Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Palmetto State Park

I'm not afraid to camp alone and have done it often, but sitting around a campfire alone is no fun.  When I learned one of the adventure clubs was spending a weekend camping at Palmetto State Park, I was happy to be able to join them.  It was sitting around the campfire with them that I learned of the "Ottine Swamp Thing".   After reading the story of the "thing" they said, "Now let's go on a night hike."   

Monsters?  They didn't mention this in the brochure.  I had to try to find this "thing" of which they spoke.  We hiked the Palmetto Trail by moonlight, but did not find evidence of the creature.  We did find a tree full of vultures, which was a little creepy.   

I'm jealous.  Why don't we have a "thing" in our Houston-area swamps?  Maybe we don't need to invent monsters because we have alligators.  Or maybe we used to have one until the alligators ate him.   


I suspect the swamp rabbit is the true culprit.  If he is hopping along through the palmettos, the fronds will sway.  I found this one on the San Marcos River Trail.



Also found on the river trail, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drills holes and comes back to eat the sap and the insects it attracts.        


There were a large number of vultures in this park.  I found these two Black Vultures along the Ottine Swamp Trail.


Also hanging out on the swamp trail was a Question Mark Butterfly, so named because of a mark found on the other side of his wings.  I spent a great deal of time waiting...waiting...for the wings to open for the perfect shot...not realizing he was posing with his namesake exposed.  Lesson learned.

He is beautiful.  I like the purple edging on the bottom.  


I'm linking up with Outdoor Wednesday.

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The Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail:  Central Texas Coast
CTC029
Date of visit:  February 15-16, 2014
Time of day:  Sunrise - noon
Temp:  60 deg F
Conditions:  Overcast, calm
Species Identified (14):  Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Northern Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Savannah Sparrow, American Goldfinch, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren    

15 comments:

  1. What a great shot of the vultures! We have turkey vultures here which aren't as handsome as these.
    Love the butterfly shot!!!

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  2. Those are great photos and this must have been a fun camping trip. Thanks for stopping by, I've enjoyed visiting here.

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  3. Looks like a great place to camp, explore and to go birding Jen.Great shot of the Black Vultures,a bird I'd expect to see in the air most of the time.

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  4. Beautiful photos! A wonderful place!

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  5. beautiful. i like the question marks and the commas, both. really great shot of the black vultures! i think they're quite handsome!

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  6. You got some great shots of the vultures! Nature's clean-up crew. That butterfly is really cool, too.

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  7. What a great story and series of photos! I hope you didn't find the monster waiting at home!

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  8. Love those black vultures - so striking!

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  9. Firstly, thank you for looking in on my blog, secondly, what a great set of pics, the Vultures and the butterfly are awesome, I wonder what kind of butterfly it is.
    All the best Jen. Gordon.

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  10. Oh wow I love the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker picture!

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  11. Nothing like a mysterious swamp thing to get the tension rising!

    Love the picture of the butterfly.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  12. What a very nice blog you have!

    I'm happy to have found it. Love all the fine photographs. That butterfly is a stunner! I'm partial to vultures, so that's one of my favorites.

    Look forward to catching up on your past posts and following you in the future.

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  13. Glad there weren't any monsters!

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  14. Jen, these pix are gorgeous and thank you for visiting...I think I might be your newest follower!...:)JP

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  15. Cute swamp bunny, and a perfect butterfly. The alligator probably did away with the monster. I know I'd leave!

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