Frogs and Toads everywhere

Well, I managed to get Kirk up to go in search of the chorus of toads and frogs surrounding our campsite last night.

C'mon Kirk

The warm night air smells of rain and earth.  Alive with sound.  The churring, chirping calls of toads, Sheep frogs (yes they sound like "baaaa"), the sharp quick notes of Mexican tree frogs, the high buzz like call of a Narrow-mouthed toad, bird-like calls of chirping frogs, and the deep bass calls of Bullfrogs.  All against the high pitched drone of insects in the background.

Best guess, Couch's Spadefoot toad about 3 inches long

These are advertisement calls.  The males are attempting to attract females while warning off rivals.  As Kirk and I walk, frogs and toads hop about us on the warm paved paths.  Some of the toads such as Couch's Spadefoot are rarely seen without rain. They burrow deeply underground.  But tonight they are everywhere.

Chirping frog??? White-lipped frog???

Sheep frog

Tonight the Spadefoot toads have disappeared into their burrows.  The night is a little cooler and less humid.  The chorus continues, the romance and struggle of procreation in nature taking place in a small swamp next door to us in Rockport Texas.  (Not a mosquito to be seen or heard!)

Here is a link to the toads and frogs of Texas with their calls:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/amphibian_watch/amphibian_species/

Stormy weather

The last few days were windy, warm, and humid culminating in a real sh*t kicker storm last night although it was brief.

A very windy day at the wharf yesterday

Coreopsis

White Prickly Poppy

 Gaillardia (Indian Blanket)

This guy really likes to fish.

Even the gulls were hunkered down.

We knew it would storm during the night.  At about 1:15 a.m. the iPhone started screeching out a tornado alarm (3 times).  The warnings occurred over a 15 minute period while a tornado cloud travelled over Corpus Christi and Rockport toward Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  There was a deluge of rain and within a half hour it was gone.

Tornado is red triangle 

Today was a gorgeous, calm, sunny day.  The ocean was like glass.  There were artists painting landscapes and the marina.   

A flat ocean

Redhead

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

We have been enjoying the local restaurants- Steerburger, Redfish Willie's, etc.

Steerburger 

Steerburger is expanding their operation to include a building.

The rain also resulted in an explosion of frogs and toads.  Tonight Kirk and I investigate.

The Kitchen & a few last photos from La Peñita

I wanted to show you our friends completed kitchen at their site in La Peñita.  Great colour coordination.  (Dave is responsible for the orange outlets)  They decided to stay for Semana Santa and will leave in April.

Gorgeous view, too!

A few other photos from la Peñita:

Morning catch

Kirk and the Jakka or Jackfruit tree.

The Oak and Adios Amigas

Well, Rockport has done fairly well putting itself back together after the hurricane.  There are some businesses that have not recovered and the live oaks took a beating.  The ladies and I took a drive out to Goose Island State Park and stopped to check on the 1000 yr old live oak.  It survived with very little damage.

In front of the oak

Lunch at Stevie Lew's BBQ Kitchen

Brisket Quesadillas, Ribs and Sides

Sadly, our friends left for San Antonio yesterday.  After so long on the road together it is hard not having them next to us.  Cam held onto their 2 little dogs while they prepped the RV for the road in the morning.

Cam with Buddy & Katie

Getting ready for the road.

They arrived safely in San Antonio and will continue west in a few days.  We are staying in Rockport until next week.

Monday - March 23 - Around the block

We did the Corpus Christi, Mustang Island, Port Aransas and back to Rockport loop.  The drive has something in common with Winnipeg - it's flat.  Miles of sea grasses and sand dunes.  We got a new iPhone battery in Corpus Christi, sampled a recommended barbecue pit and visited a city park while waiting for the iPhone.  

Oil rigs at Port Aransas

Waiting for the ferry

On the ferry leaving Port Aransas

These homes seem to have survived the hurricane.

 This warehouse sustained a lot of damage

Lots of people shore fishing.