Sign Outside the Back Porch, Port Aransas, Texas April 2019
Truth!
Evolution of My Transportation
I beachcombed these toys during my daily walks along Rockport Beach over the past couple months. I found them in this order, from left to right, and it made me chuckle when I realized they formed a pretty accurate timeline of the modes of transit in my life.
I grew up with ponies and horses but my favorite was Pancho. After school and on weekends (basically, any chance I got) we’d meander trails through the desert. I preferred riding bareback as it was the fastest way to freedom. On our way home I’d drop the reins around his neck and lay back to watch the sky. I’d share my young cares and worries, as well as my farfetched dreams, with my sweet pony; my head lolling side to side on his rump as he’d carefully walk us home.
Later, as a teenager I spent one summer zipping around a small town in Illinois on a moped. Okay, so it wasn’t a motorcycle, but I still loved that feeling of the breeze flowing freely through my hair. I’ll admit the coolness factor of my moped was lessened by the basket up front but at least it came in handy. After I found a momma dog and her puppies at an abandoned farmhouse, most of my time was occupied collecting bottles along the roadside and redeeming them for the deposit so I could buy her dog food.
A few more years passed before I finally had my first car. The lure of the open road was (and remains) strong. I love that feeling of liberation when I open a map and follow a blue highway to anywhere. I’ve driven in all 50 states as well as through huge chunks of Canada. Along the way, I’ve logged 750,000 miles in ten different vehicles (yes, one of them was red and a couple were SUVs). Since I still love to explore, I have a shot at hitting a million in my lifetime.
Funny what you’ll find on the beach…
Iridescent Feathers
This was not the best of days for this Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus). But molting will do that to you. Poor baby, it looks like quite a painful process. I’m sure he will soon be rivaling the other handsome males. Their bright yellow eye is good trait to distinguish them from their close relative, the Boat-tailed Grackle which is also found along the Gulf Coast.
Great-tailed Grackle, South Padre island, Texas March 2019
Seacat
Gafftopsail Catfish, Rockport, Texas April 2019
Don’t let the shiny surface of the Gafftopsail Catfish (Bagre marinus) fool you – this fish is adorned with long, venomous spines (hiding in the dorsal and pectoral fins). Fishing websites recommend caution when dealing with this species as one wrong move can send you to the emergency room in horrible pain. Interesting factoid, the male is a mouthbreeder, meaning after fertilizing her eggs (up to 55 of them) he carries them in his mouth until they hatch. He must forgo food for the entire 65 day incubation period. What a good dad!
I Disagree, Juliet.
I call bs on the phrase, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Setting aside my aversion to roses, anyone who believes that saying has never been called pulchritudinous. Instead of making me feel beautiful, the word gives me the creeps. Try saying it out loud, it sounds like someone hacking up a hairball. It should be a description for a nauseating odor. (Ed. Note: I’ve never been called pulchritudinous. This is just the kind of thing I think about while feverishly fighting a cold. So I thought I’d share it with you. You’re welcome.)
Prickly Pear Flower, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, Brownsville, Texas March 2019
Colorful
Texas Spotted Whiptail, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, Texas March 2019
When I glanced down to find the source of the rustling noise in the leaf litter I caught a blur of color. Intrigued, I followed my fast moving subject through the detritus. Finally, he paused and I snapped a couple photos before he zipped away.
A bit of online research helped me identify my speedy fellow as a Texas Spotted Whiptail (Aspidocelis gularis). The species sports an exceptionally long tail, roughly three times their body length, but I was too busy concentrating on the colorful stripes and spots on its body to catch the tail.
Gularis is Latin meaning throat which is an appropriate feature to focus on since the reddish throat is so prominent (females of the species sport a lighter pink throat). Here’s a better photo of the back:
Teeter Tail
Louisiana Waterthrush, Port Aransas, Texas March 2019
The Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) is found along wooded wetlands with flowing water. While actually a warbler, this bird’s streaky plumage resembles a thrush (hence the common name). The bright pink legs and white eyebrow are helpful identifying features of this fast moving bird. The ornithological term for that long, white eyebrow is supercilium (which is an awfully fun word to say, come on, try it). By the way, motacilla is Latin for moving tail and is used for the genus of wagtails. Though technically, the LOWA teeters its body, it doesn’t wag.
Best Bird List Ever
Name calling at its finest…
Stare Down
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Cricket, an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio). Based on his expression, he may not have been as excited to meet me. Cricket was brought in to ARK with an injury that was irreparable, so he is now a permanent resident. Cricket earns his keep by serving as an educational ambassador, traveling to schools and appearing at special events.
Sunset Collection
I collect sunsets. I suppose I take after my dad in that regard. He collects clouds. He’s especially fond of the towering thunderheads that are good omens of rain. That penchant is understandable, since he was born and raised in the arid Sonoran Desert.
Our collections differ in that I capture mine digitally and store them on a hard drive for potential later use, whereas his exist only as mental snapshots, stored in his mind palace. To each his own.
Copano Bay, TX April 2019
Copano Bay, TX March 2019
Laguna Madre, TX March 2019
Depoe Bay, OR January 2019
Ventura, CA August 2014
Portland, OR June 2014
Tucson, AZ November 2010
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