Talking With Silicon Valley For Over And Hour

Life will always toss you a curve from the blind side. Today, I spent more than an hour with an office in Silicon Valley because  they bought one of my independent agencies that has done very well selling my images. The merger is winding up in the next few days and I had not been able to sync my account with the new one. By the time I got off the phone, it was pretty late for me to even leave the house. But, sunshine popped out and the forecast calls for clouds and drizzle and clouds and more drizzle and maybe 1/2 - inch hail alone the way.

Yes, folks, the Texas mixing bowl is getting ready to churn up one heck of a springtime in storms, I'm afraid. All that energy in cold air has to go somewhere and the with the Gulf churning up the moisture and all the dynamics that goes with that, if we get out of  this spring without being halfway blown away, it will be by the Grace of God that we will live to see another summer. I remember as a kid, hearing my grandmother tell about the tornado that killed one of my great-aunts in Brownwood, Texas. I've never forgotten that story.   

Now that I think about it, I had slept in this morning, too, so the whole day has been offset by  a couple of hours. Never-the-less, I was out the door by 2:20. The cloud cover was just lifting to where the sun angles were perfect. I have been waiting for some good sun to check a new setting on the camera. Today just happened to be the one. Did I mention that the perfect subject to test it on is birds and flora. Ouch! someone stuck a pin in their voodoo doll! I felt that.

The mid-range of the setting turned out the best. I have a few places where I can use it again. So, all is not lost, I suppose. I'm a great believer in the penny lost, penny found philosophy. The math in the winds of fate hold more credence than we give credit. I guess you begin to see those things when you get (older [ancient]) like me. My own thoughts have proclaimed that I will not age gracefully. I never said that I didn't like old age. Some of you know where I'm going with this, but I'll spare you the drum roll and trumpet fanfares.

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Female Grackle

Seed Pod Art

Vines against a lake water backdrop.

 

Double Birds Rearranged

The morning slipped by rather fast and the coffee pot emptied faster than normal as I edited some images. When I was about to transition from editor to getting my daily dose of sunshine, my phone rang. It was a representative in the field for Oncor, the electric delivery arm for TXU Energy, better known as just TXU. I call them, 'the Edison'. Electric Utilities up north are know as 'the Edison' and I grew up knowing my childhood electric power company as the 'Power and Light'.  Basically, I like 'Edison' better.  She said that she would be here in about 10-minutes to run the meter test and needed the meter closet unlocked.

Oncor changed over the meters to the new digital meters over a year ago and frankly, people have been a bit concerned and do not trust the new meters as much as the old ones. Because of that, Oncor provides a free meter check. I had not used mine because I had not had any issues...until this past month.

Here, the male relanded just below his mate. The nest may be along White Rock Creek in the deep woods. This tree is surrounded by traffic on three sides.

This is the male taking flight but he didin't leave the tree. I ended up just below his mate.

The male is on the left side and the hen is on the right side of the tree just a bit higher.

By the time I got done, I had a late start and the cloud cover was beginning to move in again. I was looking for the Buffelhead ducks that I had seen yesterday. After making an uneventful trip around the lake, I was on the way home and was one intersection away from being out of the park when I spot a hawk sitting as pretty as  you please high up in a large tulip tree. Then, I spotted the mate sitting near her in the same tree. Dang! A double header if  I wanted the general shot. I did. It was a good twenty minutes  of shooting. I sure wished I had my longer lens that I have and can't use because it doesn't fit this camera.

We have a couple of days coming up over the weekend with temps into the 70s. The question is how much cloud cover we are going to have.

Up and At'Em Early Today

An early morning errand had me out the door and on the move before 2 bells this morning. After the errand, I had the full morning to shoot. By eight bells, I had already stopped at two grocery stores and was minutes from being home. The cold front was slipping into the Metroplex and it will be a hard freeze tomorrow morning plus it will be about 10-12 degrees cooler for the day high, but by the weekend, its forecast to hit 70F.

I've seen the minus 17 degree cold before and hopefully, never again. The Great Lakes haven't been frozen like this in years!! It takes cold to do that. The tap water is ice cold from the lakes and really taste good. I miss Great Lakes Water. We will not get that much of the Arctic push into North Texas. But, being inside and out of the wind as the temperature drops has a great benefit---called warmth!!

My final run before heading to the store, I made the circle of the lake. Much to my surprise as I'm sitting at on the of parking lots looking across the lake, I see Bufflehead ducks. They are here in migration from the boreal forest and aspen park lands of central Canada. They are small, feisty, disappear into the water much like the cormorants and American Coots. The big difference is the colorful displays of feathers.  It was simply being in the right place at the right time.

The male has colors like a wood duck but not identical.

Will be going back to look for them specifically. I want some better shots. These runs for the blog help keep breaches of copyrights down to a minimum, but they also turn up finds that  help to produce income later on.

Spring In Popping Out all Over

While out today shooting Capital Improvement Projects, I ran across a bit of hope. Now, true, this is on the cusp of an Arctic cold front due to hit tomorrow, but that doesn't matter.  Nature has the upper hand. Believe that! These shoots are hardy and will stout.

It was a bit of a surprise to see it at the end of January, but  I'll take it!

