Yesterday was overcast and very humid. It was a perfect day to have a turtle release here on Mustang Island. There is an organization Animal Rehabilitation Keep (ARK) here in Port Aransas, and their mission is to rescue wildlife and to rehabilitate the animals for release back into the wild. One of the major activities is the rescue of sea turtles. So when the turtles are well enough, they are once again set free. There was a total of fourteen turtles released, and I hope you enjoy the photos I took at the event.

This first photo will give you an idea of the number of people who show up for a turtle release. For most of these folks, this was the first time they had ever seen such a sight.

 

I am standing in the Gulf. The turtles will be released into the water after being carried down this aisle of visitors.

 

Here is the director of the ARK Tony Amos carrying an anxious turtle into the surf.

 

Hard to see but the turtle immediately headed for the open water.

 

Here is a large fellow who decided to walk to the water since he weighs over one hundred pounds.

 

Off he goes and hopefully won’t be caught in a fishing net again.

 

Here is a beautiful turtle who decided to come back to land. She had to go to the deeper water to get the idea. She finally said goodbye.

As you may know, last week was the last of the fifty-two views of the Gulf. By popular demand, that feature was retired in favor of some random shots of what I’m calling the neighborhood. Of course, I don’t anticipate photos of my neighbors and their houses. I do think the concept of the neighborhood could expand into the town proper and surrounding environs. With that in mind here is the first of three photos.

 

The bird in the photo is a Heron we have named Peggy. In this picture, she looks like she is moving but she is standing still. Peggy broke her leg about three years ago and all efforts to capture and help her have been for naught. As you can see, she does just fine, and we are pleased to have her on our section of beach. She doesn’t like tourists so much but who can blame her.

 

Here is a shot of another Heron who has decided to use our walkover as a lookout post. He used to sit on the markers but feels the walkover gives him some additional altitude so is much preferred. By the way, I haven’t really discussed his perching preference with him, so I’m not sure of his reasons. Since I’m a fiction writer when I’m not sure, I make stuff up.

 

When I went to interview him, he decided I had a sinister look about me and took to wing. I guess we will have to be satisfied with my reason for using the walkway sign.

Hope you all have a lovely week.