Today after the usual leisurely preparations, we drove down to the Rockport area to camp at Goode Island State Park. I now wish I’d booked it longer, since it will rain tomorrow and be pretty cold Sunday. Nonetheless, I bet we can find ways to see birds and use the cameras! Something other than sparrows! Yes!
Like blurry Pelicans! Only bird I saw before it got dark.
It’s a nice drive here, and I love all the small towns and large oak trees we see. There were birds. Here are “a few” vultures on a tower. The next tower over had zero vultures.
Entering Rockport
We are getting good at setting up the motorhome quickly, which is good, because we lost a half hour of light when the staff at the truck stop we visited to fuel up repeatedly got our ZIP Code wrong or programmed to pay for the wrong pump. I’d stayed inside and went to lie down on the bed and ended up having a nice nap.
But we made it.
The water and electricity are on the “wrong” side at this campsite, but we managed to pull the hose and power cord over with room to spare. And with no trees, Lee had no trouble hooking up the satellite receiver. I only had a few minutes to look around, but I’m pretty excited about all the water surrounding us. There’s a lot of wading and swimming bird habitat!
You can see we’re in the last site before the end of the island. The green light is, I think, a pier. I will know more tomorrow!View from the road. The habitat next to us. Eee, I’m excited.
Right now, though, the wind is so strong that it feels like we are in a boat. This is a heavy vehicle, but we are rocking. The waves are really attacking the bulkheads, too. By morning the tide will be lower and maybe it will be calmer. We will see!
There was a plan for today, but it didn’t work out very well. One part of the plan was to get more work done on the porch. That didn’t happen because the lead guy had a sick child to take care of. Family always has to come first! The wood isn’t going anywhere and will be here next week.
I did find a young garden spider. They look so different at this stage.
The other part of the plan was to go to Goliad State Park in the RV so we could both camp and attend a family wedding. We got ready in time but of course the Seneca decided it didn’t want to go. The rear slide wouldn’t go in. Again. These are finicky machines.
Penney tried to get us to stay home.
I was not thrilled since I’d run around all morning getting everything fed and watered, loaded things up…and boom. Not moving. Time to pivot.
I quickly canceled the camping reservation and at least got some money back, then booked hotel rooms in Victoria, much closer to the wedding venue anyway. This ends up costing less thanks to points. We loaded our bags in the car and headed out, down the familiar roads to southern Texas. Tempers did not flare and panic did not occur.
We passed mounds and mounds of McCartney roses on the sides of the highway.
Tonight was the rehearsal and we were kindly invited to it along with the wedding party and other family. I got to help a little bit with decorating while Lee went back to the car because he didn’t like the music. Oh, Lee. He pivoted in his own way.
Get me outa here.
We did have a nice time exploring Tin Spur Ranch, which is a tasteful and rustic place with ponds and a nice setting for an outdoor or indoor wedding. The bride made a good choice!
Wedding areaCoreopsis Contemplating Scenes from a pleasant late afternoon
In addition to attractiveness, the setting was perfect for many birds, including Bobwhite Quail and two kinds of whistling ducks (as if one kind isn’t plenty, but the Fulvous one has blue legs!). There were also many unusual flycatchers, including the Brown Crested, which is migrating still.
And there was a Coot.
There were 40 birds heard and seen in the late afternoon. I bet mornings there are spectacular!
Ducks in the air.
So everything turned out fine. Lee even ate dinner and talked to some of his family! (You didn’t think it was my relatives getting married, did you? The only relative whose wedding I was ever invited to was my dad and Flo. so any family weddings I attend have been on the spousal side. I digress, in a self-pitying manner.
Ignore me and enjoy the sunset.
We will probably see a sight before the actual wedding tomorrow and maybe see Goliad on Sunday. Yes. We know there will be Memorial Day traffic. We aren’t going down any interstates.
More Victoria County sunset.
No matter what, we’ll be flexible, because we’re learning to pivot without panic.
While I was wandering through ghost towns yesterday, things were hopping on the home front. My horse and I were the beneficiaries of it all.