Here is a bit of supporting proof. (click on the image to open a larger view)

Fair Park Is Really Changing!

With the new management to open up Fair Park during the days beyond and up to the State Fair run of three weeks, the changes were very obvious and people were all over the 177 acres of  grounds. It was a much more friendly atmosphere and from what I saw today, the changes will only make Fair Park a true park and second jewel for Dallas as it should be.

With Fair Park getting much needed work, crews were also doing that, too! The place  just looked alive more than I can ever remember. That pretty much sums it up like this: " With the State Fair not running, the place was more alive than ever!" No mid-way, no concessions, but people were just totally enjoying their day. After yesterdays punishing walks,  I though it might just be my imagination that was giving me a false reading, but no, even I enjoyed the afternoon.

The Art Decco paradise still just blows me away to see so much in one location. If people don't realize what a prize this is for Dallas, then they need to get out an explore the wealth of this place. Usually, I make a trip down there about once ever four months with my last one being  the installation of Big Tex prior to opening day for the fair.

Fountains outside Hall of State Building. These are not the amazing programed music water and light show with surround sound directly in front and across the plaza from the Hall of State Entrance.

Originally opened as Star Plex and since has undergone several sponcorships. The groups, performers, bands, and music is still the good stuff. It's an outdoor lawn venue with sound stage.

The art decco collection of buildings is getting a boost from the city to the tune of $50 million. Cracks, paint, repairs  will be a well deserved fix.

Historic Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe

It came as a shock to realize several years ago that I lived on the subject tracks of this post. It had never really been a subject of discussion with my railroader friends but I knew that the tracks in the Dallas area were still live and were used as a short line track. It was not until several more years before I figured out that the tracks were, indeed, the tracks behind my house and were under the Short Line Railroad  operated by Kansas City Southern.

This discovery and renewed interest came about when I walked the Santa Fe Bike Trail split with the White Rock Trail just below the dam at White Rock Lake. The trail follows the White Rock Creek on its way downstream toward the Trinity River in the Great Trinity Forest in deep South Dallas. At that time, I came across the tracks near the Tennyson Highlands  and the Tennyson Glens courses at Tennyson Park that split off the old line for the Texas & Pacific that runs back through White Rock Lake. At that time, I discovered the old trestle farther down the line on the "S" curves. While I did not walk down there at that time, only going to the point were T&P line had been abandoned. Several months later, I did return and walked down to the trestle but did not explore beyond that point. However, I had always wondered where those tracks made their way toward my house. It was just one of those things where I just never got beyond looking at an old map to see the line's route on the map, but I already knew that I wanted to explore more at some time to see how the puzzle  fit together. All that happened about the time that the Big Boy was being moved from Fair Park to it's new home in Frisco. Then the new container yard opened in Frisco and the traffic was greatly reduced as it went past my house. A very typical short line operation of a few box cars, maybe a few flat beds with  UPS trucks but those were basically supply cars for the industrial parks that run from south of here toward Garland to the KCS yard at Shiloh, south of Northwest Highway and between Shiloh and Garland Road where the double stacked containers and the pigs were loaded for UPS.

Today, as I was checking on one of my most favorite neighborhoods--- a little subdivision built about the early years of the twentieth century around the time that White Rock Lake was being built. The homes are the original tiny house of about 1000 to 1500 square feet, but the neighborhood is called the Little Forest Hills. It is architecturally one of the most amazing places one could see in any urban area. When I first discovered it, signs were in the yards advertising, " Keep Little Forest Hills Little". I had already seen a couple of what I call Ronnie Houses, big, modern 3500 to 6000 square feet mansions squeezed on a small lot. All it takes is one of the big, new houses to go up after the little house has been bulldozed away forever for the disease to spread throughout the entire community that is a treasure for any city to hold on to except in Texas were land is more valuable than a house.
As I turned to start to go toward Fair Park, the second half of the city's water upgrades had blocked off the road at the rail road tracks. It's interesting in that long before I discovered the neighborhood, I had heard the train whistles, sometimes while at the lake and others as I was doing a shoot along Garland Road. It reminded me of the old Mystic Mood Album, One Stormy Night,  with a cut of a thunderstorm and rain and the sound of a train horn. I loved that album and just this past week decided that I needed to find out if it had been cut on CD. It's so soothing to listen to when reading or working on edits  from the days shoot.

As I went over a couple of blocks to find a street that took me across the tracks, I saw a photographer walking toward the street that I was on and it hit me right then, that this was the other end of that trestle that I wanted to see. By the time that I circled and came back, the guy had gotten in his car and headed out. So I decided right then that I was going to walk down there, having figured out about how far it was from what I knew of the area. Basically, from the end of the Glens course to the far end of the Highlands course---two full golf courses in length. Sure enough, from  the crossing down to the first curve was about a 20 minute walk, but as I rounded the curve I could see the metal trestle a bit farther in distance. That was about another 10 minute walk, the ballast was big and loose along the sides of the track. I learned a long time ago that you don't walk down the center of the tracks. People end up dead that way. Any how, I got my shots, saw a couple of "park anywhere" bikes down below with bent rims. One a V-bike and the other a Lime bike. At least the destruction of the bikes was spread around the rental companies and one company didn't have  to see a double loss.

