Barrier Islands As They Should Be

A barrier island is just what it sounds like - large sand dunes along the ocean's edge which protect the land from the ocean's rampage during storms. Barrier islands are fragile, constantly changing ecosystems that are important for coastal geology and ecology. Development has posed dangers to these ecosystems and has also increased the risk of property damage every year from hurricanes. The Outer Banks in North Carolina have been heavily developed for people to live and vacation there. This year Hurricane Florence caused billions of dollars of damage because people built on the barrier islands.

The islands are separated from the main land by a shallow sound, bay or lagoon. Barrier islands are often found in chains along the coast line and are separated from each other by narrow tidal inlets, such as the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Barrier islands protect the coastlines from severe storm damage. Second, they harbor several habitats that are refuges for wildlife.

Padre Island National Seashore separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, one of a few hypersaline lagoons in the world.  The park protects 70 miles of coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal flats teeming with life.  It is a safe nesting ground for the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and a haven for over 380 bird species. The islands are broad and covered in grass, so ranchers grazed cattle here until approximately 1970. If you didn't know the ocean was nearby, you would think you were in Kansas.

However, these grassy areas quickly fill with shallow basins of water, making important habitat for shorebirds. Don't pull of the road without checking for water first!

The best bird we found on our trip was a Long-billed Curlew! It was great to travel the dunes without see all the houses and condos.

Late Fall in Corpus Christi, TX

Here we are in Corpus Christi, TX, the self-proclaimed birdiest city in Texas. Yes, if you come during migration that's probably so, but we are here in the first week of November, so we are working on confirming Gulf birds we already know for the most part.

Texas roads can be frustrating if you aren't used to them. Divided interstate-like highways are common, but each of them has an "access road" running along it where all the stores and restaurants are. You have to get off at the nearest exit, drive along the big highway, then do a U-turn under it at the next intersection and drive down the other side again to reach what you want. If you are in the wrong lane, tough luck. And if there is construction -- double tough luck. The poor GPS isn't much help.

This morning we drove to Hazle Brazemore Park, where Hawkwatch International has a hawk watching station. How those people can find birds so far away, even with a spotting scope amazed me.The Nueces River is flooding, so much of the park was closed, but the hawk station is on the highest hill in the county, so no problems there. I didn't get pictures of any raptors in flight - too far away to find in my camera- but we saw a Caracara in flight, a beautiful Kestrel and a female Northern Harrier. The counters were excited to spot a Bald Eagle, but I never did find it. Yesterday, they saw 13,199 Turkey Vultures!

Inca Dove

White-tipped Dove

I've been surprised to find 5 of 7 dove species on the bird list. A flock of White-winged doves showed off their white wings. Then we were able to compare the Inca Dove and the White-tipped Dove with its outstanding rainbow neck.

As the clouds blew in, we headed downtown to tour the USS Lexington, now a museum in the harbor. I asked a docent, what they did during Hurricane Hugo, and he said that the ship is actually fastened to the groun - essentially it is a building now, now a ship. They just brought all the planes off the flight deck and battened down the hatches to ride it out.