Though her primary medium is words, Valerie enjoys painting and photography to better appreciate the visual delights nature offers. Both require patience and focus and invite us to see details we might otherwise miss. The featured photos were taken on a trip to the Gulf Coast of Texas. The Texas Gulf Coast is a major Migratory Flyway, and many large birds winter there including the endangered Whooping Crane. There are several bird sanctuaries in the area dedicated to the safety of these wintering fowl. These create excellent opportunities to observe and photograph a variety of birds.