At the point of the trestle, where White Rock Creek crosses under the trestle, there is an up-scale profession gated community  on one side and the Tennyson Glens lower course on the other. So, now, I have shots of the "s" curves and the Trestle from the south and west views as well as the north and east view of the Trestle and and their "S" curves. By the time I got back to the car, I was feeling pretty beat. I had a small snack in the car that I carry in my travel bag and I sat there for a couple of minutes eating my snack in hopes of gaining my energy back. My plan was that I had to head toward the Walmart Neighborhood Market on the way home to get my favorite fresh baked Cuban rolls. I split them down the center with my bread knife at breakfast and pop them in the toaster. Then, I spread a light coat of butter on the hot rolls. Oh! They go with breakfast like none other. It's been a long time since the, 'goodby toast, hello Cuban Roll'.They are 5/$1.00 and this will get me 5 days of breakfast before having to go get more.

As luck would have it, when I got the WNM, I saw a space right up front after the handicap parking and I circled to come around. Just as I got there, some guy whips in with his big 2500 or whatever it was and took the space. So, round and round we go again finding one a few more spaces away from the front. When I got out, there was an electric scooter next to my car. I sat down. It was charged up and I pushed down on the bar and away I went. It was non-stop to the sliding doors, across the cart room and into the fruits and veggies, around the table and down the isle to the bread bin. I'm thinking, I should try this more often, but I really was beat up from walking that distance on that loose ballast. I got my rolls. Headed to the check out and Murphy's Law kicked in. All those empty lanes and self check outs were lined up like the Super Bowl was today. But, I got  to check out and and headed for the car, parking the scooter right where I had found it originally. Into the car before the pain started. By the time I had diner the pain was pretty strong and I took a plain generic aspirin and the pain has not come back since.  It's all in the day's work for a retired old man who loves his full-time hobby of urban photography.

By-the-way, when checking my e-mail after eating tonight I had a few sales. That made it all worth while---I-think!

The Old Buzzard Greeted Me, Too! He was being a bit vocal.

Looking South and West. The old shots are looking this way

The "S" curve. It's a 20-minute walk back to the car.

Some Arguement May Insue but, No, Virginia,

it isn't a red tail hawk. It has been confirmed that it is a two-year old male osprey that is probably nesting for the first time and is looking for a mate. Sorry, to disappoint those that will swear on a stack of fake news gossip that it is a red tail but there are two distinguishing characteristics that confirm him from a couple of long-term experts that do this for a living.

Besides, I know an osprey when I see one or I would not have troubled a couple of professors that love this bird as much  I have come to appreciate if I hadn't seen the two distinguishing characteristics.

Oh, since it is our blog, and we announced that this blog wasn't turning into a bird blog, we can still post bird pictures of interest, don't you know?

2-year old Osprey Male according to a couple of experts that study the breed academically.

Beautiful in flight

A new sandbar has emerged from the island all the way across Sunset Bay to the area left of the dock. That's a sandpiper in the center confirmed by yet another birder. It didn't get out of the mid 40s today with a 24MPH NW wind. C-O-L-D!!!

The Cat Is Out Of The Bag

When the weatherman lets the cat out of the bag, you know there is something to the story. I am talking about the HARP  Project, the mysterious program that shoots laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) beams into the upper atmosphere to try to change the weather. Last night, during the weather, a local weather man  mentioned that  "maybe we can get them to change the weather". Most probably did not catch the subtle mention but there are many that have taken notice of the 5,000 mile cloud this year and a few other odd happening.

Today was another one of the most gloomy days that I have ever seen in Dallas, Texas. One of several cold fronts made it dark enough to keep the headlights on today. This isn't the first time this winter that that has happened, either.

 I can take the cold. Cold and sunshine are just fine for me. I would rather have sunshine and 65 but sunshine and 45 is just as well. Anything but this gloom.

Fun To See This Stuff

The Trees Are collecting fishing gear again!

The Rider Is Actually On A Trail Trough The Mid-Height Prairie Grass. I love this return to natural grasses the Park System reintroduced.

There's Irony In Mother Nature's Guardian Time Keeper USNO

Currently, we are experiencing the coldest mornings of the season with a hard freeze in the mid to low twenties. Yet, as I go about my route routine, I find all kinds of new shoots that are breaking out into beautiful green leaves.  Usually, our trees show buds and growth around the first of March and our flowering trees begin to show white and red and pink blossoms all over by the end of March. The grasses have come out of their winter's sleep, rolling back their brown dry color for beautiful greenish color and growth.

My potted trees on the porch are beginning to show their swelling buds this season, I'm afraid that I will have to start to trim them back. If I put them out on the sidewalk, then the lawn crew's big mowers have a hard time maneuvering and they don't like that. So, I might have to look for someone who wants three free trees this fall that can plant them this time next year.

The irony, of course, is that while one bush has seed pods still hanging from last fall, it also has new growth popping out at the same time.  While I don't like to push things but rather take it as it comes, there is one (which is really 4) times a year when I do choose to push some.  That's the difference of an astronomical start vs. a meteorological start of the seasons.