First, Lee was kind enough to mow the area where our round pen got moved. I was a bit afraid of snakes in the long grass. He then mowed some nice paths through the field, even nicer than his last ones.
Path to round pen.
That’s not all! Work has begun on a new horse playground for me, Apache, and any other horse I can get practice on obstacles for shows, entertain ourselves, and have fun. The first item is a little hill, like the one at Tarrin’s. It’s more of a berm.
The first load of dirt
The darned backhoe decided it was time to have yet another new problem (hey, it’s older than my kids), so it didn’t get done. But Apache and I tried it out and loved it. We will get so much use out of this tool.
The backhoe has plenty of stinky dirt to move.
Apache and I also tried out a turn in a box and corridor obstacle. I’ve made copies of the obstacle instructions from the Working Horse Central book, so I may be getting more obstacles as well. Riding will be so much more fun.
One path we walked on, framed by flowers.
Later in the day Apache and I rode out to the paths and pen to test them out. We both liked the mowed round pen, and he did pretty well in there. We even walked along much of the paths.
We got way into the corner.
But, the end of the ride was not ideal. I guess Lee had run over some rodents while mowing that were starting to smell good. A Turkey Vulture decided to check it out, which was not at all fun for an already nervous horse.
Bonus: he didn’t flee into the poison ivy patch.
A great deal of crow-hopping and jumpiness ensued, but I didn’t panic. I did allow him to briskly head to more familiar ground, but I eventually helped him calm down enough to walk over some poles and pay attention to me. That was a win as far as I’m concerned. He even let me wash off all his nervous sweat.
He deserved a piece of weird ice cream cake. It’s made with ice cream and self rising flour. We humans ate it for him.
Poor Apache. That was a lot of new stuff for one day!
I recently spent two weeks at Hilton Head Island. I usually spend a few weeks there each year. I go for plants and birds, not golfing and restaurants (except Hudson’s, where I must eat cluster oysters on every visit). I have been there in all seasons, which has given me a good perspective on finding interesting birds.
Brown Pelican
Hilton Head Island is a place where lots of wealthy people live in gated communities that visitors will never see. But there’s plenty of space available to non-residents who want to marvel at the old-growth hardwood forests, the endless estuaries and marshes, freshwater and brackish ponds, and the beaches teeming with life (outside of tourist areas). There will be some surprises on this list, even for experienced birders, I hope.
Great Egret near the condo I stay in.
1. Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
Technically, this is not on Hilton Head Island, but it’s darned close. This entire island is the wildlife refuge, and visitors can walk or bicycle on trails along the entire island. The inland trails are as magical as the beach and marsh areas.
White Ibises
The highlight of any trip is a visit to the Rookery pond. I’ve never seen it without dozens of birds roosting, eating, breeding, and making lots of noise. In the winter there are White Ibises, and in April and May, Great Egrets roost there. On my last visit in early May, the babies were popping their fuzzy white heads out for all visitors to coo over.
You’ll see pretty much every kind of heron or egret you can think of (I haven’t seen a Reddish egret there), along with Common Gallinules, ducks, and songbirds (there are cattails, so of course there are Red-winged Blackbirds on them).
Tricolored Heron
Many warblers drop by during migration season, as well as buntings and all kinds of songbirds, so you’ll have your hands full photographing and writing bird sightings down!
Red-winged Blackbird
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for alligators in the ponds, especially young ones that blend in with the reeds very well. I’ve seen rabbits, deer, armadillos, and other wildlife on the more remote parts of the island. There is a page on the preserve’s website that lists all the bird, plant, and animal species seen there, with photos. This is a great reference.
A nice, healthy gator
If you go birding in only one place, this is the place to go. And it’s free! Note the lack of restrooms and water. Be prepared. Right over the bridge are gas stations, though.
This is another prized spot for birders. There are many ponds and swampy areas, so you’ll see songbirds and shorebirds there. When I was last there, an Osprey nest was right next to the Fish Island parking area, with babies visible to patient observers.
