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!!!