Astronomical    Spring:     March 20 at  5:58  pm EDT
Meteorological   Spring :     March  1

Astronomical    Summer:   June  21    at 11:54 am EDT
Meteorological   Summer:   June   1

Astronomical    Fall:          September 23 at 3:50 am EDT
Meteorological    Fall           September 1

Astronomical  Winter:        December 21 at 11:19pm EST
Meteorological  Winter       December 1 

Nesting Season Has Begun

Blooms have started in ground cover plants

New grown shoots with old seed pods still hanging  on.

Quickly, it's easy to understand why I choose to go with meteorological rather than Astronomical dates.  First, the days are always going to vary because of the lunar cycle. Second, the time will vary as well for the same reason. Third, note eastern daylight times and one eastern standard time with the daylight savings scheme in play. It's just plain easier to go with the meteorological dating of when the sun will cross the various boundaries on its way north in the spring and its way south in the winter with the equator being crossed in spring and fall. The months don't change it's still March, June, September and December, you just don't have to spend a lot of brain cell time  with all the details involved for four days of the year. Spring is still going to happen just as it really does in March.

Now, not to lessen the importance of the U.S. Naval Observatory that brings us all this information. They have use for specific time tables, but me---I really don't need that information beyond the month and neither does Mother Nature when the new shoots and buds blossom. They are not just sitting there waiting for March 20th at 5:58 pm EDT to bring forth new growth. It's already happened where I live. And when I lived in the Great Lakes, I could always count on the trees having new grown from their opening buds by Income Tax Day (April 15th).

Do You See What I See?

Electronic devices interest me to some degree, especially the ones that are constantly changing on cell towers and light poles. Ever since the Tex Dot guy mentioned during the upgrades to I-635 LBJ that now was the time to install the tracking stuff that people just right off as part of the upgrade to the construction that make their little drive to work a whole bunch better. So, when the cameras starting appearing with Dallas Police on them, it wasn't a total surprise, nor were the difference in camera look- a-likes that are license plate readers and not cameras at all. Then, came the cell towers that can ping your cell phone and triangulate your location using GPS without you even knowing it just by having you cell phone with you. In short, where you go and how often you go is now archived in databases.

It doesn't bother me because the only privacy a person has today is in their heads and even that is being researched and developed in ways that are far more invasive that you really want to know about. They already have your DNA from the people who swab so blindly because they want to know "where I came from"  family tree thing to pleas of  "swab for matches for organ transplants" on open wholesale scales. Now, don't get me wrong. People who need organs enters into a whole  different ball game of sports. There are better ways to protect a your DNA---the very vault holds of all that you have as an individual. The "where did I come from" game really is over before it begins, especially if you believe in the bible where it already proclaims that trying to trace your origin is 'game over' before you even start because it's not happening according to the ancient scrolls that were part of the early bible.

So, here we are back to just the privacy issue of electronics! Hence, a more realistic look into the secret world of data bullies that use your data as an income generator, keeping only the real stuff that matters for their own use or until technology opens up the next frontier that will use that collected data as fuel for push sale of the technology and that is just the cover page. The behind the scene stuff is really where the dirty, grubby and bully-tactic work is really taking place.

Now comes the 5G sell! The gotta have it crew. Yes, even the cry that is all bull---to protect you and keep you safe. Of course, a large majority still believe that and that's what is being counted on. Oh did I mention that the collection of data would then grow exponentially?

Recalling again the conversation with the Tex DOT guy who made a bold statement that really turned out to be more truth than fiction, "Dallas, is asleep at the wheel."  For example, the cell tower at my neighborhood Kroger store has long been a black briefcase cell tower. With that said, we don't even have to assume that the time frame would put that technology in its infancy. A lady was at the service counter and was having problems with her debit card a couple of days ago. I've had that same problem of late, but on the drive to my friendly K-Roger's store I noticed the addition of this new 5G that was just outside the store (5G also transmits your financial data from the store to the banks). On the way home, I spotted several more on utility poles (aka telephone phones) They are the newer version of cell towers. Even your local Dart bus will be able to swipe soon if not already. New technology called 5G covers the five main purposes of communication distribution. I think back to the days in the mid seventies when we were being told that computers are going to make our life easier. Never has marketing lied more to the general public than with that statement except when they tell us that it makes us safer.

5G Technology antennas and other unknowns

Two Trees That I Like---Alright. Three!

Within 60-feet of each other, two of my most interesting trees that I visit and practice shooting from various angles and light are like a magnet. It could be that they are on a hill top. It could be because they are unique in their own right, or it could be that they have some biblical reference---well, at least one that I know of. And since I went there, I might as well mention that the second tree with a biblical reference is ---you know already that I am going to say---Sycamore! and it is just another 60-odd feet away from the first two originally mentioned.  Now. What are the chances of that?  The sycamore's pure white bark makes it a perfect tree to shoot year round.

There are not many pine trees in the Metroplex but there are a few. Most of the pine trees in Texas are in the eastern piny woods along the Louisiana and Arkansas border. In fact, found one this very day, but will have to go back and shoot it when traffic is still. Hey, trees are interesting creatures. We take them for granted way to much for the good that they do on this planet. Respect them!

I'm still researching the DNA of this tree. It's pretty badly scared from  lightening strikes.

A real live Cedars of Lebanon. It is a beautiful tree.