Osprey next
One thing I enjoy about the birds around here is that they aren’t shy. I nearly walked into a Great Blue Heron who was neither concerned about me or the large alligator about ten feet away from it.
Yep, it was close.
It pays to keep your eyes open in the preserve. One time I was walking on one of the trails and found a woman on a bicycle, stopped in her tracks. There was a very small copperhead snake basking in the sun on the trail. I reassured the woman that the snake would not attack her and that she could just get on her bike and ride past it. She didn’t believe me, so I carefully walked around it (as far away on the path as possible, of course). When I didn’t die, she managed to get past it. So, don’t play with the snakes and alligators, and give them a wide berth. You’ll be fine.
The actual snake
The boardwalks and trails provide great opportunities to see interesting plants, like jack-in-the-pulpit and native orchids, and there are a Native American shell ring and an old rice field to explore as you enjoy birding. It’s usually not very crowded, and if you do run into people, they may well be friendly fellow birders who can tell you’re using Merlin Bird ID (happened to me).
Vanishing Swamp
Sea Pines Forest Preserve Admission to Sea Pines is $9, but it’s going up. Cash only. The easiest way to get there is take S Forest Beach drive until you come to a gate where you have to pay. You must arrive by car. I tried walking. Nope. Restrooms are at the Fish Island picnic area.
Wood Stork
3. Fish Haul Beach
This is also Mitchellville Beach, or they’re right next to each other. We got here by searching for Mitchellville. Here’s what the website says about it:
Nestled in Bay Gall, one of Hilton Head Island’s historic Gullah neighborhoods, Fish Haul Beach is perhaps one of the hidden gems on the Island. This beach overlooks Port Royal Sound and is perfect for those seeking a quiet get-a-way for walking, bird watching and resting.
The only negative thing I can say about this place is that it is VERY close to the airport, so expect airplane noise. What not to expect will be crowds. This area is absolutely gorgeous, and since the beach has live oyster beds, snails, fiddler crabs, and other delicacies shore birds enjoy, you are likely to see many more shore birds than at Coligny.
Conveniently, there are walking trails in the adjacent wooded area and a boardwalk across a beautiful marsh where you’ll find all kinds of songbirds. Depending on the time of year, you’ll run into many sparrows or warblers. In May I encoungered Painted and Indigo Buntings.
The sandbars and sea life make this a place you could explore for hours, though it’s not all that big. It may not be easy to find, but it’s worth it to see this calmer, more residential part of the island. Be sure to visit some of the Gullah sites while you’re there.
Fish Haul Beach Park 124 Mitchelville Road Hilton Head Island 29926 Paid parking is $3 an hour. Restrooms available.
4. Audubon Newhall Preserve
This 50-acre spot is easy to find, since there are signs on Pope Avenue directing you to it. At times the preserve can be pretty popular, but try visiting in mid-winter and you’ll have the place and its residents all to yourself. There’s no bad time to visit, though, as all my photos of the pond in different seasons will demonstrate.
These were taken many years apart.
The Audubon Society on the island has done a great job with this place. There are labels on many of the plants, and they’ve done some planting of interesting species as well.
Gray Catbird at feeder
Birds just love the area, and you can see anything you want, even owls at the right time of day. Bluebird houses, an owl house, and a bird feeding station are part of the avian attraction, for sure. Listen for the many woodpeckers and watch for overly friendly Black Vultures.
Visitors can wander around the pond or be more adventurous and head through the trails that meander through the pine woods. There’s also a boggy boardwalk over a “pocosin,” where you can sometimes see deer.
Check the website for information on guided walks and other events. The website also has a checklist on eBird.
Audubon Newhall Preserve 55 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island, SC Admission is free, but it’s kind to give a donation
5. Jarvis Creek Park and Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn
These two are next to each other and easy to cover in one visit, so I lumped them together. Both places are just great for birding and beauty.
Jarvis Creek Park contains a nice stretch of the creek where you can find many birds in a natural setting along pretty paths with bridges across wet areas. That is my favorite part of the park, even though there was a very large tree across the path one time I visited.
