Awake: 5:44am Temp 69 sleep 6+16 sunny overnight @ Aransas Pass, Texas.
I peruse the campground books for our next destination; make phone calls &
then, the reservations. The snowbirds are arriving for winter (no
identification necessary) & the campgrounds around here are pretty well
filled up already. Unbeknown to us, this area of the Golf Coast & further
south, appear to be very popular spots for the northern snowbirds.
One of the guys in our 4:00pm social pool playing group (Mike) told me
yesterday of a good bird viewing area. So again, we gather our safari
equipment & cross that bridge; this time however, we take the “no charge”
State run ferry system across the Ship Channel to the Island town of Port
Aransas, Texas. (30 min from our campground). Population of P.A. is 3,300.
1st we do a little touring thru town & then find our way to one of the
bird viewing areas down on the beach @ the east side of the island.
Driving on the beach was great with all the cars, people, motorhomes &
kids playing in the sand & water + literally hundreds of sea gulls but, K
& I are looking for those special birds that you don’t see just anywhere
that active kids, cars & noise scare away.
Plan “B:” We drive to the North side of the Island (10 min) & find the
Birding Center; then we follow a concrete foot path connecting to a board
walk which leads out & above a marshy bird & alligator preserve. I have no
alligator books so we scan only for birds. Now this is what I call a good
bird sighting hangout: many species of birds sitting, swimming, flying,
etc. It was quite entertaining to watch a group of White Pelicans swim in
unison & then, also in unison, dip their big bills into the water
searching for food like a well timed synchronized swimming team. Several
times we also watch the action of a dozen or more Pelicans chasing after a
fish leaving a muddy survival trail. My camera was busy for over an hr @
this bird sanctuary. It was fantastic! I could have easily stayed longer
save for wanting to be on time for our 4:00pm social hr.
4:00pm social hr: We draw for partners each day & today, I’m happy to
partner with a different(Mike), who uses 2 cue sticks but not @ the same
time. Again, we were the competition to overthrow. And Kathy is busy
yakking with the women.
6:15 dinner: Alaskan salmon, , white & brown fried noodles, leftover
broccoli casserole, mixed salad & garlic bread.
Late satellite movie: “The Last Hurrah” with Spencer Tracy, Jeffrey
Hunter, Dianne Foster, Basil Rathbone, etc. A political story loosely
based on the life of Boston’s Mayor James Curley, who in this story, is
mounting his final election campaign. 1958. Top-notch film. Put it on your
list.
High temp=77 Lights out: 11:44pm
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