No, This Blog Is Not Turning Into A Bird Blog.

Pelicans Seek New Spots

Today's outing generated two more images of birds at White Rock. It's nesting season--give me a break, please. From the trip today, the wrap around cloud cover of a very strong low-level low returned more clouds today, although, there were a few brief patches of blue sky about the size of a frying pan on a world scale. At one point there was one spot on the lake's surface seen from one of the high roads that lends a view of the entire length of the lake and a skyline view of downtown.That  spot of sunshine was absolutely amazing. At the time, I was driving from one of the broken section to the next and recall thinking that I should get a shot of that. When I got onto the second section of roadway, the spot was gone. It's like the old rule at Costco----when you see it you had better buy it because when you go back to get it, it's going to be gone. Well, I didn't get the shot and when I got to where I could shoot a better advantage point, the spot was gone. Hence, the Costco story in illustration.

To back up the story from yesterday about the pelicans being displaced and seen in spots where I have not observed them before, today, I found three that were on an inlet pretty far from the main shoreline of the lake. One, was even bathing, which means that they were pretty far into their daily routine and might even have spent the night there last night. While it may be interesting for the pelicans, it's not a good thing for the people who like seeing the ole pelicans in their normal spots.

And, while the weather will change from this below average temperatures we are having at the moment, shooting up to sunshine and 73 by Thursday when an Arctic air mass is heading this way and will give us 30 MPH north winds and 20 degree F temps driving the wind chill into the very low single digit to mid teens. Things like this can also cause a sudden movement in the migrating visitors that could change their home-away-from-home base as well. It is something that needs to be watched and monitored.

 I'm anxious to ride the new TexRAIL on it's 27-mile trip from T&P station in Ft. Worth to Terminal B at DFW Airport. The train got approved after a couple of days being  delayed because of the government shut-down and is now active, live, hot and rolling. Theoretically one could start at terminal A on DART's light rail and ride it into Union Station in Downtown Dallas, change to either Trinity Rail Express or Amtrak there and then riding it into T& P in Ft. Worth. Finally, change to TexRAIL and ride it into Terminal B at DFW, then walk from Terminal B to A or ride the airport's tram from terminal B to terminal A to complete the circle. That trip, would be more than the 27 miles from Ft. Worth into DFW Terminal B, but boy would it be fun for a train and plane geek!! Least we forget the Cotton Belt Train from Plano across the north sector of the city to DFW Airport Train Hub has been given the go ahead also. THEN!! grab hold of this!

If that isn't exciting enough, just wait. The bullet train from Houston to Dallas and then  Ft. Worth T&P is nearing the horizon for construction. The Tube from Dallas to Ft. Work from Elan Musk is also on that horizon to travel from Dallas to Ft.Worth in 7 minutes or so and of course, the Lyft or Uber Air Taxi from Bell Helicopter's films are just absolutely awesome with prototype models coming soon.  Transportation in the Metroplex is going to make George Jetson seem like he was riding a bicycle all those years ago. I might even still be able to draw a breath on this planet and see this all working---that's how close to completion all this is approaching. We are not talking years as in decades, but within a decade or sooner. It's time to Get Excited About Transportation in Dallas and Ft. Worth. The time is at hand and it's going to be another big shot in the arm like DFW was 40-odd years ago. So don't be caught sleeping behind the wheel or you might miss all the excitement.

Great Blue Heron

Red Shoulder Hawk Take Flight.

Water Levels Are Changing Birds Patterns

If you visit the lake almost daily, one begins to see changes, however subtle, more rapidly than others. What I have noticed since before Christmas is that the patterns and habits of the birds that migrate to White Rock have changed. It seems to be caused by two factors. One, the higher level of the lake's water and the displaced logs for a longer period of  time, and the increased traffic  on the water and bikers racing through normally quiet stretches of roadways.

Logs in the lake have long been a staple for the birds---especially the waterfowl--- that like to sun themselves on the logs. Several years ago, the turtles had the same problem. The high water displaced the big logs and swept them down to the dam and over onto the spillway. That has happened this season for the pelicans which have been displaced from their little island that is on the north side of Sunset Bay. They have moved on to other locations and a few that I have talked with say that they have noticed an increase in pelican at Lake Lewisville dam and even Lake Ray Hubbard. I'm not surprised. Birds are creatures of habit just like the human factor and after a while, they tire of being disrupted and move on. Actually, I have been afraid of that for the past several years. If  you like and enjoy wildlife like I do, then the last thing you want to see is the waterfowl leaving and not coming back.

It isn't just the waterfowl, either. The hawks are restless. The owls are restless. The coyotes are becoming more aggressive and less timid as in the past. It's always been a solid fact that White Rock has so much to offer that it is a jewel of a park. With it's old trees that are dropping in more visible numbers, its waters that have seen increased boat traffic, kayak traffic, paddle boarders, no wonder the animal are getting nervous. It's stressing them out. That is very much more visible.

Even the common geese that once walked from the lake up onto the lawn of Sunset Bay cottage, don't cross the road as often as they once did. The racing bikers have upset that routine more than most would think. If you sit and watch the traffic, you see people in numbers whereas beforehand it was maybe one or two here and there, going the wrong way on the roadways where the signs plainly indicate "Begin One Way". It's a new generation of people that come now  not to enjoy the park, but to use it as their personal exercise gym outdoor style.

