Sunday, October 25, 2020

White Rock Creek - paddling and sightseeing

 White Rock Creek originates from Frisco, just north of 121. It runs through suburban Dallas, south by southeast, and widens into white rock lake. It eventually pours into trinity river - white rock creek is a major tributary of trinity river.

the red line in the figure is the white rock creek and white rock lake

The northern section of the creek has clear white rock river bank - the origin of its name. It passes through Hedgecox/Preston at Plano, by the Children's Hospital 

Sunday, October 18th, was a windy day, we went to white rock lake downtown Dallas to kayak in the afternoon hoping the wind effect would be not as strong as it is on Lavon lake. We were wrong, and instead of paddling on white rock lake, and visiting pelican point by water, we paddled north into the white rock creek. It turned out to be excellent decision!

water was choppy on open water

The water in the creek was calm, and the scenery was beautiful. We saw changing colors here and there, but mostly still very GREEN. We paddled gently, waving to fishing people, picnicking people on the shore, and listening to music from my cellphone. 

We finally saw some bright color at a big branch of the creek, and paddled into it. 

paddling trail - we paddled about 3 miles total












There were many wild lives: turtles sunbathing on logs, tiny birds chirping and flying from one side of creek bank to the other (it was easier to hear them than to see them though), the easiest to spot is still the big white grand egret. On the return, we braved into open water again, just to get a closer look of double crested cormorants - black water fowls. 

many sightings of turtles along the creek
eastern phoebe, its primary food is insects

An egret and an American coot (center left in the front)
foliage 

double crested cormorants (one on tree branch, one in the water, to the left)


the egret was still perched at its favorite place
two ducks flew away

grand egret and American coots were still there


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