For the less adventurous, there’s a very well maintained trail around the central lake, which is stocked with large fish. This is a very popular city park, with lots of walkers, dogs on leashes, and cyclists. It’s also right off the main highway on the island, so you’ll experience traffic noise. Nonetheless, birds are everywhere and the area is beautifully maintained.
Little Blue Heron on the lake
You can take a trail to the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn from Jarvis Creek Park. The museum (a Smithsonian offshoot) goes over the history and biodiversity of the area, so be sure to go inside and learn about local birds there (and if you’re lucky see live horseshoe crabs or turtles). There are a butterfly garden, a carniverous plant garden, and a firefly pond to explore on the path that encircles the property, a former hunting lodge.
We were impressed by how many birds we saw on the property. Barn Swallows swooped around the observation deck that extends out into the marsh, and songbirds could be counted just sitting in your car in the shady parking lot, which my husband did.
Eastern Bluebird, taken from the far
The many piers and boardwalks allow you to get intimate with the surrounding area. An unforgettable highlight are ancient oaks that you can admire (or hug) while watching herons picking off little crabs.
Note that, as with most of the area, if there’s fresh water there will be alligators. I got too excited by a water lily and almost missed one!
It was hiding
When I was there, the place was not too crowded, so you could get good birding in, including Merlin Bird ID.
Jarvis Creek Park 50 Jarvis Creek Road Hilton Head Island SC 29926 Free admission, good restrooms, and other amenities
Here’s a birding hotspot you won’t see in the usual sources. It doesn’t have its own website and that’s probably for the good. That makes it less likely to draw crowds, an advantage in a contemplative space. The Prayer Trail winds through an amazing area of untouched coastal woodland next to Forest Beach Drive. I found it on my daily birding walks while staying in the area a few years ago, and I’ve visited often ever since.
Trail map
Among the towering oaks, pines, hickories, palms, and magnolia trees you will find a huge assortment of woodland birds. In the winter, I spotted the same owl three different days. And in April there were so many Great Crested Flycatchers and warblers (especially Pine Warblers) that it was almost deafening!
You can see many exciting Carolina Chickadees
Just sit on one of the benches at each stop on the trail, contemplate the lesson, and listen to birds. You’ll find peace. Just be sure to wear bug spray or cover your limbs. It’s a forest, after all.
One thing you will not find on these paths are people. I have only encountered a handful of fellow walkers here, and everyone is quiet (not shouting at friends or blasting music like you find on most trails on the island). I’m so grateful that this beautiful land is being preserved and that the church is maintaining the trail, which opened in 2021. It is absolutely my happy place and favorite place to go on Hilton Head.
So many trees, all full of birds.
When you’re finished on the prayer trails, walk to Cordillo through the church parking lot (chock full of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers much of the year), turn right, then take the next path right that goes along a ditch or lagoon or other body of water, where there are Bald Cypress trees, pretty water plants, and plenty of vireos to listen to. It’s a hidden oasis!
The waterWater plants
Prayer Trail (video on Facebook) Church address: 171 Cordillo Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC Prayer Trail is off South Forest Beach Drive Free admission, no facilities
7. Lagoon Road
Lagoon Road is a road, not a park or destination. To find the birding there, park in the Coligny/Piggly Wiggly parking lot near the beginning of Lagoon Road and walk away from the crowds. Soon you will be in a quiet residential area, bordered by protected woods adjacent to a long lagoon. This is the perfect place to go if (like me) crowds make you jittery and you’ve been shopping or eating in a crowded restaurant at Coligny.
Start of the lagoon
I’m always surprised at what kind of birds I encounter here. There are often Great Egrets or Great Blue Herons on the ground, and there will be all kinds of birds in the air, from Fish Crows to Red-shouldered Hawks to Ospreys and even to owls. I was standing quietly listening to some nuthatches one day when not one, but two Barred Owls flew right in front of me, disappearing into the patch of ancient oaks nearby. As I turned to leave in a few minutes, I realized one of the owls was just sitting nearby, watching me.