Last week a truck pulled up, got out a bag 25 or 30 maybe even 50 pounds of grain and spread it out for the waterfowl in front of the sign that said, Don't feed the birds with a reason why not to do so. The grain is by far better than bread for their digestive systems. But the point is not the guy that dumped the bag of grain---it was the people that walked down to the grain to get pictures and drove the animals back into the water.

What had been an amazing shot for any photographer was to see the ducks, the geese, the pigeons, the coots and low and behold a couple of squirrels right in the middle of all that. It was cute, comical and photogenic--- that is until this group of adults, some with kids, came rushing toward the animals driving them to retreat to the safety of the water. Things like that will drive animals away quicker than anything.  An hour later, the birds had not returned. The grain had been trampled down and kicked about . I'm thinking as I watch this--how would these people like for someone to rush their table as they sat down to a holiday meal? How would they like people to tramp across their table where the food had been laid out?

People are ignorant of how to approach wildlife. You don't let your kids run down the length of a dock like a thundering herd of mustangs and expect to see the animals up close in a native wild setting. But they do.  I've seen two Park Rangers in the last six months. The cops do more PR than the Park Rangers. When they first came back on board after City Council refunded their jobs, there was all kinds of talk about the good that they would do. Ironically, the crown jewel of the Park Systems Parks do not even have one in the park on a regular basis.

King of the Ball Diamond. This is his watch tower.

Hawk on a wire is not the same as bird on a wire.

His mate was in the tree across the roadway near the Katy Trail Extension at White Rock Trail

Spotted 5 of the Hawks Today But Not Before This Accident

Before eyes fell on the first of the five hawks that I saw today, I saw an accident that was just the strangest thing. A big box type van had it's box completely torn off the frame of the truck and came to rest against a telephone pole at a major intersection. Normally, I would have submitted to the live news feeds but just didn't feel like the effort that it was going to take, so after watching the cleanup and seeing two wreckers and their workers with chain saw, sledgehammer,an ax, I was just amused watching the box being further

The Truck and what is left of the box cover. This is wrecker # 1

reduced so that it could be safely loaded onto the second wrecker and hauled away. The cargo was yet, another mess that was being handled to the side and I didn't get any shots of that situation other than the initial shot of the mess it caused on the ground.

Like I said, I just didn't have the energy today to do the full scope of submitting to a live feed. So, I didn't. I have long been able to feel deep low pressure systems in my back as the storms approaches. Today is just that type of day. I haven't felt this as strongly since the blizzard of '78 in the Great Lakes. But, location means nothing other than that the storm system is close enough to me for me to feel it in my back and today it is radiating throughout my entire body as it did during the blizzard that is mentioned above. Ironically, for lunch, a couple of days ago, I got out of the freezer, a meal that was frozen especially for days like tomorrow's forecast. Cold. Rain. Misery. So, another one will be enjoyed tomorrow for lunch should I be lucky enough to be able to get out of bed. That makes me sound almost old. Well, I'm not that bad. But, the weather has really taken a toll on me mentally, this year already. But, there has been good new on that front already this

The box that once resided on the bed of the truck behind the first wrecker. This is wrecker #2

year, as well, so I really can't complain---even begin to complain, just yet! I'll try to get a second post of more of these pictures and some of the big red boys of White Rock. One was sitting on a wire. I have never seen a hawk on a wire. Not their style and there was a medium wind. He was having a problem keeping his balance but gave in to sit in his favorite tree a bit later.

The box at the edge of the intersection with its cargo that was inside the box.

                    

The Big Thicket Raptor Is Back Surveying The Tree Damage

Today, finally, I spotted the ole boy high atop his favorite tree in the Big Thicket. After a bit, he took flight over the hillside ticket east of the tennis courts and points south. I could see him diving low and then come up and ride the updrafts then back down in a swooping dive. He most likely was hunting. I could hear the crows squawking  then saw five of them doing their, "this is my ground buddy!" squawks. As I drove from Buckner up the hill at Peavy and made the loop down into the park, over W. Lawther to the cottage at the Big Thicket. I parked and walked over to the edge of the grove where the Red Shoulders and the Owls have shared for a couple of years without fail. I was about to give up and walked up closer to Buckner, finding the tree that I had seen from Buckner earlier. Sure enough, there sat the ole boy eating lunch. What a welcomed sight that was.

There was a fairly large group of people sitting on blankets. Nothing wrong with that, but they had dogs--maybe three---and the ole boy was quiet uncomfortable with the barking and the kids chasing the dogs so close to the big nesting tree. That has been one of the things that is a concern, especially at this time of year when nesting and mating are close to happening. The last thing I want to see is for the ole boy to relocate at such a critical time. Or worse yet, the increased pedestrian traffic would cause the pair to abandon the nest with eggs. That would be disastrous.

Still, there is hope that nesting will take place as in the past without any trouble. The guys from Parks
and Recreation are aware that it's nesting time there, especially with the big tree being down for a couple of months. The guys have so much work to do  this time of year and with the past two floods already this year, there is tons of wood on the floor. They are going to give it their best shot to get the tree removed before much longer and I, for one, greatly appreciate all their work. The guys are two great crews--one for West Lawther and one for East Lawther. The do such a great job helping to keep the park in order.

