Well we weren’t out for long today, but what we did in that time made it eventful!

I could become a real birder in this place, especially after today. Before I get to that, listen to this!

We got out a bit early to run and check mail, so Dave came back via the beach. One minute we were watching the parks dept cleaning up loads of seaweed from the beach, and the next thing, we were alerted to a nesting sea turtle! In my 30+ years of coming here, I’ve never been treated to this sighting. Enlarge the picture if needed to see her, she’s pretty Sandy, making it difficult to see her.

But Dave didn’t head back home, he kept on driving and as we exited to beach, he stopped by a grouping of signs. He is always on Google earth, so he must have seen this from above and wanted to see it at our level. It turned out to be a military gun battery area. There were two hills to see what we came to see, so we climbed one abd once on top, I got it. They were where formally guns or cannons were positioned to defend the beach during WWII. Signs explain better than me, so here is the gallery. Just know that from one hill, we took pics of the other hill cause we weren’t walking up another one with the storm building around us.

There was a marker like a medallion or something at the top of the hill we climbed, I should have paid more attention, but I was too busy taking in all the sights from up there.

We drove on. We drove to the Port Aransas Community Center and Museum, got out and admired and photographed several flowers and historical markers because the museum was closed until Thursday. Dave is more into taking pics of flowers, I was surprised by that, but so happy to have them for the blog. (And that he takes joy in one of my hobbies). I just wish he antes to go and do as much as me, but I just have more nervous energy I guess.

Here’s that gallery.

There were so many more, but he hasn’t sent them to me yet. During the storm, we lost power for a while and he just hasn’t remembered to do it yet.

The next thing I knew, we headed to the birding sight we’ve always known and loved here, The Leonabelle Turnbull Wildlife refuge. The only downside to this place is that it gets bad smells from the neighboring water treatment plant. Other than that, it’s one of the best place to view migratory as well as residential species of birds, not to mention flowers and the one remains celebrity alligator named Boots. Bags must have passed away. We saw him this time, but best of all was the second rare sighting of the day. My picture was ok, but Dave probably got better ones, so I included one from the Audubon Society so you could see it clearly.

This is a rare bird for the area, and had some true birders not been there, I’d have never known this was such a treat! This is not the area these birds normally migrate through. Anyway, the bird is a Townsend’s Warbler. How cool is that!! It makes me think I was never a true birdwatcher, most of the birds I normally admire are sea birds. I do love all birds though.

We also saw several varieties of birds common to the area, roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons, and more that the gallery will show you, but you may have to expand the picture to read them.

It was mesmerizing as usual, but we discovered we could walk much further around the sanctuary and started that way when I announce that I need to find a bathroom. Kiss of death. We got home, ate lunch, the storm blew in and we never let again. Even after it cleared up. I should speak up instead of expecting because I’m always disappointed when I do that. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow!

PS-my bike didn’t arrive yet, that I know of. And I discovered it’s coming in several different boxes. Maybe the weather delayed it. In any case, I’ll not be riding my new bike by the weekend. Yay!