Migration This Year Had Highs and Lows

The major concern was for the pelicans arrival this season with the massive storm kill-off of waterfowl in Mold, Montana. As it turned out, eventually, we got our regular number of birds to take up residency until late March.

The other major migration was that of the Monarch Butterflies. California got a large number to pass trough this year, but in North Texas, we only had a fractional number of flies. I did some in my neighborhood and always saw a hand full at the lake, but the butterfly garden had a hand full of the royal flies.




 Weather played a part, most likely with the jet stream not shifting south like it normally does. Also, while this is the central flyway for birds and Monarchs, again, weather to the west was more favorable than what we were having here. The most worrisome of all is, of course, the declining number of Monarchs.

For those that like to track Monarch Migration, Monarch Watch. The info source is from the Entomology Program at the University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Ave.,Lawrence, KS 66045-7534.

In Memorial

                         Happy Birthday, KP

 The 21st year of your passing.

Helicopters Continue To Survey My Neighborhood

A lots of things in life are elusive. Some, more than others. As the helicopters continue to hover and circle, fly low, fly higher, and all the maneuvers that make the egg beaters an excellent machine for many things in today's world the surveying goes on.

 It has been a rough week. It all started Sunday night when the strong cold front moved in ---kind of like where refrig meets oven and cold air meets hot air. Well, hot air with a lot of humidity from the  Gulf of Mexico streaming into the stew pot mixer of North Texas. Where I live is kind of like the Hamilton Beach of mixers where the cold and the hot and rain and wind and the humidity and all the other things needed to cook up a good Tornado or two---or three come together. Well, even a few more than that. The helicopters have sorted it out and the National Weather Service had confirmed 9 separate tornadoes that came out of that mixing bowl. Even that was updated again today to include one more tornado, though small and short lived did develop out of our storm, as it moved Northeast. In southern Collin county, number 10 sprang to life. Collin, Denton, Tarrant and Dallas make up our Metroplex district we know as Dallas/Ft.Worth.

The damage in my old neighborhood was extensive and that was bad enough, but that damage extended over the six miles to include blocks immediately to my west and blocks immediately to my north. One gated community with private lakes was laid to waste and forever changing the look of how I  have seen it the past 15-years. It will take years to put it back landscape-wise.

Tonight, heavy rains have moved in just as the last of the power was restored, but not everyone was able to cover their roofs with blue tarps and even more damage will make losses even more. This storm is dropping snow in the panhandle a month early.

This is where gears are changed, but the theme remains on target with the opening sentence of this post. Because the rain would likely keep me home bound for two days, I got the heck out of the house early this morning while the sunshine and windy conditions made sweater weather in the car the most encouragement I have had in months.

At the lake, first check was on the Monarch butterflies, which have been in a thin migration this year. Normally, I would see 15-25 in a quarter hour.

There are three parakeets  near the green wire.

The Cooper wants that grasshopper bad.

As my Dad would say:" There's always one to spoil the fun" speaking of cars that come up and tailgate just as you are trying to find something. The car zipped around me but the bobcat could have cared less. Then, I was able to move at his pace and watch where he was going. It will be a place to start watching now for more than just birds.

While the pelican numbers have come up a bit, weather has been a major factor for them as well as the butterflies. Normally the Great White Egrets are elusive to shoot unless you shoot with a mini Hubble Telescope, they have been all over Sunset Bay where again, the weather has played a factor in moving sandbars close in off the Dixon Branch leaving the water shallow and not so pretty of a setting as it has been in times past.

The monk parakeets have rebuilt their nest in the cell towers and  Oncor substation.

On the second trip around the lake, the final stop at the Cultural Center Bath House was a bonus  sweep of elusive critters. Starting up the hill the Cooper Hawk was in an aerial display as he was  chasing a large grass hopper. Getting a shot of that was like an extra piece of chocolate cake with no calories. Then, the shock of all shocks. One of the most elusive creatures at White Rock---the bob cat--came out of the thicket with a rabbit and leisurely walked the hedgerow. After seven backyards, he went into a wood pile. I did not see him come out.But, the last of the White Rock wonders has now been documented. American Eagles; Osprey; coyote, great horned owl, barred owl, and the  bob cat.

Last Night's EF3 Tornado Came Within 150 Yards of My Front Door.

