A Holiday Afternoon Salado Stroll

Monday, September 3, 2012

Salado Creek Greenway, Oakwell Trailhead, downstream

Today's photos:

This weekend was the Labor Day holiday, the last holiday weekend of summer. It marks the unofficial end of summer. However, all of us who have lived in South Texas for any length of time know it isn't time to get out the autumn wardrobe just yet.

It is time, though, to begin watching for the fall migratory birds and butterflies. It won't be long before some of the early migratory creatures begin to make an appearance in Bexar County.

Contemplating Clouds, The Other Side of Isaac; A Sunday Special Edition

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Contemplating Clouds,
The Other Side of Isaac

This past Wednesday, August 29, Hurricane Isaac was all but stalled south of New Orleans, dropping torrential rain on much of the central Gulf Coast. Meanwhile, here in South Texas, the day was gorgeous. It was a bit hot with temperatures in the upper 90s (F) by mid-afternoon, but a brisk north wind of 15 to 20 mph offset the heat. Our weather here, like that across the central Gulf Coast, was also the product of the very tenacious Isaac, except we were on the dry, sinking air side of the storm.

These cloud photos were taken on my walk along the Leon Creek Greenway on August 29. They are some of the high altitude cirrus outflow clouds from the storm. One of the many ironies of nature: a hurricane can produce both terrifying torrential rain and wind on one side at the same time it produces hot, dry weather with wispy cirrus clouds on the other side.

A Contemporary Interpretation of Urban Wildlife

Friday, August 31, 2012

San Antonio River, King William Historic District Segment, 
S Alamo St to Old Guilbeau St and back

Today's photos:

The last time I walked this section of the San Antonio River was on Friday, March 9, right after a late winter cold front had moved into the area. The weather that day was rather brisk for a walk. Today was much more comfortable, if still a bit hot.

As I mentioned in the March 9 post, this section of the river is concrete channeled with manicured parkland along the banks. In other words, it is very urban rather than the more natural environment of the Mission Reach.

In keeping with the milieu, this series of photos is a contemporary urban perspective on the wildlife.

Tadpoles, An Intriguing Snag* and More Woodland Wonders

Thursday, August 30, 2012

This is the second set of photos from my walk yesterday through Bamberger Park and along Leon Creek. When I walked this same area this time last year, the extended pool in the creek was much smaller, barely extending beyond the tree on the left side of the photo below.

* A snag is a dead tree. They are important in an ecosystem in that they provide shelter and food for numerous creatures. The one pictured above with the ball moss growing around the top reminds me of Big Bird from Sesame Street.