Point Isabel Lighthouse - 1852
Thursday, January 25, 2007
posted by Seth Patterson @ 7:27 PM,
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Gloomy Weather
It's been too wet to get out much, but it looks like the weather has finally cleared, so tomorrow I am off to Falcon State Park to camp for a bit.
Hopefully the weather will hold!
posted by Seth Patterson @ 7:12 PM,
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Turtle Troubles
The Rio Grande Delta is a sub-tropical region, it's not used to extreme drops in temperature. Likewise, the Laguna Madre Bay is a very shallow, and generally warm, bay filled with both flora and fauna unable to survive in unusually cold waters.
Most creatures of the sea are cold blooded, meaning their body temperature is regulated by the surrounding temperature of their environment. If the weather turns cold, the Laguna Madre, as it is so shallow, can quickly drop in temperature as well. This can cause problems for many of our more tropical species of animals living within the bay.
The most obvious is the Sea Turtle, specifically the Green Sea Turtle who spend much of their younger lives hunting the shallows of the bay. When the water turns cold their bodies shut down and can no longer operate. They become extremely lethargic and often times, seemingly dead. They tend to float to the surface of the water and are pushed ashore with the tide.
Free floating these turtles risk drowning or simply freezing to death, but once ashore the turtles are further exposed to the elements and other hardships, such as predation.
On the 19th of January I drove from Rio Grande City to Port Isabel, TX at 4:00 in the morning. I waited for Sunrise, put on my big rubber boats, and started to walk. I walked the bay line from the Causeway to Laguna Heights, searching for beached and stranded turtles. Between my mother and I we found 11 Green Sea Turtles, two of which were dead. One had a broken shell, the other attacked by Coyotes. The 9 surviving were taken to the University of Texas Pan-American Coastal Studio Laboratory on South Padre Island where they will be kept with over a 100 more turtles until the water warms up enough to release them.
Along with the turtles though we also observed a fish kill, many Spade-Fish, Needle Fish, and Cowfish were found washed up along the shore. Also Banded Tulip Snails and even a Spiny Lobster were recovered, alive, and taken to my Mom's South Padre Island Nature Center.
It was an exhausting day, but without a doubt, worthwhile.
posted by Seth Patterson @ 6:39 PM,
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Our Lady of Visitation
This Church, built by the Oblate Fathers in 1880, stands strong along the side of the Old Military Highway outside of Brownsville, TX.Weather prevented any decent shots of the exterior, but I shall return at a later time to finish my shoot.
posted by Seth Patterson @ 6:13 PM,
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Causeway Walk-a-Thon
Hello every one, I've been missing for a bit now, but in my absence I have managed to stay fairly busy.Unfortunately the weather has been dreadful for photography, but I've shot when I could and the next few posts will be a recap of my current expeditions.
Here are some images captured during the recent Causeway Run/Walk on January 13, 2007.
posted by Seth Patterson @ 4:53 PM,
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South Texas Sandstone
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Took a stroll up river yesterday, played around on some neat sandstone bluffs and had a really great day.Here are a few shots from that excursion.
I was testing out some new equipment, which I still need to get the hang of.
The last shot is a Texas Banded Gecko, the only native species of Gecko to South Texas, adorable little buggers.
Tomorrow is another day!
posted by Seth Patterson @ 10:15 PM,
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Nothing new...
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Instead of shooting I spent the day organizing my new equipment that just came in. So, for now, another shot from yesterday.
Species of Cobweb Spider (Steatoda sp.)
posted by Seth Patterson @ 1:10 AM,
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My very own studio...
Monday, January 8, 2007
I spent the day setting up my studio and later playing around with various invertebrates.I am really happy with my results for my first day, obviously they need a lot of work, but this is just the beginning!
Anyways, I'll post some more exciting stuff tomorrow, I think it is time for bed now.
In order of appearance: Katydid, Southern Black Widow, and Wind Scorpion
posted by Seth Patterson @ 3:04 AM,
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Alien Bees!
Saturday, January 6, 2007
I got my Bees today and I must say, they are truly wonderful.
For lack of a better subject, a little Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea) had to suffice:
I have a lot to learn and play with, but they really open an endless world of possibility.
(Alien Bee's are studio strobes, for those not-in-the-know)
posted by Seth Patterson @ 1:32 AM,
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December 31st, 2006
Monday, January 1, 2007
Yesterday I awoke around 6:00am, packed my gear, and drove from Rio Grande City to Roma, TX.The recently opened World Birding Center was having their Winter Bird Count and my (personal) objective was to document it.
In reality I just hadn't been out in awhile and thought it would be a great excuse to go out and do some shooting.
But anyways, I'll try to get a list of the birds posted later, but for now here are some pictures and stories.
When I arrived at the Roma Bluffs the fog was so thick that the river could not even be seen.
But as the sun rose, the fog started to dissipate, leaving a wispy and steamy river.Later, volunteers from the World Birding Center and the Rio Grande Wilderness Society arrived and setup base camp on the Roma bluffs observation deck.
Binoculars and scopes at ready, Dan Trevino was one of several to be spotting and identifying the many bird species along the Rio Grande.As the day wore on the early morning chill was replaced by the sun's rays shining through beautiful clear skies.
All in all the day was fairly successful, although it did end early and rather abruptly, but that's a different story!
Afterwards I headed upriver to Saleneno in order to do some more exploring.It was a fairly slow day, but I did get to see my first ever wild Muscovy Duck.
However, as it was a quick fly by, I had no chance for a photograph... better luck next time.
I spent the rest of my time photographing flowers, such as this Wild Tabasco plant to the left. and other scenics.
Well, I guess that's about it, till next time!
posted by Seth Patterson @ 1:48 AM,
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An Attempt
Good evening ladies and gentle men, my name is Seth Patterson and I am a photographer. Or at least I attempt to be a photographer, but before you ask; no, my post title has nothing to do with my photographic ability.
Rather it eludes to my attempt in keeping a blog of my most current work and/or adventures. A blog in which I hope you will follow as these adventures take me across the Lower Rio Grande Valley, to discover and document the many beauties of South Texas.
So please check back often, I do intend to be quite busy.
posted by Seth Patterson @ 12:56 AM,
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