I left the house a little before 8 a.m. on Friday the 29th for a trip to my hometown. First I'd stop in Victoria to pick up a co-conspirator. Then we would run the highway to Sinton. We will be down here for a few days with others - including our brother. He knows the birds. We have "oohed and aahed" at the raptors along the route. I observed 15 hawks and 7 kestrels.
My plan was to add to my "road-kill" observations as 183 from Luling to Cuero and then 87 from Cuero to Victoria are generally "covered" in dead critters. I didn't give myself much time and so only recorded a few as I counted hawks.
Just south of Gonzales I glanced at a pond and saw a Great Blue Heron and Great Egret wading. Now THAT was worth turning around for - so I headed back to try and grab a photo of the birds and found, Killdeer as well.
All in all we observed loads of birds along the highways, at Indian Point Park, at Sunset Lake, in fields around Sinton, at the family property near Taft, and on our alternate route home through Rockport. We stayed through Sunday morning, giving us a little more time to enjoy the Roseatte Spoonbills, egrets, herons, pelicans, ducks, and ibis (and so much more).
These were two of my top three trips to Indian Point.
[And I'm keeping up with the roadkill.]
Wolfberry at Indian point
There is a family of raccoons living out here. I have video of one from a year or so ago. And we saw on on the 30th feeding in and around the birds - but too far for a photo. I love coming upon these tracks at low tide.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park.
Ridiculously wonderful day to bird at Indian Point Park. We call this a Carolina Wolfberry.
Fabulous birds at Indian Point
Fabulous birds at Indian Point
Fabulous birds at Indian Point
Fabulous birds at Indian Point
Birds at Indian Point
The mangroves appeared to have spread significantly since our last visit. It is hard to know because the entire area seems to have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. We had not been back since because of park closure. We found lots of herons hiding in the mangroves.
Comments
Roadkill observations are SO important. Thank you!
And remember, each time that you observe roadkill, you're validating that organism's existence. Its death is not in vain! :)
I know Sam, but I don't publicize my participation in this project. My husband already thinks I'm a little morbid. We negotiate what stretch of road we'll stop on as he refuses to do so on the entire trip if he's along. He wasn't on this one, so I was able to stop whenever it was safe to do so. I do like to balance the dead things with the live ones and we did. It was a fabulous trip. I added at least two birds to my life list I'd never been able to count before. Best of all I was birding with my brother and sister - always a good time.
A wonderful time observing nature with family! :)
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