South Padre Island Animals (Part 1)

 I've wanted to do an animal post since we got here, down in South Padre Island, TX.

While loading pictures for this post, I realized I will have to do 3 posts,

because there are so many different animals down here.

I'm doing this mostly to show people in the north, like Minnesota,

how different it is down here.

 

This little lizard was the first animal we saw as we walked to the beach through the pool area.

They are everywhere!

 I may have to edit this post many times as I learn the real names of each.

 

 Of course there are Pelicans!

 This one I need help with, we thought it was some kind of jellyfish

It's a flat, (about an inch thick) Frisbee like animal, in many different sizes.

We couldn't find any tentacles, so I'm not sure if it's a jellyfish or not.

I love how you can see right through it.



 Some kind of Heron, found at the end of the beach on the jetty.

(Remember a Jetty is kind of a dock)
Look at his bright yellow feet!

 Look at these crabs!

My 10 year old found these by the Jetty and brought them home for the littles to see.

(we put them back in the water when we were done)

 Excuse the bed hair!

 The littles loved them!

 We also discuss all the animals that used to live in these, oysters, crabs, mollusks, clams...

We also find lots of claws from crabs...

 Different ducks here too

 I'm pretty sure there are no signs like this in Minnesota!

We've seen several Puffer Fish washed up on the beach. 

They are not real big, probably about 6 or 7 inches long.

This Sea Gull is guarding his food!

This crab was about the size of my hand and very, very fast!



This is some kind of Egret or Heron

Tiny, scurrying crab

These birds are everywhere down here! 

Here, this one is on a chair on a sidewalk cafe's patio.

(there are a lot of places to eat outside down here)



Isn't that fun?
They make a really cool noise too.

After we were here a week or so,

the Man of War Jellyfish started washing ashore.
Hundreds of them!
Be careful, their stinger is very potent long after they are dead!

The jellyfish washed up with a ton of seaweed.

If there is seaweed, there are treasures...and animals!
(it smelled nasty!)

This washed up for about 2 weeks and as fast as it came, it was gone.

Covered up by the tide and the sand.

 

It's been so amazing to see the beach change from day to day.

To see how God provides for all animals of the earth.

One day we found this pipe washed ashore full of these Goose Barnacles.

Hundreds and hundreds of them!

Can you see them moving?

These Goose Barnacles cling to just about anything that washes ashore.

Look at these animals I found at the beach! 

(Just kidding)

You can see one of them is not happy to leave the beach.

 

Me either baby...me either.

 

I'll try to get Part 2 and a Part 3 done soon!

 

We leave in 16 days.

Yes, I'm counting.
Yes, I'm sad to leave.
It's been such a wonderful experience and blessing to be down here!