It's been a long time since I have seen the green skies of childhood tornadoes. When I looked out the front door and saw that green light that resembles Northern Lights, I knew the storm was way to close and made ready my safe room. My brother sent a text. It was more to see if I was okay, I suppose. We grew up in a weather watchful household and spent a lot of nights in our grandfathers large storm cellar. Never-the-less, When I saw the front door bowed out and then saw the column of swirling clouds and rain, I made way to the safe area. The sound of thunder was louder and more attention getting than normal, the rush of air around the door was a whistle-like sound that one never forgets if you have ridden out past tornadoes like I have. It's been 30 years remember riding out Hurricane David and those sounds are etched into my memory,too.

This was way to close in my neighborhood.Two days ago I had gone back into the old neighborhood to see changes and here, two days later, I'm going back to see tons of more trees destroyed after the Father's Day storm at White Rock. But these are new homes that have been built in the past few years and I pass to every day on trips to the drug store and grocery. I was stunned when I saw this first hand.

Damage was much worse

Cars had windows just completely sucked out from the pressure of the storm.

The Lake Was A Carnival Today!

I have always liked White Rock because there is always something unexpected and new and just plain interesting. Over the years, I have watched it go from seeing no one on the lake to fishermen, rowing clubs for high schools, college and Vets that are overcoming Post Distress Disorders. All, add to up in the asset column. Then about eight years ago (including this season) a young lady in a pink baseball cap with her blonde pony tail pulled through the adjustable band in the back of the hat appeared with a trailer and permit from the city to begin operating the White Rock Paddle Company, the outrigger for canoes, kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards. Needless to say, it was a smashing success and has become a staple  on the lake for those that like that kind of recreation. It has been a while since I have seen Amy's crew bring out a canoe but kayaks are stacked up in colorful piles that seem to fly off the shelf in the rental business now firmly anchored on East Lawther in the marina area.

That said, it goes without saying that runners and bikers have now taken over the lake to a point that one cannot drive down West or East Lawther without having to navigate some pretty aggressive individuals. The city could have saved $42 million because runners and hikers don't use the trails that much, preferring to run on both sides of the road and creating serious conditions that could land some one in the hospital

if not the ME's morgue table.  Individuals, I might add that have little interest in the very things that make the park the crown jewel that it is today. That, still is and will remain to be the wildlife, nature's wonders we call sunrises and sunsets in an high density urban area.Or, the one thing that makes this lake stand out because it's on the central flyway for migrations of birds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, butterflies and yes, even some insects.  And just when I think that maybe I should just hang it up and not care anymore, something amazing occurs that is much the same as someone getting CPR and returning to normal life again.That of and within itself should be the driving force to let the city know that this is very much likened to New York's Central Park. Somewhere, a line is going to have to be drawn in the sand as to how much parking, roadways being used as trails and cease to be a PR campaign the Parks see it's likeness and traffic enforcement begins. I see the signs in place. I see the Police Officers in the park. I see the Park Rangers now and then. In fact, I was with a Ranger a couple of weeks ago at Flap Pole Hill while he was talking pictures of cars illegally parked off road. Today, at the Cultural Bath House, I saw many SUVs pulling off road and driving down to the lake behind the cultural center. It's migration time for the Monarch Butterflies and the traumatized pelicans have returned from Montana's Big Lake that saw 13,000 waterfowl killed in a freak hail storm not so many weeks ago.
Hopefully, changes are closer to happening than not. 

Monarchs Are In Town

Brought in by the latest cold front, the Monarch butterflies that were seen on the US Weather Radar have arrived. Yesterday, I counted about 50 per half-hour on the wing at or just above treetop levels from the driveway. Today, I counted a total of three at the lake. That includes both sides of the lake.

While that is not an impressive number, neither are the totals for the species, which has also suffered big losses over the past few years. There is talk about putting them back on the Endangered Species Act List. For those that seem to think that the Earth's weather is not changing, more and more of these types of examples go a long way to document the contrary.

With rain and more cold fronts due over the next week, hopefully, the butterflies are resting up from their winged flight south. I can remember in years past seeing Monarchs hope a ride on the mast pole of a sale boat across Lake Erie. They are crafty in such ways. Talk about thumbing a ride across country, by land or by sea, they make it down the Central Flyway and complete their cycled journey right on time. So, I'm hope full to see them at the lake drawing energy and nectar from the plants along the shoreline of the lake. 

Meanwhile, it was a jackpot of birds of prey at the ball diamonds. There was a red shouldered hawk, a Kestrel hawk and the colorful Cooper hawk. I actually got to see him make a kill. Albeit a grasshopper, by ratio to size, a pretty big meal.

Cooper Hiding in the tree before it targets its lunch.

