Oh! What a Difference A Day Makes Times Two.

Within the last three days, the lake has gone from visible sand bars in places to flooding well into the parking lots along the Eastern side to receding waters. That does not mean much to some, I know, but the drastic change does have an effect on the wildlife and the visitors and the regulars; all in varied levels of stress and anxiety.

The most drastic change was in the world of the pelicans. They have a little island and logs that that they like to sun upon. The island, is actual land. It is also away from predators like coyotes and bob cats. Normal life when those factors are in place. Not so normal when they are not.

Along comes a 2.5 inch rainfall with some areas north getting upwards of 3 to 4 inches as a Pacific Cold Front moved in day before yesterday. Yesterday, the lake levels were up several feet as a result of the watershed that is collected in White Rock Creek  and the Dixon Branch, among others. That water passes into White Rock Lake and over the dam, down the two spillways and back into the White Rock Creek south of Garland Road, aka State Route 78. From there it flows back into the Trinity River on Loop 12 south of the Trinity River Audubon Center and the new Trinity Forest Golf Course on the renamed Great Trinity Forest Parkway. And from there, of course, then into the Gulf of Mexico.

The day after words, that is to say, yesterday, the pelicans were not happy campers. Even the geese were in flogging arguments in the water because the logs were all gone. Floated toward the dam, if not over it. Staying away from the dam when everyone wants to see the water rushing down the spillways is always a smart move. So, with that said, no, I have been to the dam to walk eitherside.

The island was under water. The pelicans were hanging out on the shoreline between the lake and East Lawther in front of Sunset Bay. With the holiday bowl games in town, visitors were out in force with their phone cameras. The pelicans just kept moving until they could sit still for a while. Being displaced is as bad for them as it is for humans displaced from storm damage, fire or what ever else.

Today, the island was back and the pelicans were happy to be upon it once again. However, since Christmas Day, I have not seen a single hawk of red, either shoulder or tail, an owl, an eagle or the osprey again since the awesome citing on Christmas Day of him in flight riding the thermals over the marina nearest the Culture Bathhouse. I've looked at all the known spots and a couple of spots where I have found one pair hanging out in a "new" area. Nothing. And, unusual, also.

The weather is not going to be good the next two days. It is going to be down right cold and strong winds will make the misery index even higher for North Texas. Cold rain will also return on Sunday with the thick low hanging clouds arriving over night tonight and tomorrow.
Here are some shots that will require a second post because I can only post three images at a time. Some crazy thing like band width.
Click on any of the images to open the enlarger. Then use the enlarger thumbnails to select the image you want to enlarge.  There will be another post to follow this one with just images from the day. 

For the water line to be this far into the parking lot you can see the two docks that are about 4-5 feet to be level with the ground. That's how much water rose from the run off in the flash flooding the night before.

Another view of the trash and wood from the high winds that fell and were picked up by the water being carried into the lot.

Ecology is not a cut and dried thing. There are many, many variables that all interchange like a big puzzle, with many picture to replace the puzzle just put together, so to speak.

Deep In The Trinity Forest

It has been over a year since my last trip out to the new trail head of the AT&T Trail that makes a trip through the heart of the Great Trinity Forest; that makes a trip throught the heart of the Trinity River Audubon Center; that is next to the New Trinity Forest Golf Course. The trail was dry, although it has been recently cleared of mud and  debris from flooding. The trail is in the lowlands of the more than 8,000 acres of the Great Trinity Forest along the Trinity River as it flows south toward the Gulf of Mexico. It is virtually undisturbed because it  is in lowlands and a hardwood forest.Perfect for a massive forest to explore, canoe, raft as the river flows through the thousands of acres.

The first thing that was noticed after leaving my car in the trail head parking lot, along the entry of the Trinity River Audubon Center, was the putting green grass on the Number 5 green of the new golf course where the Byron Nelson is to move in 2018. Last year, it was sculptured out from dirt but no putting green grass was growing anywhere near the green itself. Also noted was the No 5 flag pin in the greens cup.

From there on , it was my first trip deep into the forest itself. Frankly, when about a mile in, the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up. It was a bit scary as no location markers were yet installed. The trail is winding, curvey and very eerie. Neither can it be imagined of me walking that trail after dark or before first light as is permitted. If so, packing more equipment and taking someone with me would be in order.  Becoming very aware of my surroundings quickly and seeing some questionable wildlife at a distance might have or could have been a threat. But, that is what nature trials are designed to be by design.

The trail will connect soon to the White Rock Trail and when fully complete will be the most awesome ride or hike trail bar none! It took about 45-minutes to  walk the first four miles, which when reversed is another four miles and another 45-minutes. This is the time of year to go before the mosquito population arrives.

Deep into the Great Trinity Forest

The Number 5 Green and Pin is the southern most point of the course with the Great Trinity behind going along the Trinity River south, still.

This is near the trail head with the No 5 pin off to the right. You can see the cement trail that makes it's wal for 8 miles. There is another shorter trail that branches off to another trailhead and parking lot that is 3.5  miles and not yet connected in a loop.