By Susan Heath On Monday, Taylor, Sarah and I took the GCBO RV volunteers, Tom and Karen Schmitz, out for a trip on the Brazoria Bays. We left from our usual boat ramp on Bastrop Bayou and headed for the west end of West Galveston Bay. It was a little rough getting across the bay so Tom and Karen got … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of April 19, 2021
On Monday, Taylor, Sarah and I went to check on the oystercatchers in East Matagorda Bay. Taylor and Sarah had already driven over the new circular bridge that replaced the swing bridge to get over the GIWW but this was my first trip. Wow! When you crest the top and start heading down all you see is Gulf water! It’s … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of April 12, 2021
By Susan Heath The weather combined with my schedule was a mess this week but Taylor, Sarah and I managed to make it out to check the bays in Brazoria County on Monday. We first headed for the west end of West Galveston Bay with Taylor at the helm. That photo needs a redo! It wasn’t as rough as the … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of April 5, 2021
By Susan Heath Decent weather finally! Taylor, Sarah and I headed out to East Matagorda Bay on Monday. When we got to the GIWW crossing at Sargent we saw a sign that said the new bridge is opening on April 8th! No more swing bridge. That’s hard to believe. I can’t wait to go over the spiral bridge next time! … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of March 29, 2021
By Susan Heath We had to squish our field days into Monday and Tuesday this week because the wind was predicted to be really bad Wednesday through Friday. So, on Monday, Taylor, Sarah and I headed out to check the pairs in the Brazoria Bays. This includes the west end of West Galveston Bay, Bastrop Bay, and Drum Bay. We … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of March 22, 2021
By Susan Heath The weather people are just not my friends this year! We had planned to go to West Galveston Bay on Thursday but the forecast looked awful with rain and wind so we switched to Wednesday and what did we get? Rain and wind! Ugh. Alan, Taylor, Sarah and I set out to see what we could get … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of March 15, 2021
By Susan Heath It was a busy week with the oystercatchers! On Monday, Taylor, Sarah and I headed out to East Matagorda Bay for our first check of the season. The weather was less than optimal and it was a bit drizzly and foggy. We could see well enough to be safe though and we had no backup day so … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of March 8, 2021
By Susan Heath Well the wind was not our friend last Thursday. Remember when I said we’d pay for the good weather last week. Well, it didn’t take long. We were unable to go to Swan Lake because it was just too windy so we opted to survey some additional areas in West Galveston Bay where we could be protected … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of March 1, 2021
By Susan Heath On Thursday I was joined by Alan Wilde and John Wright, awesome volunteers from Tiki Island, to survey West Galveston Bay and the Galveston shoreline up to Swan Lake by Texas City. The weather was beautiful for a change! There wasn’t much wind, the skies were blue, and the water was unusually clear. It was a little … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of February 22, 2021
By Susan Heath Well the news is good so just relax and read on. We weren’t able to go out last week because of the weather and everything associated with the weather. I was worried about the birds though so on Friday (19th) I emailed Kevin Somers who lives along the Galveston Island shoreline and asked him whether the pair … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of February 8, 2021
By Susan Heath I had to move my day with oystercatchers from Thursday to Wednesday because of the impending Arctic blast. That wouldn’t have been a big deal except I also had to go monitor Loggerhead Shrikes on Wednesday morning. The shrikes only take a couple of hours though so I figured Alan and I could make a mad dash … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of January 25
By Susan Heath Well folks, it’s time again. I was alerted by Kevin Somers, a Galveston Island resident, that a pair of birds on Struve Luci island in West Galveston Bay might be incubating a nest on January 26. Kevin lives along the shoreline and has been keeping an eye on the birds. He was a great help last year … Read More