A Year on Clear Lake-Sept 13, 2013

 

Spotted Sandpiper–September 13, 2013

This spotted sandpiper was working the shoreline today. Nature loves to mix things up. As I mentioned before, the female of the species is the aggressive one, and it is the male who tends the chicks.

There are about five or six young snowy egrets who take up positions along the banks of Clear Creek. These birds are  beautiful and elegant–in shape, color, and plumage. Soft and silky and pleasing to look at.

The weather forecasters are teasing us with potential rain from Tropical Storm Ingrid which has formed in the Gulf. A good indication of how desperate we are for rain is that we are hoping the storm will head our way. At least enough to  get a decent amount of rain. But these storms are dangerous. In many ways they are more damaging than hurricanes-except for the mega hurricanes we’ve had of late.

It was Tropical Storm Claudette that flooded our home in Alvin in 1979. A record breaking 45 inches of rain fell within a 24-hour period. It’s in the record books. And it was Tropical Storm Allison that flooded downtown Houston, including the famous medical center.  We’ll have to wait to see what tomorrow brings.

In the meantime over at the boat ramp, a grackle scored. He somehow ended up with a piece of bread, and was lovin’ it. One man’s garbage is another bird’s treasure. Nothing goes to waste.

Nice sunset tonight.

Green Thought: “Nature” is another name for the miracles that are so commonplace in our lives that we take for granted and have grown used to seeing them.”  ― Shalom Arush, Women’s Wisdom: ‘The Garden of Peace’ for Women