Dry Spring

tired again
though winter’s rest is over
sun dried chill blows
through a honeysuckle covered
briar patch

Respite cut short
by an early drought

balmy aroma settles sluggishly
among prickles and poison ivy
like artificially flavored syrup
on bleached, deep fried bread

stripped of nutritional purpose
sweet intoxication deteriorates




I don't know what happened to our April showers here in Texas. It's been over a month since we've seen rain, which is unusual for Houston.

The Snowy Plover in Galveston

When I was at the beach the other day, I found myself thinking about Leaf Lady Gail's post on the Snowy Plover. So, I came home and did some research.



Here's a website for The International Snowy Plover Survey. Apparently, this endangered bird's statistics are well documented along the Pacific coast where Gail lives, and now scientists are using those methods to study the Gulf Coast and Mexico where their numbers are thought to be declining also.



I see Snowy Plovers all the time, and never realized they were endangered. The book Bird Life of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast says that the only nesting evidence of these birds here are the fledglings sighted with their parents. No one has actually seen a nest. A 2004 Census counted 491 pairs along the Texas Coast. Counting these little guys seems to be difficult because of the constant changing of their habitat.



They like to nest in dry dunes near the tidal flats where they feed. This picture was taken at the east end of the island along the Houston ship channel, which is considered a bird sanctuary because of all the tidal sand flats and pools.



Hurricanes wipe out huge sections of these flats, washing the sand into the Houston ship channel.



Then we dredge up the sand from the bottom of the ship channel to rebuild the beaches. This is a section of East Beach that is just before the tidal flats. There was a sign saying that they're rebuilding it for sea turtles and endangered birds.



Here's a view of the reconstruction of East Beach from the tidal flats. The ship channel is to the left. The Gulf is straight ahead on the other side of the dunes.



It will probably take a while for the tidal flats to reform. Each time I go, they seem to be growing. I wasn't able to find a more current census to see if the population is declining. The 2004 Census was supposed to be a baseline for future reference.

Feeling Crabby

I would just like to thank this little guy for posing for me. All the rest crawled back up in their shells.


Dinner? ewwwwwww, yuk!

Beach Birds

I've moved close to downtown Houston now, and the good thing about this is that I'm on the side of town close to the ship channel and all the birding trails. Also, I'm only about 40 minutes from the Galveston beaches [it took me about an hour and a half before]. These pics were taken in Galveston.



I went to hike along the birding trails in Seabrook, but it turned into a mosquito fest. I didn't get any good pics from that trip. My hike turned into a jog, and it was an itchy ride home. I'm waiting for cooler weather before I go back. It's still in the 80's around here.



These last two were taken at sunset. The one above looks like they have pink butts :]

More Jellyfish

These are from Galveston. I'm not sure what kind they are. I've not seen them with the pink markings before.

Gone But Not Forgotten

I took these photos back in February on my last trip to Galveston. I've been meaning to post them for sometime now, but have been very distracted lately.


This was taken at the east end of the island where the bird sanctuary used to be. Somebody named Chris spray painted the words "gone but not forgotten" on the steps. The clean up process after Hurricane Ike is going to take a while, but the birds are making do. There are more photos of birds on my other blog.


This is where my favorite restaurant used to be. I'd park at the east end of the island, and walk about 2 or 3 miles, eat lunch, and then walk back.


A bit crowded here.


Making a home among the wreckage.

Creatures on the beach

I am pretty sure I never posted these pix of creatures seen on the beach!

Leaf Lady (Gail)

Indian Beach

Then I went to Indian Beach (also in Trinidad, down trail by lighthouse). That turned out to be the perfect place for an afternoon like this. Calm and almost warm!! It kind of reminded me of that Sept. weekend I spent in Rogers City, walking along Lake Huron.

I want to take advantage of good weather, which we haven't had much of and which won't last. Leaf Lady (gail)

Gas prices....by zip code and Lompoc California

Point Sal Beach State Park 24 April 2008. Trail head is 30 miles north of Lompoc. 10 mile hike.

photo by David Pierce

gas prices by zip code

$3.849 at the Circle K. I think the price is lower at Von's, the local supermarket (same as Safeway). Members get a small discount. What price do you have?

Big, Big Rock

Here is a cave painting I made from a picture from Leaflady. As you can see, rocks were much lighter long ago... this one just washed ashore...............Mike Serafin

Rock and Wave

Imagine you're back in the far reaches of time, before God invented color, and you had to send a postcard.

This is a detail of a picture sent to me by Leaflady from California...............Mike Serafin

Long Way Foam

by Leaf Lady (Gail).