Got Ya! Lunch is served

This is about a dozen of these that I have seen this weekend. Saturday I made a trip back into the old neighborhood of  tiered stone walls dropping down some 60 feet,  foot bridges, and winding walks from the street across White Rock Creek to the homes that I have loved from the 60's. The Japanese Maples were just stunning.  I have not been homesick for a very long time, but remembering mom walking her dog, Murray ( a white Eskimo)  and knowing that my son had walked those same paths brought a flood of memories over me. With my son's birthday coming up, it was even more a walk "down memory lane". He would have been 49 this year.

Japanese Maples in the Old Neighborhood

Stong Cold Front Transports More Pelicans and the First Siting of Monarch's

It was interesting to see the radar of the Monarch Butterflies riding into Dallas on the strong winds of  last nights cold front. Today, I saw many Monarchs. They will be looking to rebuild their energy so the next few days should turn up some images of this years visitors as they rest and restore their energy before moving on to the mountains of Mexico for the winter.

While the count of the pelicans did increase by 9 birds, it still is not looking good for this years wintering for the pelicans. The group here have begun to settle in to their regular and common routine that they employ in their stay here through about the third week of March. Drift fishing has already begun and I saw  older birds run the youngsters off their tree trunk logs, so the home base rules are already taking place.

The Water Levels Have started to rise from last nights rain totals for up to three inches in places. This was a ugly sandbar yesterday.

When  I read the National Wildlife report on the number that had been killed in the freak hail storm in Molt, I was pretty much convinced  early on that our population wintering here this year would be slim just from the sheer number of deaths that had occurred in Molt. Normally, at this time, our bird population would be some where in the 90 birds tally. There are only 29 birds here in the second wave of arrivals. It's going to be fewer birds all around, most likely. It is amazing how nature will balance things out after a tragic event. The birds here will have more food and not have to work so hard to support themselves. The number of Cormorants are also down as those birds were also in the 5-figure kill numbers of waterfowl---pelicans and cormorants combined.While some have made the journey with the pelicans, the cormorants out numbered the pelicans by 2:1. This year, those numbers are just a number to shoot for in rebuilding the colonies.

Reclaiming Their Favorite Spot for Sunning and Cleaning Feathers.

Pelican Count Still Remains On Low Side

He's just waking up here and seemed a bit dazed but quickly perked up to full alertness. So cute!

He was napping. Before I saw him, he was power napping like crazy.

What's in the new trailer, Ranger Joe? Four months since the Father's Day storm that did so much damage. The crews have worked very hard this year and have done an excellent job at putting the park back including cleaning up the road work mess left after the replacement of water lines and waste water lines. Another thing noticed between Sunset and Poppy Drive is several new fire hydrants.

Good News and Bad News In Pelican Land

With the October 12th arrival date of the pelicans getting close, the number of arrivals is already weighing heavy on this years visit by the big birds that winter here. To compound that was the National Weather Services issue of major storm warnings for heavy snow and temperatures  up to 50 degrees below normal for the north and central Rockies and the northern plains. The pelicans should be on the way with their ability to sense things like that. And, since the scout has been here for the past ten days, the indication is that the main flock is getting ready to travel.

When I made the check today, I was somewhat relieved that the initial arrival of the big birds had arrived 4 days ahead of schedule. That is always a chance of luck but knowing that the weather systems were getting ready to hit the Montana plains, it was hoped that the birds were indeed, on the move.

However, as first feared when the National Wildlife reported that 13,000 had been killed in the sudden hail storm a few weeks back, my heart sank into deep concern for our birds. Keeping in mind that the rehab bird that stayed over this breeding season and the arrival of the scout ten days back gave a base line of 2 birds to begin with to any total that actually arrived initially.  Usually, that count is in the mid 30's to 40's  with about as many to follow a couple of days later. The count today was a total of 19 birds less the 2 gives us 17 birds plus what ever comes later---if any. So, already, the earlier fears of a major loss came to be true today. I will need to check out a couple of other places were the birds have been known to visit--- they are social birds. But that within itself is also an indication that most likely, we will see fewer birds this year because of the tragic storm in Molt, Montana.

Here are the first arrivals this year from the Molt, Montana nesting grounds where the 13,000 birds were killed earlier this year when the birds were caught by surprise in a massive hail storm. This first arrival is about half of what normally comes in the first main flock arrival.

Around The Lake On the First Good Fall Day

At first, it felt like a dream. Then, it actually registered that this is a Great Lakes Cold Front. When you fell that cool air on your face, it's a "OH! Yes!" type of recognition.

