June 1 - Kayaking Matagorda Bay

We slept in again, until around 7 a.m., and ate a leisurely breakfast at the Motel, of omelets, bacon & sausage, and weak motel coffee.  The women decided they’d like to go down to Matagorda Island and do some kayaking, so we drove down through Matagorda

Matagorda Masonic Lodge No. 7 A.F. & A.M.

and out to the mouth of the Colorado River, pulling into the Matagorda Bay Nature Center.

This is a 1,600-acre park and preserve at the mouth of the Colorado River on the Matagorda Peninsula.  They have about two miles of Gulf of Mexico beach front, two miles of river frontage, and hundreds of acres of coastal marshes and dunes.

Marty at the paddles

We stopped at the office, paid our $5 each for the entrance fee, and rented three kayaks, which cost $115, and went over to the campground to have Sammy get them out for us.  We thought we’d like to tour the marsh, so drove back up the road to put into the marsh.  My goal here was to see some Seaside Sparrows, and to have a great day with Marty & Becca.

From where we parked, the open water led along the road where we watched folks fishing and casting their “th’ow nets”.

I was never any good with a throw net . . .

 . . . but this gentleman had the technique down!

We made it out into the marshlands and the open waters of East Matagorda Bay, and checked out the birds, flowers, and marsh, before turning about and re-tracing our path.

The Willets are very noisy when you're in their territory

We stopped at a sand bar and checked out the marsh birds and plants.

Fun folks to kayak with

Snowy Egret

I was intrigued with the Dodder in the marsh.  The species appears to be the salt-marsh dodder Cuscuta salina that 'infests' the pickleweed, saltwort and sea-oxeye.  The dodder species in Puget Sound was separated as C. pacifica several years ago.  This thread-like plant doesn't make its own food - it has no chlorophyll - so is parasitic on other marsh plants, sending its tendrils (haustoria) into the host plant's tissues and sucking out the nutrients.

We chatted for a bit with a man and his son who were bringing in crabs for a gumbo supper, before arriving back at the landing.

Filling the cooler

It was hot and humid, but I'd found the Seaside Sparrows, which were relatively common in the marsh.

We dropped off the kayaks, and went back into town for supper.  ‘Becca wasn’t feeling up to it, so Marty & I went to supper by ourselves at the Fat Grass restaurant.  Mart had a Water Buffalo burger and I ordered the grilled Red Fish (at “market price”).  This is a pretty nice place with good food.

Matagorda Bay Nature Park a.m. eBird Checklist is Here

Matagorda Bay Nature Park p.m. eBird Checklist is Here

Neotropic Cormorant