulton, Fulton/Rockport), Texas. We, along with at least half the populations of Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and a number of other northern states, are on the Texas coast between Corpus Christi and Port Lavaca. We plan to be here until the end of February, or possibly into March, depending on the weather and how the stars line up.

We're camped east of Fulton in Bay View RV Resort. The park is only a couple of miles from the Copano Bay Causeway, where this photo was taken.  We're about 3-4 miles from the downtown areas of Fulton and Rockport, so shopping is convenient, as are several good restaurants. Bay View is an older RV park, with spacious sites and an abundance of large live oak trees. The people here are very friendly, and most are "Snowbirds" and will spend several months on the coast.

There are lots of activities at the clubhouse and water aerobics at one of the two pools. (However, it's a little chilly for me to venture into the water, even to work up a sweat!) There are several ponds on the permises, and one called "The Swamp" that is located behind our site. There are no mosquitoes this time of year, so we just enjoy the chorus of frogs and the lovely reflections.  (It's too cold and windy for photos today, but I'll post some as soon as the weather improves.)

We spent some time over the weekend getting settled, hooking up the satellite dish, etc. Then, on Monday of last week did some exploring and took the dogs to the beach at Port Aransas. (The "beach" at Fulton/Rockport is mostly shells.)  When we left camp, we had bright sunshine.  However, by the time we arrived at the ferry dock, Mustang Island was covered by a dense fog bank.  The dogs didn't care, though.  The beach was a big hit, but they didn't exactly know how to handle the water.  It kept advancing and receding, unlike the stock tank at the farm. It also didn't taste good, as Nickie and Dakota can attest.

We didn't stay long in Rockport, though.  Reacting to weather reports that predicted temperatures below freezing for several consecutive days, last Tuesday we left the RV at Bay View and raced back home. It was a good thing we did. Evening readings in Austin fell into the 'teens, and temperatures didn't rise above freezing for three days. We burned a lot of firewood, but had no damage or serious problems. We did get a bit of snow, which is always a treat since it's rare for Austin. Lucky Dog was happy to stay inside with me, but the 22 degree temperatures didn't faze Nickie and Dakota. They had a great romp in the white stuff.

We drove back to Rockport on January 4, and had several pleasant, sunny days before another cold front arrived this morning. The temperature dropped from an overnight low of 60 degrees to a windy 35 at noon. We're staying inside for a while!



















　

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone. We've been out of touch for some time since getting home from our RV trip this fall. We did, however, want to let you know we've been thinking about you. We won't be able to post this until we get back to the Land of Internet Service, but we hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

To bring you up to date.......

On our way home from New Mexico, we stopped in Johnson City, Texas, where we visited our good friends Jimmy Joe and Danine Jacks. Michal joined Jimmy Joe for a day of photography to document the history of Peyton Colony for the Blanco County Historical Sociery. Peyton Colony was established soon after the Civil War by a group of freed slaves. The community survived as an entity until the early 1960s, but most of the descendents of the original settlers have now moved away.  Jimmy Joe (whom she has known since elementary school) is preparing a video history of the Colony, and asked Michal to assist by taking some still photos while he conducted video interviews of Lawrence Coffee and his two daughters, who are descendents of Peyton Colony founders, and who still live in the area. The interviews were conducted in the old cemetery, where descendents of the original residents are still being laid to rest, and in the schoolhouse which was used until 1963. Here is a photo of Lawrence and his daughters, and of Jimmy Joe shooting video footage.

After settling back into our home outside Austin, Michal and Nickie, our Border Collie, participated in a couple of canine agility trials. They were a little rusty, but Nickie still managed to have qualifying runs in three of her four events in the first trial, and in four of her six events in the second. Here's a photo of Nickie showing off her form.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with some of Michal's family at our farm in Hamilton County. The farm, located on 225 acres east of Hamilton, has been in Michal's family for over 50 years. We have a weekend house there, and keep busy keeping the cedar (actualy Ash Juniper) cleared and taking care of our 10 cows and their offspring. Here is the view from our back porch, which overlooks one of the three stock ponds on the property. When we have time for recreation, we fish in the ponds, and during hunting season pursue deer, ducks and dove.

Christmas brought us all together again at the farm. And, it brought excitement as well. On Monday after Christmas, Michal took the Bagley Pack for a run. The dogs jumped a small buck and a spirited chase ensued. The dogs crossed from our farm into the neighbor's, and their yips and barks faded into the distance.  I was very concerned that they would trail for miles and might not be able to find their way home.  So, I crossed into the neighbor's pasture and tried to follow. I soon heard, not the yips and barks that signalled, "We're chasing something," but growls that said, "We've caught it!!!" 

I hurried toward the sounds of the battle and found all three dogs in the chest-deep (to them) water of Neils' Creek trying to overcome a deer.  I could hardly believe they had caught it, but my eyes didn't lie.  In short order all three of them were acting as a team to pull the deer from the water onto the bank. By the time I reached them, they had the deer ashore.  It was dead, having drowned in the stream, I think.   (I discovered that, in its efforts to get away, the deer had somehow broken a leg, which probably allowed the dogs to catch it.)  The girls were very proud of themselves, and when I arrived were trying to figure out how to eat their prize. Here's a photo of the end of the chase.

We don't waste anything around here, so I called John on the walkie-talkie, and he came to load the deer into our truck. Long story short, the "prize" was soon skinned (with help from Nickie), dressed and in the ice chest. 

We have since enjoyed some of the backstrap.  The Bagley Pack enjoyed some venison scraps and bones as a reward, and will no doubt be dreaming of the hunt for a long time.

