Sea Rim State Park

This was our first time to camp at Sea Rim.  We've made lots of day trips here but since it's less than 35 miles from home, we decided to give it a try and camped for two nights.

This is a view of the campground from the boardwalk that crosses over to the beach.  Our camper is at the far end on the left.  I loved the tent that looks like a log cabin!

Our front yard for a few days!  It's only a short walk to get to the beach.

Loved bird watching, especially this beautiful Great Egret!

Common Nighthawk

There were quite a few of these around!  They would be sitting in parking lots or any place where they just kind of blended in.  They are not very active all day but then as soon as the sun goes down they are out catching insects.  And there were plenty of mosquitoes for them at night!

This Black-necked Stilt was fussing at me to please stay away 

from her baby!

Killdeer

I came home and looked at this picture several times before noticing the extra set of legs!  There is a little baby chick hiding from me!

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 91:4

Linking with - Wild Bird Wednesday

Spring Migration - Sabine Woods

We only have to travel about 30 miles to see beautiful birds that are migrating through Southeast Texas.

Blackpoll, American Redstart, and Yellow Warblers

Sabine Woods Bird Sanctuary provides the perfect place for these birds as they complete their long flight across the Gulf of Mexico.  Here they can find shelter, adequate food source, and fresh water. 

Blackpoll Warbler

There are large oaks, willows, hackberrys, and mulberry trees that make this a welcoming place for a stop-over before heading further north to their breeding grounds. 

Also, there are ponds and two bird baths chiseled from large flat rocks and set up with a water drip that the birds just love to visit.    

Painted Bunting and Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Painted Bunting

There are trails throughout the sanctuary and benches that make it the perfect place for birders to come and get to see these birds during migration season.  The sanctuary is maintained by the Golden Triangle Audubon Society.  

Some of my favorites!

Summer Tanager

Wood Thrush

Prothonatary Warbler

To read some interesting facts about bird migration go here .

It is just so amazing to me to think about these little birds and how they just naturally know when to go, where to go, and then have the navigational skills and physical ability to travel to the same place each year!

Job 12:7-10 (NIV) 

 But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;

or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform you.

 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
 In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.

Happy Easter

The promise of Easter is witnessed and heard 

In each budding flower and each singing bird, 

For Easter and spring are God's loving way 

Of showing that He is still with us today. 

Helen Steiner Rice

A Special Visitor at Camp

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find. 

William Wordsworth

Happy Spring!

My favorite thing about Spring has got to be all the beautiful birds and their sweet cheerful songs!  

Harbor Light Resort Hemphill, Texas

Eastern Kingbird

Mockingbird

Canadian Geese

Bluebirds

ADVICE FROM A BLUEBIRD 

 Rise early 

 Spread a song in your heart 

 Think spring 

 Be colorful 

 Feather your nest with friendships 

 The sky's the limit!

Spring Forward!

Today I will 'Spring Forward' my blog from 

March 2015 to March 2017!

Time does 'March' on doesn't it!  I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.  I haven't stopped taking pictures - just stopped taking the time to post them.  So I have some catching up to do!

 FEBRUARY FIELD TRIP TO ANAHUAC WILDLIFE REFUGE

We joined up with the Golden Triangle Audubon group for a great day of birding.  We're new to the group so we have lots to learn about birding and they were all so helpful.

We walked a loop called 'the willows' where we saw this beautiful bird.  This was my first time to see a Vermilion Flycatcher.  He has such a brilliant red crown, lower face, and underparts with mostly dark blackish brown elsewhere.

Vermilion Flycatcher

The Sparrows
We saw several different kind of sparrows that I don't normally see at my feeder.

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Water Birds

During the winter thousands of geese arrive at the refuge.  We saw a flock of snow geese and lots of different kinds of ducks. I loved these little stilts!

Black-necked Stilt

Red-breasted Merganser

And the highlight of our day was seeing this special bird!

This is his second time to spend the winter here.  Normally these owls are seen further west in abandoned Prarie Dog burrows.  This one has made a burrow under a piece of concrete and luckily he came out for us and posed for a while.

Burrowing Owl

"Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles.  We just have to notice them."
Mike Greenberg

Have a great day and don't forget to spring forward!!

Stroud's Pond

Every time we eat at one of our favorite places, Stroud's Oak Ridge Manor in Kansas City, we always stop to visit the swans that live there in the pond. 
The last time we were there we spotted this busy little mama across the pond.

She had one cute little cygnet already hatched and we could see at least 3 more eggs. 

 

Great are the works of the Lord;

    they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Psalm 111:2

The Flight of the Great Blue Heron

On our last camping trip we had a beautiful campsite right next to the water and enjoyed watching the beautiful Great Blue Herons each day as they waded along the edge of the lake. My husband was lucky enough to capture these pictures as one took off and landed further down the shoreline.

San Augustine Park - Lake Sam Rayburn, 

Pineland, Texas

Because of their size (3.2 to 4.5 feet) and wide wingspan (5.5 to 6.6 feet) it’s really amazing to watch them in flight.

We see these birds every time we go camping and even here in town along the canals. I love watching them as they patiently wait for their next meal. 

Sandy Creek Park - Steinhagen Lake, 

Jasper, Texas

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Entertaining Hummingbirds

 We've spent a lot of time lately just watching these little guys.  Once they start coming by, usually around the first of August,  they stay in our area until we've had a few cold fronts.  We've had a lot of rain lately and that didn't even slow them down.  
Isn't he cute all fluffed up sitting in the rain!

 

 I keep 3 feeders out all the time plus we have several blooming plants that they are feeding on.  As they get ready to migrate south they spend a lot of time eating insects and nectar to fatten up.  They gain 25-40% of their body weight before they start migration.

This one is guarding the feeders.  They are very territorial and spend a lot of time fighting.  I've never seen one get hurt but they do get pretty rough with each other. 

They'll be leaving us pretty soon for their annual migration to Southern Mexico or Central America.  It's hard to believe that some of them will be traveling over water for 450 miles (about 20 hours).  No wonder they are feeding almost non stop!

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.”

 Jamie Paolinetti

 

I'll get back with more pictures from our Alaskan cruise soon. 

 Jeanne

 

 

 

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