Last night, I went out on the porch and just stood there as the front blew past. For me, it's a welcomed arrival delivered by mother nature, although late, but still delivered! Thank goodness. It came on a day of record high temps for the day at 97.

While my wagon wheel route has shifted with the new arrival of October, a once around at the lake is still done, just not spending the time daily while the hummingbirds and cutting of the meadows is ongoing. The big thing this month will be to see that the American White Pelicans make it back on or about October 12th. From previous post, you will see that a massive kill of waterfowl occurred at the nesting grounds where most of our pelicans go to nest. So, it is an anxious time to see just how many do return of the main flock of 72-90 that winter here annually. The scout did arrive about 10-days ago and that was a positive sign.


Meanwhile, at the lake on that first trip on the new schedule, there was so fun, some gladness an a chance to look into the eye of the most evasive waterfowl that I have ever photographed--the Great White Egret, part of that family known as cranes.

Here's the finds of the day! Click on an image to enlarge all three.

Great White Egret Fishing

Bright, Smart, Polite, and  Funny Young Men enjoying that Fall Afternoon Waited for all Summer.

Finally, Dallas Fire and Rescue and Parks and Recreation, have created an official launch area. Those wooden post with fading red paint were being ignored as people parked there. Earlier in the year it caused a critical delay prior in getting a boat into the water to go up White Rock Creek. A rescue  of an elderly couple that got stuck in their boat was the call. Heaven only knows how much I have complained about this and other areas that are not marked that are causing confusion to the new people that visit and use the park. Several are beginning to speak out about the same problems. A dead duck, pelican, 5 armadillo, two red shoulder hawks, two rabbits have been killed this year. The city spent $42 million of Hike and Bike trails. Bikers and runners still use the roadways and have ruined the peace and dignity of  the park. We finally got the Park Rangers to say who had the responsibility to write tickets on bikers that blow through stop signs like they didn't even exist; runners that make their own rules about using the roads with the 3' foot rule in place. A car cannot drive down E. Lawther or W. Lawther on the weekend without having someone that are in the class of being bullies, screaming, yelling and trying to intimidate those that are 65 and above.

Water Towers Have A Part-Time Job and Yellow Flowers Are Still Yellow---Maybe,

As a kid, in the 5th grade, a science project was to take these very flowers and place them into a bottle of different colored inks and watch them take on the color of the ink.

Not only is the first cold front on the way, it's already crossed the Red River. Plus, the stronger cold front is also coming down the pike and get this, it's bringing reinforcements! That Fall Weather Cool down will be sooooo welcome. The heat has been relentless this year.

The post of yesterday, like so many other things, appear when they want to appear and can't be programed planned with 100 percent  reliability. Just as this image came a day later, it fits and that is why it is being included today.

I'm keeping a close eye on the October 12th arrival of the pelicans. It looks to be normal with one of the scouts already hear ahead of the main flock. That's normal. What isn't normal is the massive Hail storm that hit Big Lake  in Molt, Montana. The area is where most of our pelicans go to nest for the late spring and summer before making their winter migration back here to White Rock arriving on Columbus Day plus or minus a day or two because of weather systems.. The hail storm killed 13,000 waterfowl, of which most were pelicans. So, with some reservation, it's still a waiting game to see just how many make it back to White Rock this season.

Water Towers are not just for water anymore. They are cell towers and relays for data and who knows what else. Here, you can see the far right where the bulk of the workers were working. One of the guys standing between the lift an the units being installed waved at me. At first, I was focused on the bucket of the lift and didn't see him, but I did later and his wave was received on the ground

This was the first worker that I saw and it was several minutes later that I discovered that not only were there more humans up there, but they was working in several locations. The cables dropped down the one leg of the tower where the lift was situated.

Nothing Is Normal Anymore. The Old Normal Is No More

Monk Parrots Drink From A Boat Ramp. Their many nest which can be several feet in length and height are within eyesight of here.Located in the tops of a large electrical substation, it is set in a stip of land that is covered in scrub brush on the back side and a drive entrance for utility trucks on the front side.

Red Line Meets Blue Line as it enters the new renamed SMU/Mockingbird Station. The change to SMU/Mockingbird was to better associate the station with SMU because of the school and the George Bush Presidential Center on the SMU campus, which is just across Central Expressway US75 (which has been renamed to honor President George W. Bush.

A Butterfly in a butterfly garden. The problem this year has been the weather and the declining number of Monarch Butterflies that migrate through Dallas on their way to the Northern Mountains of  Mexico for the winter. The drought is returning also with September being the warmest and driest September on record.