APR 2010- Port Lavaca, TX (Magnolia Beach)

[Bethers]

Oops, I forgot to say Happy Birthday to Birdie! It must have been one since you were able to celebrate with such outstanding women!

[Rufflesgurl]

Looks like you gals are having a grand time!! Keep enjoying.

Liz, thanks for the great pix. Love the wildflowers. I went out yesterday morning to find wildflowers but I think it might be a week or so too early for the full bloom. Most of the fields were of light yellow and darker yellow flowers and a very few bluebells.
I'm on the central coast of CA. I will check in a week or so to see if more flowers have come out.

Linda

[Carolinagal]

What a great time it looks like you all are having. Little envy here!! That beach looks wonderful and water parking areas are my thing. Found out Friday morning, my company can not come, health issues. To late to make that GTG, but I will really make an effort for another one out there. Keep the pictures coming, I'm loving them.

Safe and Happy travels everyone
Carol

[Liz]

On Saturday we drove around to the other side of the bird refuge area to visit a cemetery we could see on the ridge.



Graves date from the mid 1800s. This fellow drowned during a hurricane (the “Great Cyclone”) in 1880.


There were many infants and children.


And a few unknowns.


The ridge was blanketed with bouquets of tiny wildflowers, each unique and beautiful if you bent over close enough to appreciate their details.





Along the road we did some birding.
I spotted this osprey and guessed its identity correctly.


Birdie is a very patient teacher, and I’m an eager, albeit forgetful learner. This was a very pretty DUCK with 3 names that Birdie will say patiently again and again every time I ask.


She taught me to tell the difference between these willets (?)


and this yellowlegs....although I can’t remember if this is a greater or lesser yellowlegs, or if we even established that difference.


To help identify a bird you have to pay attention to the color of its legs and feet, the colors and shape of its beak, the way it flies and the way it hunts/eats, as well as the sound it makes. Then you compare with the pictures and descriptions in a good birding book. It’s easier if you have a friend who already knows these things.


Red heron? (it probably has a 3rd name....2 out of 3 ain’t bad, is it?)


These crabs make good dinner for the birds. They were careful to scatter when anything moved (us).


After lunch there was time for a walk along the beach.
Sassy barking at the waves....”peace be still”


Here are some things that wash in from the sea:
Anyone want to guess what creature this skull is from?


Roe wants to try.


and various other creatures...






These people know how to enjoy a gorgeous day.


Karen and Sharon went to Walmart to buy more fire logs, while Birdie and I watched the shorebirds.


And ships go by.


And after dinner we all sat and watched the waves lap over the shore.


Then we turned around and watched the sunset.



It was Birdie’s idea to bank up the fire pit to help protect it from the wind. It worked and the fire was warmer and less sparky after it was done.


Doesn’t anybody care about me?


Get over it Sophie, they forgot about me days ago.

[avalen]

oh my goodness, what a lovely place to be, I'm getting more jealous every day, some
day I'm gonna go there!

[sharon]

Awww Diana, your GD is so adorable! And I have to admit that is the absolutely best picture I have ever seen of you! That one needs to be framed and on the wall.

Awesome pictures, as usual, Liz, and poor kitty and Sophie, so ignored, mistreated and unloved!

[Yakn1]

I'm "official" - I have my glass!!
Glad to see you gals have a beautiful day, so sorry I had to leave early
Thank you to everyone at Port Lavaca, it was so great to meet everyone (the humans too!!).
I feel very welcomed by all and hope to be able to enjoy more gtgs when my egg is ready to travel.
A special thanks to Birdie, who shared her home with me - otherwise I would have been sleeping in my truck.
Hope the reat of your stay is as pretty as Sat.

Vicki

[carold]

Hey Karen, I thought you rescued Sophie so that she would have a good home with some companionship How peaceful and contented you all look. Thanks for sharing the pics and names of the various birds-I'm sure I'll remember them all, Liz carold

[VickieP]

Great pics as usual, Liz. I love all the ones of the flowers and the cemetery is always interesting. Nothing more peaceful than watching the waves come in.

[mitch5252]

I give up. What's the skull?

[retiredhappy]

None of us know what the skull is. There's a prize for anyone who can identify it. My connection is slow this morning but I will try to post some pictures. We even have a video of all of us saying "Hi" but I can't get it to download until I get home.

View from my rig



Goliad Courthouse



Going for a walk

[mitch5252]

Maybe a surf-beaten tortise/turtle skull? (google image search it...)

[VickieP]

I don't think they would have the piece sticking up on top.

[mitch5252]

I don't think they would have the piece sticking up on top.

I don't see you making any educated guesses.

..

[VickieP]

Because any guesses I would make, wouldn't be educated! I asked Ronnie if he knew....nope.