8,798 steps for a blue heron, a mother wood duck and a coyote jets across infront of me.

 It started out with a trip to the pharmacy to pick up a refill for the old heart. Then the weather cleared  and while I was out, might was well go check out Flag Pole Hill's new upgrades. I like the walk from the train station and taking the Flag Pole Hill Trail along the low lands of White Rock Creek that flows into the lake. Flag Pole Hill was or is part of White Rock Lake, although now, it is more or less two separate parks. 

My first image was at the second bridge that actually is over White Rock Creek. The first bridge, a half mile back, is over a creek branch that broke off the main creek farther north and flows southwest. There, I saw the biggest spider web that I have ever seen. It had a guide rope from a tree along the creek to the bridge, a distance of some 20 feet. The main web was suspended closer to the bridge and over the water flow part of the creek. The question that I still ponder at this writing, is: How did the spider spin a guide rope that distance? It was amazing. And it was an active web about the size of a 12-inch skillet filled with all kinds of insects. Just after leaving there, is when I was watching the fish flounce in the water with another guy that had been watching them as I entered the bridge deck. Then, I see a blue heron and with the first mastery of manual focus on the new camera settings, I got several shots before he flew under the bridge and found another place closer to the water. 

After leaving there, is when the coyote ran across the trail directly in front of me. By the time I got the camera up and aimed at him, he was into the thicket of massive oak trees that were felled by storms a year or so ago. At the gps location marker, I called the coyote hot line and reported the sighting. Parks and animal control are doing research on the coyote population in Dallas. Ironically, yesterday, I saw a bobcat along the rail line as he crossed the tracks from one side to another and then back across the tracks again. I missed that shot, too. Two great shots of prized wildlife in the urban setting and I miss getting them both. I am still not totally adjusted to the much bigger lens and I don't want to shoot everything in auto focus as I have done 90% of the time in both the old cameras. So, it's a painful loss of shots like the coyote and bobcat for a while until I master the art of a more powerful lens. No excuses. It's just letting you know that not ever thing is as easy as a point-and-shoot. 

I did get some shots of a Wood Duck with her brood out fishing in the creek. The chicks were a fair size for this time of year but they were so cute and playful while mom was just being herself;cool,calm and watchful. Where I saw them was where I have seen the nesting pair before in past years. This pair I do believe were the same pair that I saw a couple of years back as pop sat on the branch and called  for the nesting check to jump to the ground. Mom was waiting at the marina dock to get them in the water as they ran from their jump to mom. Really, wood ducks are not only beautiful in the feather department but in the nest site up in a tree. Some wood duck nest boxes are available, but this pair really likes the old style of raising their chicks up the tree.

A few turtles were sunning on logs. I have pictures for National Turtle Day post each year. I don't need more turtles.

Dallas Police in their armored heavy duty golf cart. The Northeast Division Station is at the end of the trail a couple hundred yards ahead.

It's True. You Talk to the Animals and they Talk to You!

Last week in one of my post it was mentioned that the work load had been heavier of late, but that the enjoyment of being busy has always motivated me to do even more. To top that off, this is the time of the year that for me personally is a somber one that begins on June first and last until July 10th. In that period, my work load will drop to near nothing and it will be a time for me to just be a wanderlust. But, it's not June one yet!

Two big events are coming up this weekend. The DFW Dragon Boat Races and Kite Festival kicks off in Las Colinas

The song bird is on a #3 Rebar arch. The bug in his beak is as big as the rebar he sits on.

This is my buddy. He walked with me on the sidewalk. I"d stop and turn around and he would catch up, then we would go another lap.  It was so funny. He listened as I talked to him, tilting his head to the side and looking up at me.

This great blue heron was a high stepper. He had a gate  that never changed as he walked the edge of the canal. This is the second bird of the crane family that I have seen do this in the past few days. The other one was a great egret that walked the edge of a fountain like this guy and actually was fishing. This guy was just out for a walk. He tired me out !

on Lake Carolyn and the last year for the Byron Nelson Golf Classic plays at the Four Seasons Resort at Cottonwood in Las Colinas before moving to the new Trinity Forest Golf Course in South Dallas. The past two years I have watched this course take shape and the #5 pin was in the cup this time last year as a show of progress. But, this year, the Byron will still be at Four Seasons and will be a time for all the old familiar faces that have worked at the Four Seasons the past 35  years to say good-bye with the class that tournament generated year after year after year. With luck, getting shots from the Byron and the Dragon Boat Races should not be to much of a problem with the proximity of both venues almost overlapping each other. Next year, will be a bit more challenging to say the least.

This afternoon, brought me to Farmers Branch for a quick check on a little project that has been wilting on the vine for the past year. But, before it's leaves turn brown and fall completely off the vine, it was an honest attempt to check on it one last time. In fact, the Gardner was working on it when I got there and the darn thing looked pretty well. It just might survive.The roses were not as nice as  they have been in years past and the calla lilies, while pretty, were a bit down this year as well.

But, it was an interesting bit to sit on the bench swing and watch the birds. There was one big beautiful great blue heron,  busy little song bird who actually caught a big bug in flight and a blue jay that wanted to walk with me on the sidewalk.  I do talk to the animals and over the years, I have learned that they will talk to you if you listen and pay attention to there jesters.