Spin the Wheel

True to Brad’s comment on a previous post, I did manage to find a 4th end of the candle to light ha. Tonight will be the last bit of rest before we start hauling everything down into the valley for the big event. By rest I mean squeezing in an 8+ mile night run (there is still a race to be ran after all this), assembly of a couple of remaining props and …well this rush of a post, Note, it would be incredibly gracious if I could get everyone out there to combine their willpower on a single objective..make it stop raining here!!! Similar to my last post, going to go with a truly random assortment of shots. Basically, opened the gallery folder of unpublished shots from our Texas trip back in January 2025 and spun the wheel on the mouse. Wherever it landed..that’s what you get – a couple of times my finger slipped and you simply got the next one, but all is good.

No time to waste, let’s get to ‘dem shots!

For our first entry, the wheel has chosen a resident of Anahuac ….oops again, Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge. They have a LOT of these prehistoric creatures laying on their banks – this one was one of the larger ones we have seen there.

Hit the jump to see where the wheel takes us next!

Spin…maybe one of the cutest ducks out there – the Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks. Cover your ears though as they have a tendency to get very chatty on their large neighborhood gatherings. – this one happened to be hanging out at the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center.

Spin…oh, back to Jocelyn’s. Every time I come upon a flock of the Ducks above, I meticulously scan the group looking for these frequent interlopers.

Those are Fulvous Ducks and honestly, the best chance I have of seeing them every year is at Jocelyn’s

Spin…staying at Jocelyn’s for a White Ibis sighting – any idea why they would put a mirror up on their birdwalk ha.

Spin … jumping up to Apffel Park on Galveston Island. Not the best technical shot for sure, but it made me laugh when I saw it in the digital darkroom. Excuse me flight crew, there appears to be an issue here.

Spin…back to SPI Birding and Nature Center. How fitting after the last shot – think someone put this Neotropic Cormorant together wrong.

Spin…uh, humm, the secret Whooping Crane spot near Goose Island – back in 2025 was the largest gathering of Whoopers we have ever seen – counted 18 at one time.

Spin…off to Leonabell Turnbull birding Center. I really like this shot, the deep blues with the pink legs and random positioning of the Black-Necked Stilts give it a nice wall-hanger appeal.

Spin… now at the Big Tree on Goose Island in Rockport. Willet….I don’t know (stole that joke from the book by the Listers stars,

Spin…Wow, another Willet sighting, this time on the Bolivar Peninsula Jetty…it just might (yes, I will be referencing that joke every time I see this bird until the day I die.

Spin..we stay on the Bolivar Peninsula Jetty for a Great-Tailed Grackle. That eye is incredibly stunning…an annoying bird to the core…you have to agree it is pretty.

Spin…and there it is. It just isn’t an image dump without a Bunny shot. This one comes to you courtesy of Laguna Vista Nature Trail.

Spin. Back to Leonabelle Turnbull. This time the dial lands on a Green-Winged Teal. Really one of those birds that takes on a much better visual when in proper lighting – soak in those emerald greens.

Spin…now we are moving further west and landing on Salineño Wildlife Preserve. This is a really nice birding spot in the middle of nowhere (my humble opinion of course). They have to have one of the BEST feeder station viewing areas there are – seats, awning and a multitude of birds on display. For those that do not know, this is a Black-Crested Titmouse.

Spin…seems to be landing on a lot of Leonabelle tonight. Another white Ibis, but this one is a juvenile decked out in its brown suit.

Spin…jumping up outside of San Antonio where one of my favorite parks is – Guadalupe River State Park. It has take some damage these last couple of years with all the flooding, but my favorite rock perch is still there in their blind area. This time a Squirrel came out to pose for me.

Spin…oops, finger slipped, you are getting the next shot from there. Have to say, not sure which one of these shots I like better – what do you think?

Spin…okay, finger worked this time and got a good turn of the wheel bringing us to Estero Llano State Park. Said it before, will say it again, love this State Park. One of their local favorites, the Buff-Bellied Hummingbird. Just look at those colors.

Spin..staying at Estero for one of their resident Thrushes, specifically the Clay-Colored Thrush. Not as colorful as some of the others in their family, but still pleasing in its tan to brown color palette.

Spin…for all the Butter fans out there, we have one from Laguna Atascosa NWR. Sorry, don’t really have time to track down what this species is – I suck at Butter IDs – if you happen to know it, please let me (and the rest of the readers) know in the comments – much appreciated.

For the last spin, something completely different. Linda and I had the pleasure of watching the SpaceX launch of Starship (unfortunately, Ron missed while he was down there with us due to multiple reschedules that happened). Hands down, one of the most incredible experiences we have ever had. Yes, this is one of the launches they successfully caught the booster in the chopsticks. This is a shot I got of the booster coming down.

I have to go find another candle, this one is about burned out. I do have to admit, it hasn’t been all work these last couple of weeks, Linda managed to get us tickets to see one of our favorite bands down in St. Louis. I was a bit hesitant knowing they were getting up there in age and the losses they have suffered….but they absolutely brought it – what a great time.

Take care everyone – guessing Brad and Jan will be taking us the rest of the way this month.