There are several dozen of these palapas lining Rockport Beach not far from me. They are in high demand on the busy weekends when shade is hot commodity. Not a bad place to spend the day…
Tart
While there are several species of wild grape in Texas the Mustang Grape (Vitis mustangensis) is the most common one in the state. The fruit is edible, though quite tangy, so it is best enjoyed as a jam or in baked goods. In the mid-1860s the grapes were fermented into Mustang Wine which was purported to have healing powers. I look forward to them ripening so I can give them a try.
Bath Time
The Laughing Gulls made the best of the freshwater puddles after the big rain last week. I liked the water droplets in these photos…
Blame It on the Moon
This past weekend’s full moon resulted in higher than normal astronomical tides. NOAA warned of coastal flooding as result. And I did see areas where the waves pushed past the beach. It was interesting to see what the water left behind. This coconut had definitely been afloat for awhile. Don’t you just wonder where it originated?
Here to Stay
Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) are common worldwide with most breeding in the northern tundra. There are some down here along the Gulf Coast, however, that choose to not go the extra mile and stay here year round instead. Currently, they are rocking their bold “calico” breeding plumage. These short and stocky shorebirds busily use their strong bills to probe the soil or turn over rocks for tasty morsels (hence their common name).
Texas Man (and Woman)
Obviously, a quick internet search will prove that Florida clearly has earned its infamy as the home state of some of the most ridiculous and inept criminals (go ahead, search for Florida Man, I’ll wait). Texas, however, doesn’t like to be outdone in any category. So, I’m submitting, for your reading pleasure, this caper taken from the recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Field Notes:
“Wardens observed an individual fishing on Richland Chambers Reservoir after dark with no lights on his boat and made contact. The subject was found to have several water safety, fishing, and narcotics violations, including no lights and no boat registration, no fishing license, using game fish for bait, leaving game fish to die, undersized crappie, and possession of methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana. The subject was arrested and taken to the Navarro County Jail. A few days later, one of the wardens got a call from the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office informing them the subject’s wife was just arrested for trying to bond her husband out using $900 in counterfeit bills!”
An idiot two-fer!
Copano Bay, Fulton, Texas April 2019
Fair Warning
No Parking Sign in Gruene, Texas May 2019
Beautiful Bloom
White Blossom, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas March 2019
Though it chaps my hide to admit this, I cannot identify this pretty flower. In my defense, the section of the park where I snapped this photo is filled with tropical exotic plants, leftovers from when it was a mobile home park. The thick canopy is a big draw for a wide variety of birds, making the park a hotspot for birders.
Sea Monkeys
Two Tiny Monkeys, Rockport Beach, Texas May 2019
Found these adorable little monkeys during my beach walk yesterday. Though they look like gummy candy they are actually plastic (I’m not going to tell you how I sussed that out). It struck my funny bone since my fellow beach fanatics and I call ourselves Sea Monkeys. Just never know what I’ll find out there…
Sand Turtle
Beach Art, Found on Rockport Beach, Texas May 2019
While it is officially sea turtle nesting season on Mustang and Padre Islands this is the closest I will get to one here on my local beach. In a bit of good news, there have been 32 nests of the rarest sea turtle species, the Kemp’s Ridley, spotted at Padre Island National Seashore thus far this year.
In an effort to assist the recovery of this endangered species, all the eggs are collected by PINS staff and incubated indoors, safe from beach activities (as beach driving is allowed in Texas). Around 45 days later, the hatchlings are released. After reaching sexual maturity (roughly 10-15 years) females return to their home beach to nest. She deposits 100 eggs into the sand and can nest multiple times in a season. PINS invites the public to some of the releases, I hope to attend one next month.
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