This is the closest I’ve ever been to an owl. The ones at home hide.
You can return by walking the residential streets, where there are always many birds, and mostly avoid North Forest Beach Road and its noise. The whole walk is about a mile, entirely doable for fairly healthy folks.
One recommended path
Others
Other places for birding abound on the island. Any park or historical site will have birds. I enjoy walking through even the business areas, on roads around apartments and condos, and any back road you can find.
This hawk caught a mouse right in front of me on a major road.
There are many cruises you can take from the island. If you take a dolphin cruise, you can usually convince the captain to also show you birds. You’ll always see cormorants and such.
Cormorants and a gull seen on a dolphin cruise.
Cordillo Parkway and Pope Avenue trails also have many birds, along with alligators and the occasional stingray in a pond, but you have to wait for breaks in the traffic to hear them. A better road for birding is Dellyon Drive, which connects Cordillo and South Forest Beach. Obviously I am a walker and based near that area. I’m sure there are more fun areas near resorts I can’t get to.
Yes, there are birds at the beach!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the grounds of restaurants can provide great birding, especially at the waterfront restaurants where there will be gulls, sandpipers, and pelicans to watch. Some restaurants have piers you can head out on, too.
Heck, I found my first Baltimore Oriole a couple of years ago at the outlet mall, so just keep your eyes and ears open. Bluffton and Daufuske Island provide even more opportunities!
Another day of nice weather and nice birds. This is not an exciting trip so far, but it has certainly lifted my spirits and calmed me down. If I hadn’t accidentally got mixed up with a bunch of people living in the alternate society in the US and had to deal with some insults, I’d be completely okay. But anyway, it’s all good, and I have access to a car!
Magnolias are another sign of the Deep South for me.
While I waited for Lee to get here, I went for a walk through neighborhoods, it being Sunday and me not wanting to interfere with church services by wandering their parking lots and trails. I did hear some good birds and even saw the flash of a Redstart, which was exciting. I enjoy looking at the houses here. It’s a mix of ones built when the island first started to be developed, which are modest 60s and 70s houses and huge vacation homes that are three stories and obviously for renting to large groups. There are a few smaller rentals.
Did I take photos of any houses? No. That feels icky to me, so here’s a skink with a missing tail.
I continued to take pictures of cultivated plants, finding it rather fun to see the information on them in iNat. There are a lot of people with over a thousand observations in the City Nature Challenge now, but I just have over 200. I have a life. Also, there just aren’t that many different native plants in this part of Hilton Head.
This one’s a mophead hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla.
Today maybe I’ll see some different plants, since I can go to a different part of the island. It’s interesting how just a few miles can be a different ecosystem, which I’ve learned in Milam County, where Tarrin gets many different plants from our ranch.
You will see this fungus in many places, though. Stereum lobatum.
Of course, now that Lee is here and we have a car, it’s probably going to rain all day, but we have some other things we can do. We did go to dinner last night at the very pleasant Sea Camp restaurant, with the lovely outdoor areas. It’s dog friendly, so I was not surprised to find Lee talking to a couple with two dogs when I got back from taking pictures of life around a dock.
Just look at this tiny crabby cuteness. It’s a squareback marsh crab – Amases cinereum.
The people were very nice, though, so it was quite pleasant, after spending so much time all by myself. Maybe I’ll run into more people today. At least I’ll have the Big Lens on the camera, so we can try to photograph wildlife. Maybe there will be things that are more exciting than dead and stinky armadillos (I sure remember that smell from the one our dogs got into) and dead stingrays (boo hoo).
I love the views of the marshes and river.This makes me happy.The smell identified it before I saw it.Another unfortunate stingray.
PS to email subscribers: I used a different setting for the email the blog sends out. Please let me know if it is weird or what.
I realized I blathered on and on about something even more boring than usual in my previous post, but I have to confess I spent yesterday doing the same thing. Almost all the photos I took were of plants.
But not this one! I enjoyed watching kites on the beach.
