Greetings from the island everyone. Well Thanksgiving is already upon us next week, and I can smell the pans of dressing and pumpkin pie beginning to permeate through the air. Barnacle and I will give our thanks this year here on the island, enjoying a smoked ham that I ordered through a student’s school group. I’ll freeze half of it for Mr. Dog and me to devour as our Christmas meal next month. With some added grilled sweet potatoes and made from scratch (well using self-rising flour) biscuits, we’ll take an extra long nap after those meals.

In the past few weeks I’ve noticed the apparent beginning of the Fall bird migration across the island as they head south for the winter. It is very enjoyable sitting out on the front covered deck watching these beautiful birds as they scavenge for bugs and whatever morsels they can find before continuing their trek across the Gulf of Mexico.

The birds normally only stick around for a few days, probably knowing that the colder weather is on their tail feathers and they can’t linger too long. With the help of my Birds of Texas Field Guide, so far this Fall I’ve identified the Gray Catbird as visiting the island. Even though the book notes that this area is its year-round habitat, I’ve never before seen this beautiful gray and black with white markings bird here. The huge white pelicans also started arriving a few weeks ago and will stay along the shoreline and in the surf until early Spring.

I’ve still got a few hummingbirds coming to the feeders, and I’ll leave them up until I’m sure they have all left. I know that it is a full time Texas resident, but I’m beginning to see an abundant amount of the Loggerhead Shrike birds on the island lately. More commonly known to us as the Butcher Bird, these birds are known for skewering their prey on barbed wire fences and thorns to hold still while tearing apart to eat, as their feet are too weak to hold the prey it eats.

I know that many more migrating birds will begin showing across the island very soon as winter nears, and I look forward to enjoying their beauty and the entertainment that they will provide.

I want to say Happy Belated Birthday to Mom and Happy Birthdays to Dad and Little Sis (last year in your 40’s) in a few weeks.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone have a great Thanksgiving.