The Texas City Dike, Armistice Day, 2013

We stop at the Tangier Mall on the way to the Dike and meet this elegantly dressed Grackle

Now we're at the end of the Dike. We see the Odfjell Tanker Bow Spring leaving the Ship Channel

Bow of the Tanker Tamia arriving. Porpoises playing in its bow wave

More Porpoises playing in the Tamia bow wave.

Two Porpoises swimming in the Channel ...

... and now they prepare to dive.

A brown gull flies overhead.

A double barge is pushed up the Ship Channel.

A group of Porpoises playing in the bow wave of the tanker California Voyager.

The California Voyager continues out of the Channel into the Gulf. Porpoise in foreground.

A Willet on the rocks at the end of the Dike.

The Willet again.

The Tanker Siteam Jupiter arrives ...

... and Porpoises escort it in.

They put on quite a show...

... leaping in front of the Siteam Jupiter ...

The ship looks huge and threatening. The Porpoises mock its immensity.

The view out into the bay. An offshore platform, boats, and more...

The Tanker, Brugge Venture arrives.

A bit NW of the tip of the Dike we find a large flock of gulls, terns, and Black Skimmers.

This is a Black Skimmer with Gull looking on.

Skimmers getting comfortable

Now a Black Skimmer takes flight ...

... and commences to skim the water.

It trails its lower jay in the water looking for prey.

The skim goes on and on ...

... and on. He's able to keep his feet just above the surface.