I re-looked at the instructions for the City Nature Challenge, and sure enough, they do not care if you take pictures of plants that aren’t native. So, I found out the names of all sorts of decorative plants from foreign lands that I didn’t know before. And I’m #127 on the list of most observations (out of 2K+).
Oh my. The common name for caladiums is Heart of Jesus. iNat had no clue what this geranium was.It thought this mealy blue sage was a bee. It also had all kinds of interesting ideas for this rose bush,
Yeah, iNaturalist doesn’t do as well with fancy cultivars. It literally had no idea what decorative ginger with yellow-and-red blossoms and striped foliage was. But I persevered. It did way better with squirrels and alligators.
Peanut time!I’m hungry, too.Alligator #1Alligator #2, which was only a few feet away. We surprised each other.
My first walk was back to the Prayer Trail and the surrounding area. There, I was thrilled to actually see Great Crested Flycatchers, which I’ve been hearing frequently as I wander (did you know that a majority of Cameron, Texas residents think that the word for meandering aimlessly is “wonder”? It’s true.).
Two Great Crested Flycatchers. Blurry, but loudly identifiable.
I also heard an unfamiliar call and found out it was an Indigo Bunting! That’s the second type of bunting for this trip. I even got to see it fly around and be all blue and beautiful. Sadly, the best photo I got was not good at all. Only I would know what it was, because I saw it fly in.
Oh, and I also finally got a photo of the new-to-me butterfly I’ve been seeing in the woods. And a cat. Exotic.
On my second walk of the day, I tried to go back to Lagoon Road, but got confused by a lot of traffic and had some detours. I saw the second alligator there, so all was good.
Location of second alligator.
When I started out, I saw some really interesting clouds, but thought nothing of it until the clouds were accompanied by thunder.
Pretty cloud formation on the road with all the identical condos.
It really didn’t rain much until I got past Coligny (shopping area that has a Chico’s; I miss Chico’s). It was drizzling when I saw Alligator #2, but never got above a light shower. That’s a pretty poor highlight for one’s day, but yep, that and the birds were it. I stood under a big tree and waited until it lightened up enough to get back to Ocean Oak.
Raining in the sunshine where I was sheltering
Oh, why did I do that? Standing still makes you a mosquito dining zone. I paid for that when I tried to go to sleep last night after my television binge. If you’re wondering what television show I’m watching now, it’s the one with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie. With 94 episodes, I’ll be watching for a while, especially since Lee comes today and he won’t want to watch it.
Yeah, Lee bit off more than he could chew with his travel goals yesterday, so he stopped in Georgia to get some rest. I’d rather he arrives during the daytime and not totally exhausted! It doesn’t look like there will be more rain today. Yay. Off for more iNat observations!
Yesterday the City Nature Challenge 2025 began. I had a “doh” moment when I realized I would not be at home, so I can’t contribute to our Master Naturalist group’s efforts to beat whoever our rivals are. I did find out there’s a global category you can join, so I planned to do a lot of iNaturalist work that would count for the global effort.
It’s getting time for turtles to lay eggs. This one was wandering around a condominium complex. Not a sea turtle.
I did my best, but I really hate taking multiple pictures of the same thing in the same general location, and I also am not fond of uploading observations of non-native things. I guess I’ll have to, though, because I only got 56 observations yesterday. I’m the only one on the island observing, though.
This non-native lily is beautiful, but I didn’t upload it.
I think I’ll do better once Lee is here, because there’s bug repellant in the car. Yes, today he shows up, if he can manage the long drive. He didn’t get as far as he’d hoped to yesterday, due to rain and such. And wow, did he have a hard time finding the hotel I booked for him (I am master of the Hilton Honors app). They put hotels so far off the road that it’s hard to spot them at night, but he lived.
He has this to look forward to.
While I fell down on the job identifying organisms in iNaturalist, I did find a new bird in the Merlin app. Gee, what would I do without apps? Carry a notebook or something? Technology CAN be our friend. Anyway, Merlin heard a Cape May Warbler, which was one I always wanted to hear. That was fun.
I hope this crow isn’t berating me.
The most fun I had, though, was just standing around. I was in an empty parking lot, just listening to the evening bird songs last night, and it felt like I was a part of the woods. All the ancient trees and their young viny friends were reaching out to embrace me as they talked to each other through their roots (scientific fact, if you’re a fact-believing person). And the little birds who were flitting from tree to tree going about important bird business of eating and reproducing were all around, like I was one of the resident mammals sheltering there with them (so far, the resident mammals I have seen are squirrels, rabbits, and deer).
I have no idea how long I spent there. I feel so at home and at peace in these wooded areas, because they remind me so much of my childhood. I would look at the giant oak trees in our yard and just marvel at them. I’d also talk to them and the imaginary creatures I was sure were living there. I guess I haven’t changed much.
Looks like my childhood surroundings.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t share the Daily Gator. Of course I found one. I wish I’d been able to photograph my favorite bird sightings of the day, though. I got to see Mother Cardinals carrying around tasty morsels for their babies. I must have seen at least four, so they are busy! I was too entranced by watching to try to take pictures. No wonder I only got 56 observations, there was too much gaping at wildlife!
Your Daily Gator
Honestly, I enjoyed goofing off and just enjoying the sights and sounds of the places I explored. It was well worth it. The sign at the exit of the Presbyterian Church sums up my attitude:
What’s your reward for reading to the end of my musings? More photos of things I saw yesterday. I know some of you really like to look at the pictures.
This is the main road. Looks so nice without cars.This is where I was transfixedI enjoy how friendly turtles are to each otherHi there, marsh rabbit.Beautiful patternI did record this pickerelweedGreat Blue Heron, checkGray squirrel. I’ll find another one today!
Yesterday I had a plan to go on a main road and see if I could find anything interesting. I figured I wouldn’t hear too many birds, since there’s a lot of traffic noise, but I could look. And the road, Pope Avenue, has some lovely trails that go over lagoons full of native life. So, off I went!
A large lagoon covered in duckweed,
I really enjoy walking in Hilton Head, because the flora and fauna remind me of where I grew up in northern Florida. Every once in a while I have an “aww” moment where I see something that reminds me of my mom. These irises were that for me. She loved finding them in the swampy areas we used to visit, looking for alligators. Mom was a fan.
Not sure what kind of iris this is.These are blue flag.
And speaking of alligators, I found plenty of them on my walk. All were fairly young. The first one I found when I was taking a picture of a turtle to upload to iNaturalist. I looked at the image and realized the turtle was not alone.
My guess is that the gator had recently eaten (they don’t eat very often, especially after a large meal). Can a turtle tell that? I’m not sure, but they certainly looked cozy. The next ones I found were in a larger pond. There were at least four alligators there, which impressed me.
I think there are two here.Buddies?I ike its stripes
While watching the younger alligator swimming around underwater and going after something, I realized there was something else in the water. At first, I thought it was some debris, like a plastic bag floating in the pond.
Looks like a plastic bag to me.
But as I looked more closely, I could see that it was moving. I was very confused by this creature. Eventually I saw a tail. So, hmm, it had a tail.
See the tail, which made a ripple?
At last, it came a bit closer to the surface, and I saw a mouth and eyes. Then it swam off and I saw fins waving. I could swear it was a stingray.
OK, that looks like the face of a ray. I’ve looked at lots of them.
I thought stingrays only lived in saltwater, though, so I made sure to look up the behavior of rays when I got back to the condo. Sure enough, Atlantic stingrays can be found in brackish or fresh water. How about that! I saw a ray!
This guy was not impressed.
I also enjoyed the nearby park, Compass Rose Park, which I’d driven by many tims, but not visited. It has a cool statue of a man walking an alligator, and a large kinetic sculpture of a compass rose, along with some interesting water features. I’m glad I visited.