In fact, there was a guy today that was shooting the pelicans and finches, from Delaware who commented about the trash in the Dixon. He was surprised to hear that there are volunteer groups that work picking up trash and were even out today in large numbers with the bill board date of January 12th not until this coming weekend, it shows that people do care and were working in support groups even today. They are much appreciated, too!

Cited from Buckner Road

Mr. Squirrel with a very high post to observe and take in sunshine.

Just finished his lunch, He's back at has normal spot when the mate is on the nest--although that hasn't happened yet at the old nest. But, he's back in the neighborhood. That's a good thing.

New Features Testing Adds Two More

The final test of two new features to our upgrade have tested okay to come on line. You will note one is a searchable link on Dreamstime Stock Images and is located on the right hand side of the blog.

The other, is at the very end of the blog in the Memorial Section for my son and is a multi-use tab. It will show what our latest additions to Dreamstime that are live and also a complete view of our portfolio at Dreamstime that are available for you to purchase and download from that tool.

For the timid--- one of the reasons we test these out before going hot, or live, is that we know that some of you don't want to get in a position that causes any turmoil with your system. We are very much the same and in agreement with that fear.

In setting these up, we want you to be able to play with it and learn how to navigate it so that fear will go away as you become more comfortable.

Yesterday, I saw a license plate that said IPTYPEGUY ( I P TYPE GUY) and it inspired me to work into the night testing these tools out and getting more of the whole project on  line. In short.... I did it for YOU, my wonderful readers and followers. So, have fun, tell the neighbors, spread the word, put a note in the offering plate if you want. That will cause one of the deacons or elder to scratch their head a time or two, but hey.... even the LORD has a sense of humor don't you know.

Cathedral in Buenos Aires

Seashore art

American Advertising in  Living Color

Mission Accomplished.

The  weatherman said that when we get up today the clouds would still be present but would clear out rather fast by mid morning. Wrong, without prejudice!  There was only a thin strip of cloud in the western sky and the rest was that "make me feel happy blue sky". Oh, what a relief to see that. As I have mentioned before, at one point I didn't mind cloudy skies, but as time has ticked away...I want all the blue sky that I can get.

By lunch time, my normal routine was complete and I sat down to watch the news and see what kind of mess Donald had gotten himself into over night tweeting. Really, though, I love that guy. He is misunderstood by the vast majority because the mainstream establishment have never been around a guy like our current president. It the same thing as people up north not understanding the southern culture and then there are regions like Pacific Northwest , California, Florida, Upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine; all regions with cultures so different that most just don't get it. Take the Water People of Maryland on the East side of the Chesapeake Bay. That's a culture in both language and work that would confuse most Americans, yet don't give them the crabs and shell fish that the Water People harvest every day to satisfy their taste buds and listen to them yell.

Here's the Big Boy in a Residential Neighborhood

Just when he was getting ready to change position, a guy comes out of one of the houses, gets into his truck and roars right past me just as he took flight. My dad always said, "There's always one".

The last of the Christmas Decor although, this one just struck me as so,"Charles Dickens". I love this image with the ghostly tree branches, sky and that Holiday Theme.

 

Donald is a Construction Trade Guy. One that is also locked into the New York System that do everything for the benefit of the trades and the bosses. Dock workers, Freight Handlers, Fashion Districts, Fish Markets, Importers of wine and booze. Taxis. Hotels.  You name a trade--New York has one that is a total different world than you would think it to be. But, things get done. Business gets done. Money is made, Food hits the table when it is time.

To me---it's the old adage: There are those that want to see you fail. That's what the fake news and all that garbage set out to do. At any rate... I had my morning laughs and watched another congress go about business as normal, even though the American People had said that if you don't get it right after we clean house, we are going to clean house even better at the next election. And--I truly hope that the American People go back to the polls and wipe the second and third  terms totally clean

But, my goal of late is to keep watch on the nesting pairs of hawks and owls. Activity is picking up and I was talking to a couple of park workers today that I see routinely and they are trying to get all the wood up off the floor. There has been so many branches and whole trees that have fallen this past year and while some can be returned to nature on their own, other need human help to get rid of the wood and the damage it caused.

Much to my surprise, today, as I made my way around to check on the birds that I have not seen in the pat two to three days, still, none were found for the third day, but I did score  a major find. My Osprey was cited again. This is the fourth time that I have seen him in as many weeks. Yet, today was the fulfillment of getting images of all four bird of prey; the eagles, the red shoulders/ red tails, the barred owls and now the osprey! Mission Accomplished.

My first citing of an osprey was years ago at Pauly's Island, South Carolina. Ever since, that is the one bird that I cannot get enough of. They are populated on 6 of the 7 continents and they eat only fish. But they are  totally interesting to see, watch and bring hope that you get to see them again.  There are some great HD cams of Ospreys. They are interesting to see how they care for their mates and their chicks. Three years ago I saw my first Osprey at White Rock that I had ever seen there. Last year, I didn't see them at all, but around September, I had heard that  one had been cited. I kept watching and looking at spots where I know that they favor in a territory. Then, at the end of  November, I saw the big guy for the first time last year--now, in this nesting season he is hanging out at all the right places. I'm hopeful to spot a big nest soon. Time will tell if he hangs out at White Rock or goes to one of the bigger and more rural lakes.

