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Archive of entries posted on 20th February 2010

More About the Alligator

20 February 2010, 5:01 pm

DH and I went back to the birding center today.  He missed seeing the ‘gator yesterday, and we thought we might be lucky and catch a glimpse of him (or her) again.  (By the way, I read on line that at least a couple of years ago, there were two alligators:  “Boots” and “Bags” — get it?  Alligator boots & bags?)  No such sighting today, but this was almost better!

We could see where he had traveled!

These channels are probably a couple of feet across, and quite deep!

In all the dozens and dozens of times I’ve been there, I’ve never seen ruts like this in the water.  Don’t care to ever meet this guy when he’s hungry!

–Sue

Filed under Vacation Pics.
2 Comments

A Trip to the Birding Center

20 February 2010, 12:52 pm

I know I’ve said it before, but you never know what you’ll see at the Leonabell Turnbull Birding Center in town.  Some days the birds are few and far between; some days they are almost performing for you.  Some days you see things to make you realize it isn’t always a walk on the beach to be a bird.

The first things I saw were four Black Vultures circling high overhead.  Makes a person stand up a little straighter, trying to look healthy and fit.

After I took this photo, I looked down at my camera, looked back up — and they were GONE!  It was a little Alfred Hitchcock-ish.

I spent some time photographing some ducks that were in close (tomorrow’s pix) before I got to the observation tower and saw the alligator!  We saw him once about four years ago and hadn’t seen him since.

He was making himself quite at home, probably having a little nap, out on a point that is frequented by all kinds of birds.  There are a few ducks hanging back along the water’s edge.  What I noticed after I got this picture up on the computer is the cluster of roseate spoonbills in the tall grass towards the left of the alligator.  I was just hoping the ‘gator didn’t have any pink feathers stuck between his teeth.  I zoomed in on the alligator, but his head was hidden:

Someone there said they heard the ‘gator is 15 feet long, but they were estimating he’s more like 20 feet.  I don’t think it really matters.  He was BIG.

There’s more than one kind of “bird lover” that likes to hang around the birding center!

–Sue

Filed under Photo Posts, Texas, Travel, Vacation Pics.
3 Comments

We Have a Winner!!!

20 February 2010, 10:34 am

I did a random-number generator “drawing” for the winner of my 100,000 visits / Beachy / Wish-You-Were-Here give-away.  I added all the comments from the five days, which totaled 70.  Did a drawing from 1 to 70, and the winning number is…

Lucky Number 13!  Oh, my, somebody from the first day!   

13

Kerry Murphy said,
February 15, 2010 @ 7:39 pm · Edit
Congrats on the big number! Sounds like a fun week you have planned!

Congratulations, Kerry!

And a BIG thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog, whether you entered the drawing or not, I truly appreciate every one of you. 

I will be posting some bird pics later today.  Wouldn’t you know it — we haven’t seen the alligator for almost four years, and only hours after our out-of-town guests left yesterday, GUESS WHO I SAW???  Anyway, I’ll post about it later today.

Congrats, again, Kerry!  I know she’s a Minnesota girl and could use some virtual beach time!  Well, Minnesota has miles and miles of beaches, but they are only being frequented by snowmobilers and ice-fishermen and -women this time of year. 

By the way, Kerry has a fun blog.  She’s an excellent photographer, pianist, scrapbooker, mom and homemaker.  Be sure to drop by!

–Sue

Filed under *** GIVE-AWAY ***.
2 Comments