W15 Days 9-12

Day 9 February 22

It was a muggy start to the day. We headed further south after a stop at an H.E.B. and a trip on the Port Aransas ferry (from which we saw dolphins!). And, it was 75F!

We got a great site (15, $8.00) in the Malaquite Campground of the Padre Island National Seashore. We came here in 2011 and met our great friends Linda and Denny; Nancy and Al; and Marilyn and Brad. I missed them this trip.

I walked the beach and got some interesting shots:

Upon my return, we were witness to an interesting “take down” across from our site:

There were two young Hispanic couples. A guy and two girls went to the beach. The second guy parked illegally and loudly (boom boom music) and the Park Rangers appeared. One was a tough woman and the other was a very large Black man, There were a thorough search of the car (a new Camaro), drug tests on things found in the car, forced seating on the ground for the three swimmers, a sobriety test for the driver and tension then laughing. Very strange. We figure they got the guy for DUI and underage drinking (age of majority is 21 here). We felt the response by the Park Rangers was a little over the top. But these kids were a bit foolish if you ask me.

Here’s the view from my chair of our campsite birds, an Eastern Meadowlark and a very noisy Great-tailed Grackle:

And a view of the View from the beach:

Day 10 February 23

I think I was being punished for bragging about the weather, because we woke to 35F and wind and rain. We started a beach walk, then decided to make for the 9:30 Guided Bird Tour.

It was a crowded van and there was no real time to get out and observe and take pictures (not that we wanted to get out in that cold), but we did see 30 different birds, and 5 Life Birds: Mottled Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, a Wilson’s Snipe, a Reddish Egret, and an American Avocet. Wow.

We spent the afternoon bundled up inside (no services here, so the sleeping bags came back out of the cupboard) and took no pictures! A cold day but great birding from a heated van!

Day 11 February 24

We thought we’d head further south to South Padre Island (SPI) a new place for us. Before we left the National Seashore, we did a quick birding tour of our own and got pictures of the Reddish Egret, American Avocet, a Black-necked Stilt and some Sandhill Cranes:

It was a good day for the 3 1/2 hour drive since it was cold and drizzly. Here are some observations:

• 20 Homeland Security cameras at the National Seashore Park Entrance/Exit
• a Barbed Wire fence beside a Tattoo and Piercing Salon
• Floyd’s Christian Restaurant (who our what do they serve?)
• a company called Mattress Firm
• School of Education’s team slogan “Javelina Pride” (which is like Wild Pig Pride???)
• a Texas HIGHWAY Patrol truck pulling a 600 hp boat
• “Get a lawyer that’s got a pair…” (of offices in Brownsville)

We got to South Padre Island and were a bit taken aback by the commercialism (though it is Texas’ College Spring Break destination). We drove the strip, found the Andy Bowie County Park and paid $30 a night for full services in site 8. Not much to write home about, but it IS on the beach, across from the Birding Centre and has electricity for our heater because it was only 42F!!!

We bundled up and took a brief beach walk and froze:

Here’s a view of the View:

Day 12 February 25

The weather looked more promising, but it was a four-layer start to the day as we walked to the SPI Birding and Nature Centre:

This has a lovely Visitor Centre and observation tower and a boardwalk for viewing birds.

We saw a new Life Bird, an American Wigeon:

There were Tilapia (layers of them, gathered to keep warm) watched by this little Tri-coloured Heron (too big for him):

There was even an Alligator and some Turtles:

After lunch, we stripped to three layers and took a bike ride for miles down the beach and back up the street (with a little t-shirt shopping). By 4:30 it was time for a two-layer final walk of the beach. I think this was the best time of the day: the sun was out and it was about 65F.

Here’s the view of the dunes from my chair: