Journeys With Judy

Friday, May 4, 2012

TOS Sabine Woods Texas

May 4^th, 2012
Well I’ve been staying on the Bolivar Peninsula in TX since April 27^th. I plan to leave this area next Tuesday May 8^th and take my time traveling north to MO to visit with family.
I expected to find lots of migrating warblers in the High Island area, but as it turns out the TOS Sabine Woods over by Port Arthur has been much more productive and a much better place for photography. I talked to one of the care takers of the sanctuary who is a photographer and he is going to try to add a second drip area next year that will be even better for photographers. Guess I’ll just have to come back.
On one of my trips to Port Arthur I stopped by the Museum of the Gulf Coast. As you would expect the museum is full of natural and industrial history of the Gulf Coast. It also includes a section of well known musicians and athletes from the Gulf Coast. I knew that Janet Joplin was from Port Arthur. She used to talk about that. I didn’t know one of my childhood idols, Babe Didrikson Zaharias was also from Port Arthur. I also found out there is a Babe Didrikson Zaharias museum in Beaumont TX. I’ll try to get over there to see that.
Here are a few of the warblers I found at TOS Sabine Woods. I found other birds there also. I’ll put them in separate post.

Bay-breasted Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler

Hooded Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Northern Parula

Carolina Chickadee

American Redstart Female

American Redstart Male

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Lighthouse and Cemetery

Here are a couple of photos of the area I'm visiting.
At the end of the Bolivar Peninsula just before the ferry landing is an old lighthouse.
The old cemetery is located in Galveston. I thought it was a great idea to just let the native wildflowers cover the entire cemetery.

Lighthouse on the Bolivar Peninsula TX

Old Cemetery in Galveston TX with wildflowers

Shorebirds of the Bolivar Peninsula in TX

I've been visiting the beach now and then while staying on the Bolivar Peninsula in TX. I've found several interesting shells and discovered quite a few shore birds. You can drive for miles on the beaches in TX. This is good for people like me who can't carry all the heavy photography gear I use for long distances, but I feel bad for the birds who have to dodge auto traffic and people.
Some of these birds can also be found on the beaches and in the wetlands of CA, but some of them I have never seen before.

Adult Male Sanderling in Breeding Plumage

Ruddy Turnstone Male in Breeding Plumage

Marbled Godwit

This Laughing Gull has a good reason to laugh

Dunlin Male in Breeding Plumage

Black-bellied Plover

American Avocet in Breeding Plumage

Monday, April 30, 2012

Restored Old Homes Galveston TX

When I was touring the wooden sculptures in Galveston I couldn't help but notice all the restoration of old homes. Here is an example of some of the beartiful restoration that has taken place.

Old Home Galveston TX

Old Home with one of the trees that survived Ike Galveston TX

Old Home Galveston TX

Restored Old Home Galveston TX

Wood Sculptures

April 29, 2012
I spent my 67^th birthday touring the old section of Galveston TX. When Hurricane Ike hit Galveston in 2008 it damaged and destroyed many of the old Oak trees in the old part of town. Rather than just haul the wood off to the local landfill the residents decided to put the wood to good use. Some of it was used by local artists to create beautiful wood sculptures and 100% of the remaining wood went to projects such as the completion of full scale replicas of old wooden ships and local lumber yards for building material.
Here are some examples of the art work.