Inside Yesterday--Had To Get Out Today

The rain and gray clouds and cold were closing in inch by inch by inch. By noon time, it was out the door with the bumper shoot  in one hand and the camera bag and tote in the other. Just at Love Field, already, we have picked up an inch and a half of rain. The snow went north to soon.So, to be positive about the matter, we got liquid snow instead.

For a bit, I had the wipers on intermittent. The drizzle was just enough to have them on. When I got to the lake, it was clear that the water levels were even higher than they had been with the most recent flooding on the parking lots and roadway. The dock at one of the boat club marinas had been smashed and rearranged by logs floating down stream and striking the under carriage, raising sections out of the water. So with that siting, it was a full sweep of the lake to see what else might be amiss, all- the- while looking for the pairs of hawks that are getting ready to nest. Not one hawk did I see. Not one. This is the second day and it somewhat worries me. The weather can cause hawks to go elsewhere.

What I did discover was that the pelican's island was totally under water for the second time in less than two weeks and what was worse was the the logs that they like to nap upon and preen their feathers were totally gone. None!! Even the ones out father into the bay area were missing. I also noted that the number of pelicans were  much less than what normally hangs out there. There were only a dozen more on the lake drifting and none down by the dam when I was there. It was on the way home when I made a sweep over the  top of Flag Pole Hill and down to Goforth along White Rock Creek when I discovered about thirty pelicans on the creek bank between Northwest Highway and the cross road that runs east and west behind Flag Pole Hill. There were even many more Great White Egrets and a few more Great Blue Herons that I have never seen all together hanging out like today.

It will be interesting to see how the return goes when the lake levels drop a bit and the creeks flood stage currents lower and slow down . Will the group of pelicans stay there or return to  Sunset Bay? The Park Superintendent told me about a month ago in his office that he can't put logs back into the water. Environmental control factors, nor can he take them out unless they wash ashore like the ones did along the lake shore and the marina docks. I fully understand that process. And there is a lot of loss limbs and branches  on the ground where the disease and rot weakened the branches to where finally, the rain soaked wood's weight pulled them down. Big ones. There is a good semi load of wood on the ground now just along East Lawther from trees down and branches down. So the hope to have nature replace the logs for the pelican and cormorants has greatly diminished after the scouting mission today. 

At least the temperatures will be normal and even well above above average for the next ten days or so. I noted a 70 degree day just a few more days down the pike. Tomorrow will be seasonal but the mitigating factor to all of this is sunshine!! Sun, Glorious Sun!!.  Annie, yes, "the sun will come out tomorrow"!

See the log on the left. It runs to the right middle of the undercarriage. That's what lifted the dock up.

Slightly blurred. I'm not a memeber of the 600mm club.

The Sailing Club Has been Around and Around again. It's the anchor of the Marina.

Happy New Year 2019. Welcome Guest,Visitors and Readers Alike

Already 2019 is off and running. Well, almost. Bevo charged at the Bulldog mascot!!. The handler was smart. He got the Bulldog out of there!!. Bevo,  the Number One Longhorn in Texas  ~~~@~~~  ... Not to worry. It's a Texas Thing. 

Seriously, The big Blue machine in Ann Arbor was a disappointment---again! But, in the scheme of things... they will sing, Happy Days Are Here Again, sooner than later! You can take that to the bank!

So, as we begin the new year, we have had some fails on the new upgrades and are still working on them. It may be that a gremlin, or two, still exist in our system. We found evidence of that yesterday and today. To borrow a phrase from our President, Donald Trump, "I'm in no hurry," to launch the new system until it is ready from top to bottom. We will keep you posted along the journey.

Yesterday, we were able to get out for a bit. It was cold by Texas standards.(I've survived 17-below before so Texas cold is not that bad for me.) I do want some of the snow that is knocking on our door, however. No ice. Just snow. I want to try out a couple of settings on the camera. The last time that it snowed--a few winters ago, I shot a few using the settings and the snow came out just as pretty as it should. The problem with no snow is that to gain the experience of those settings, you need to use them. So, come on down snow.

The stone work on the old T & P bridge on West Lawther that was torn down and a new pedestrian bridge hung over the roadway at the Entrance to White Rock Lake Park, is where the stone work is taking place now, but the new pedestrian bridge over the old T & P trestle where Katy Trail Extension comes into White Rock Park will get a new wall facing the lake, I have been told by the project supervisor back in the fall.  I know that there are lots of big stone slabs on the stretch between the two bridges along Williamson Road that  are awaiting  being cut into pieces that match the initial rows that are being laid at present. I'm a big fan of stone work, too! So, as Arnold made famous and has said before, "I'll be back."

With the stone work beginning, the landscape just got classy!

Also a big fan of Roof Lines. This one looks interesting.

Alright, I'm a true Romantic!! These are the things that the history books will archive hundreds of years later. Kind of like a Bach, Brahams and a Beethoven Symphony. It only gets better with time!!!