The Roseate Spoonbill and the Tricolored Heron

Rockport, Texas is a haven for hardcore fishermen and fisherwomen. It’s also a haven for two types of tourists seeking those warmer winter months. The first is the nature enthusiasts, the bird watcher, known as Snowbirds. The second  “Winter Texan” of sorts, would be the majestic Whooping Crane. Brought back from extinction, the Whooping Cranes are the largest birds in America that migrate to Rockport from Canada in October and leave in the spring. Rockport is not only a home to these magnificent creatures it is a sanctuary to many splendid species of birds. I am so fortunate to be able to see the wildlife all around me, in this amazing little diamond in the rough on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Fulton Beach Road is a beautiful little  scenic road  that runs all the way to downtown Rockport and it literally hugs Aransas Bay, I live off of of this beautiful scenic route, and for three weeks now I have driven by Old Cottage Beach, which is right down the road, maybe one minute from my house, and happens to be home to a Roseate Spoonbill and a Tricolored Heron. I finally decided to grab my camera and get down there to take some shots of these amazing and fascinating creatures. I took many pictures but this is the picture I submitted to WWN Rockport. Low and behold it was published,  I was so surprised , and of course really excited. I will post some more pictures of the amazing birds I get to see all year round here in Rockport, right in the lagoons across from my house.

Toodles…

Not only do I love to fish, I love to go crabbin’.  I have loved catching these critters since I was old enough to walk. You don’t need much to catch these tasty treats, just tie a raw chicken neck to a long string, toss it in the water and food is on the way. Oh yeah, crab traps can be used too but I like to catch the critters the old string way, it’s a challenge, and it’s tons of fun. Down here on the Texas Gulf Coast we pull in blue crab, and boy do they taste fantastic! Oh how I love summer.

Toodles…

Sundown Over the Bay is my second painting.

I am learning more about this painting thingamajig every day, YouTube is the best teacher. It is very cathartic to paint, that’s why I love it so. I enjoy painting from imagination and blending the colors, that’s my favorite part.

I also spent some of the day sketching. I have never really sketched anything before, and it wasn’t easy. I learned to sketch palm trees and boats. I learned how to make a boat starting with a figure eight, believe it or not.

Now I have to learn how to paint a palm tree and a boat. We shall see…

Toodles

This is my first oil painting Sand, Sea, Sky. I have to say I loved painting it. I didn’t use a picture or en plein air, which I am going to try tomorrow.