Noonish

The sun was high, contrasts were sharp, colors were saturated, and the wind was a-blowing. Not a great time for photos at Oak Point. I'd have arrived earlier, but the guy ahead of me at the drive up mailboxes at the post office had to try stuffing his box into each of the mailboxes repeatedly. It's just not gonna go, dude.

I've never seen so many cars in the round parking lot at Oak Point, but couples and family groups were keeping their distance from other groups. Families were picnicking on blankets. Old friends had lawnchairs six feet apart in the shade. We were all glad to be out!

West of Jupiter Road

Swallow nest under Jupiter Road, above the trail. Mom swallow tolerated me only so close before she flew off.

A very young wren was having its first short flight lessons, coached by a shepherding parent. The baby's downy fluff sticking out in the wind looked like all of us with delayed haircuts.

A red-tailed hawk circling overhead probably belonged to the nest on the tower arm.

Happy cottonwood fluff season!

Prickly pear in bloom

© 2014-2020 Nancy L. Ruder

Back in bloom

Nice lazy Sunday with showers off and on, and a late afternoon check to see what's blooming at Oak Point.

A basket flower full of ants.

© 2014-2018 Nancy L. Ruder

Perfect conditions for rapid growth

Nothing like a three-day weekend to stimulate To Do list growth from a tiny seed in the dark, dark soil to a slender, unsupportable, potentially-strangling demand upon my time.

I didn't do it! I didn't trade the cow for the magic beans! It's not my fault!!

The To Do list is ugly, part crossed-through, part scribbled-out, part mustard-stained.  What is the powerful hold it has on me?

Bright sky. Crisp, but no wind. The new boardwalk awaits. I'm already in that neck of the woods. Crumple To Do list and toss it into the backseat. There's a great blue heron standing in the tall grass behind a One Way sign next to the parking lot. Cedar waxwings whine. A wren tsskks. Robins are having a convention.

Gobbling down one final fry I step from the car and head to the new bridge over Rowlett Creek to explore the nature preserve improvements. Didn't expect to be so wowed!

Austin chalk from the new bridge

Wide boardwalk

Bobcat Trail wetland

Birdwatching spot

Tunnel under Spring Creek

The Oak Point rec center

New spot for Go Ape

The boardwalk leads to two watching decks at the primo birding spots near the wetland crossing of Whispering Springs and Bobcat trails. It changes to a wide hard surface trail for bikes leading to a tunnel under Spring Creek Road to the Oak Point Rec Center. It branches off toward the parking lot for the amphitheater. As it goes, it exposes a completely new aspect of the nature preserve.

Thanks to all who created this new gem for the City.

© 2014-2017 Nancy L. Ruder

Excited about the improvements

© 2014-2017 Nancy L. Ruder

Early birds vote change is good

Hummingbird on red yucca near the parking lot

Shoved a hat over my scary sleep hair, got myself out to the park about 8:15 this morning and was rewarded with appearances by bluebirds, scissortails, hawks, and this cooperative hummingbird.

This scissortail and I inspected the footings for the new bridge that will make walking between the visitor center and the amphitheater easy.

As a special treat for the early birds walking and biking there was a dramatic cloud and a pleasant breeze at the pond for twenty minutes before the morning steamed up for the scorcher ahead.

Oh, thank you so much!!

No paddlers on the pond, but the new signs are going up:

My nature fix is complete:

It's all good.

© 2014-2017 Nancy L. Ruder