But the excitement didn't end there. Michal's son, Brian, his wife Debi and our grandson, 12-year-old Gage, arrived on Tuesday for a visit and so that Gage could hunt. (Gage took his first deer last year.)  He is shown above preparing for some target practice.   After four unsuccessful hunts (two of them starting before sunup), Gage killed a nice doe.

We're not "trophy hunters," but instead take only deer we can eat. Here, Gage and John are shown skinning and dressing the deer. We'll all get together in a week or so to make it into "deerburger" or sausage for the freezer.

Gage spent New Year's at the farm with us so Brian and Debi could enjoy some adult time together, and marked the occasion with a few fireworks. Here, Nickie tries to warn Gage that sparklers are, after all, fire, and barks, "Danger! Danger!"

It has been a wonderful two months since we came home, but we look forward to packing up again soon and spending some more time traveling in the fifth wheel. If we don't see you in and around Austin or Hamilton, we hope to see you on the road. Happy New Year!

The Sands of Time

After the wedding celebration we spent a cool night in Cloudcroft, then headed down the mountain to Alamogordo well-stocked with generous gifts of apples and apple cider. On our way down the mountain, we saw this magnificent vista to the west. Unfortunately, it was a windy day and the dust obscured part of the view.

We camped in Boot Hill RV Park in Alamogordo, which had very nice facilities, and got the dogs' vote because it had a spacious run with plenty of room for playing ball, sniffing and dog tussles.   Monday afternoon we toured the New Mexico Museum of Space History which focuses on the part New Mexico has played in the US space program. In addition to a flight simulator, there were excellent displays of satellites, rockets, etc. We highly recommend it.

On Tuesday, we came back to the Museum to see the IMAX production of "Hubble." Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this is the seventh in the series for the IMAX Space Team. The production puts you up close and personal with the astronauts as they experience the launch and engage in space walks to repair the mammoth telescope. The views of galaxies near and far are breathtaking, and for the first time I realized just what this incredible piece of equipment brings to our understanding of our world. Please check out your local IMAX and don't miss it.

　

Alamogordo is famous not only for its proximity to White Sands Missile Range, but as the location of the White Sands National Monument. Consisting of white gypsum, the dunes are spectacular at any time of the day, but especially at morning and evening. This is one of only three occurrences of any size in the world of gypsum dunes. The Monument encompasses over 275 square miles of dunes, and dwarfs the other two locations (in New Mexico and Texas) which cover less than ten square miles each.  Formed millions of years ago, the basin has created a National treasure in the form of the magnificent snow-white dunes.

I was fortunate to be the first person to take the one-mile nature loop on Tuesday morning, so I had wonderful views of the dunes unmarred by footprints, except for these little prints, possibly made by the tiny kit fox that lives here.

　
On Tuesday evening, we returned for a one-hour ranger-guided walk into the dunes. Though there were footprints by this time, the soft evening light was beautiful, causing the sand and the surrounding mountains to glow in shades of peach, orange and magenta.

　
We learned that the gypsum dunes occur in this area because of the Tularosa Basin.  A basin, unlike a valley, has no outlet for runoff water.  Since gypsum is water-soluble, it rarely forms crystals.  However, in this instance the water carrying the dissolved gypsum, having no outlet from the basin, simply flows into the dunes area and evaporates, leaving behind selenium crystals collected on its way.  These break down into smaller particles and form the dunes.

　
The dunes "migrate" due to wind currents, and the base can move up to ten feet in a year. As they move, the dunes cover some forms of vegetation, and uncover others. When a dune moves away from a plant, if its roots are well-entrenched in the groundwater layer that lies three feet or so below the dunes, the plant holds the sand and forms a "pedestal," like the one in the photo above.  If the plant is healthy, its pedestal can be quite large.  However, eventually the dune moves away and the plant collapses because it has no support.

Good fortune for the area, in the form of a two-inch rain the week before, was not to our advantage.  The road into the dunes is only paved for 3.5 of its 8-mile length.  Because the rain dissolved the hard-packed gypsum of the road into the heart of the dunes, the last 4.5 miles  of the road was closed to traffic.  We were unable, therefore, to see the "heart" of the park, where the large dunes are devoid of vegetation.  We'll have a good excuse to return another day!

　

I Do! I Do!

Brian and Debi were blessed with a truly beautiful wedding day. After cold (by Texas standards), blustery weather on Friday and Saturday (and before cloudy, cold and windy conditions on Monday), Sunday, October 24, 2010, dawned clear, crisp and beautiful, with only a light wind. Several of us spent the morning and early afternoon picking and sorting apples, while Brad, Justine and John slaved over a hot grill to have ribs, pork tenderloin, pinto beans, salad and the wedding cake ready for the celebratory feast.

　

What can I say...the bride was stunning! The groom was handsome! The children were happy, and the parents and guests were delighted!



Gage, Brian, Myles, Debi and Mallory

The New Mexico sunset provided an appropriate backdrop for the wedding ceremony,

　



Brian's Grandmother Audrey Wann, Michal and John, Barbara Hawn and Trenton Wann, and Debi's Mom, Eleene and her husband, Waymon Upchurch



...and the minister even entertained us with songs after pronouncing Brian and Debi Husband and Wife!

Toasts and good wishes followed, including very special words from Mallory, Myles and Gage.  Brian's Grandmother, Audrey Wann, read this lovely blessing which I believe comes from the Apache tradition:

Now you will feel no rain

For each of you will be shelter to the other.

Now each of you will feel no cold

For each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there is no loneliness for you

For each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons

But there is one life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place to enter into the days of your togetherness

And may your days be good and long upon the earth.

I can't imagine a more perfect day.  We hope that Brian and Debi's life together will be filled with love, commitment, and happiness. Please enjoy these photos from their special day and join us in wishing them God's blessings for a lifetime of love and laughter.