Wednesday, May 02, 2007

More Matagorda

Behind the dunes of Matagorda Beach is Three Mile Lake. We spent a lot of time there on Saturday. John found it to be a good spot for fishing. In fact, that's where he caught the flounder. While he fished, I took pictures. Normally, I would have brought a sock to knit or a book to read, but I came empty handed on this day. So once I thought I had exhausted all photo opportunities at this spot, I just sat in the chair near the truck and took in the sights.

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I sat there for a half hour or so. I have to admit, I was getting a little bored. Why did I not bring a book to read or something to knit? Restless, I decided to walk some more. I had gone about six feet from my chair when something in the tall grass made a loud noise that scared me to death. My immediate thought was that it was a snake (that's always my first thought), but I had only flushed out a bird. I went looking for the nest I knew had to be there. I walked carefully and searched every inch, but didn't see anything until another bird flew out of the grass right in front of me. You know the saying, "If it were a snake it would have bitten me." Yikes!

This bird was on the nest which was right in the open, but very well concealed at the same time. Hidden in a tuft of grass were four eggs. They were larger than I expected, about the size of chicken eggs.

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The birds protecting this nest, which I believe to be Willet Sandpipers, are very plain at rest and blend in well with the grass.

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In flight, the Willet looks like a completely different bird, with a distinct black and white wing pattern.

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If I had been knitting, I would have totally missed this discovery, which was the best of the day. I guess it pays to put the needles down once in a while.

And the real reason I didn't have a sock with me to knit? I had just finished a pair the night before.

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This brings my total number of socks knit to 13--a baker's dozen.

Pattern: Basic Stockinette Sock worked on 64 stitches
Yarn: Opal Rodeo
Needles: US 1 dpns

7 comments:

  1. How wonderful to happen upon the nest!
    Rodeo is so much fun to knit! You did a good job of matching them up.

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  2. The bird pictures are great! (Your socks are lovely, too!)

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  3. What a neat find! And nice socks too!

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  4. What a great discovery. I bet you were glad you didn't have any knitting or reading in the end. I love the 13th pair of socks. They look very patriotic.

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  5. The things you can find when you are bored!

    Love the colorways on the opal rodeo socks. Haven't seen it before.

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  6. Those eggs are gorgeous! My kids have been studying birds all year and would have loved a discovery like that. The socks are great too ;o)

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  7. I am an avid bird watcher...so, I really enjoyed your pictures. I take the binoculars out in the boat with me. You knever know what you are going to come across.

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Thank you for commenting!
~Tracy

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