From the parking lot.This looked over a lagoonCompass rayWater featureIt’s a bit dark. Shady park.This looks like astroturf, but is water
The only other fun creatures I saw were a whole group of Carolina Wrens in some brush, an Osprey nesting on a cell tower, and my very first Cape May Warbler behind one of the churches on Pope. I love exploring the backs of things. Lots of birds hang around the edges of parking lots.
Osprey nestIrritated wren
I’m sure you’re wondering what exciting television viewing I engaged in. I got completely caught up with Matlock, which sure has its twists and turns. I wonder what will happen in the next season, because Matlock seems to have burned all bridges at her current workplace. Sorta like me.
Random Snapdragons
I did apply for a job. I had sent in an application the day I lost the previous job but never heard back. Apparently, they re-opened it. Do I really want another job? I am not sure at all. But I can talk to the people looking for a candidate. Sadly, I can barely understand the recruiter. Indian English is so different from American English!
Parting shot. Seen in the restroom at the place I had lunch.
I do love traveling, if you haven’t noticed. I may not go far, but I love to see new places, especially outside of big cities (for the most part). I also love my home, so I’ve got a little yin and yang thing going on: wherever I am, home or away, I miss the other option a little.
This may be the prettiest thing AI ever made for me.
Visiting our friend near Medina, Texas, was lots of fun. I’m not big on all the talking, but I loved walking around the area and finding new and interesting plants and birds.
Not sure what this is. White milkwort Senega albaScenes on a back road
This morning I heard 45 birds, including many warblers (Golden-cheeked, Orange-crowned, Black-and-white, Nashville, and Northern Parula), woodpeckers, doves, ravens, flycatchers, and Summer Tanagers. It was exciting. And the hills were gorgeous.
Only bird photo. Summer Tanagers
I was ready to go home, though. We did stop at Becker Winery so I could stock up on a couple of wines I like and get my free tasting for being in their wine club. I like this winery because they grow their own grapes in Texas and you can see they’ve been doing it a long time by looking at their vines.
Thick stems mean old vines.
It’s not an upstart winery. They also focus on just wine and lavender, not food, lodging, etc. Their wines have greatly improved since I first tried them.
Once I got home it was so nice to fall back into my routine of talking to Connie Gobbler and the chickens, feeding the horses, and doing their exercises. It’s comforting.
We love you, too. Fiona doesn’t love fly spray, though.
I took a nice long bird walk, too, and as always, enjoyed the native plants, even though the wildflower display this year isn’t great.
This is a simple dock flower, but it’s gorgeous up close.
Yep, when I’m home a part of me misses exploring new places, but when I’m gone I miss the friendly faces there. That’s fine with me. I’ll now stay home until Sunday!
What’s the first impression you want to give people?
Ooh. I never thought of this before! I’m usually so anxious when I meet people that I just try to power through it. I do a lot of talking, because I’m nervous. I do at least ask questions and listen to the answers. And being short, wrinkly, and gray haired isn’t going to interest people who base first impressions on looks. I probably come across as a boorish old lady.
This small town made a good impression!
I’d LIKE to make a first impression as someone interesting, intelligent, funny, and friendly. At least that would be a good first impression on people who judge others on their personality.
I judge a lagoon on its birds, not its beauty. One final visit before leaving Hilton Head.
This makes no sense. My apologies. I have no idea what kind of impression to try for, or even if I should try. No wonder I’m a hermit. I think maybe I no longer care what people think. They can like me or not. I now don’t want or expect the people I meet to like or dislike me. Let’s get to know each other.
Carolina WrenPalm Warbler I like birds, that’s what I’d say to someone. Maybe not right away. I saw these guys while Lee was loading the car.
I do know I spent the day in the car, driving through Georgia and the Florida panhandle. Seeing hurricane damage was very distressing. I felt awful for the poor trees and humans.
Poor tree.
We saw some interesting small towns and a lot of peanut and cotton farming. We were behind a truck pulling a load of peanuts that started pelting us. That was fun.
Mound o’ peanuts
After a lovely sunset, we are tucked into a Pensacola hotel and resting comfortably. It’s always fun going in the back roads!
The Hermits' Rest 