Spectacular Sunsets at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas

If you live in Dallas, Texas and you want to unwind after a stressful day at work, go watch the sunset at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake. The sunsets are spectacular, and each day they are different as can be seen in the images below.

The image below was taken at Sunset Bay and shows Mallard Ducks taking off into the sunset.

Mallard Ducks taking off into the sunset at Sunset Bay

Sunset Bay is very sheltered and the waterfowl flock there most evenings. It’s officially classified as a wetland. Birders love Sunset Bay and for good reason - 175 birds have been identified in or near Sunset Bay.

The setting sun ignites White Rock Lake

The image below presents a strange phenomenon. Downtown Dallas is approximately five miles away from White Rock Lake. So how do the buildings reflect in the lake? If anyone could explain that, we would be grateful.

The tall buildings of downtown Dallas reflecting in White Rock Lake

In the above image, the setting sun gives the tall buildings of downtown Dallas a pinkish hue.

Each evening, the waterfowl congregate at Sunset Bay to feed. The bay also offers them a lot of protection against predators.

American Coots and Mallard ducks in Sunset Bay at sunset

Sunset at White Rock Lake, Dallas

White Rock Lake glows red as the sun sets

The setting sun reflecting in White Rock Lake

Waterfowl flock to Sunset Bay at sunset

The evening sets in at White Rock Lake

Someone on the pier at Sunset Bay

The setting sun at White Rock Lake, Dallas

Sunset Bay as the sun begins to set for the night

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Winfrey Point: Arboretum asks for Mowing Plans to Stop

The Dallas Arboretum say they have asked that mowing plans for Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, Dallas be stopped after the public expressed outrage over the approved measure last week, read a statement released this morning.

Winfrey Point: A Monarch butterfly visiting a Texas Thistle

The Arboretum say they have reached out to District 9 Park Board members to not proceed with the approved plans to mow down an area at Winfrey Point so that a parking area could be created.

"Over the past couple of weeks, the Arboretum has heard the opinions of its friends and neighbors and recognizes any plans to temporarily park at Winfrey Point have resulted in serious misunderstandings that need to be addressed," read the statement.

Here is the full release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Mary Brinegar
Chief Executive Officer & President
Dallas Arboretum

DALLAS (May 9, 2012)
- On Tuesday, May 8, the leadership of the Dallas Arboretum asked Paul Dyer, Dallas Park and Recreation Department director; Joan Walne, Dallas Park Board president; Councilman Sheffield Kadane, City Council District 9; and Gerry Worrall, District 9 Park Board not to proceed with current plans to mow the previously approved area at Winfrey Point. 

Over the past couple of weeks, the Arboretum has heard the opinions of its friends and neighbors and recognizes any plans to temporarily park at Winfrey Point have resulted in serious misunderstandings that need to be addressed. We are committed to being a good neighbor and steward to the citizens of East Dallas, the metroplex and all of North Texas.

We are looking forward to working with city officials and neighborhood associations in the immediate future to develop a plan that best serves the interest of all parties involved. It is our pledge to endeavor to make such planning transparent.

Thank you for your patience while we work to find a solution to the City's and our parking needs.

Well done to everyone involved with Save Winfrey Point. Your efforts have been noted and applauded!

At least for now, the wildflowers are safe and the butterflies can still dance at Winfrey Point.

 A swallowtail butterfly visiting a Texas Thistle at Winfrey Point

White Rock Lake, Dallas Needs Rain – Lots of it

The water level of White Rock Lake in Dallas is really low and the smaller streams have dried up. The ground is cracking in several places around the lake. The wildflowers are really small and going to bloom quickly because of the lack of water. White Rock Lake needs rain – lots of it!

The cracks below were at Celebration Tree Grove on April 29, 2012.

 Lack of rain causing parts of White Rock Lake to crack 

A closer view of the cracks around Celebration Tree Grove

By the way, can anyone tell me why Macy’s Creek near the Bath House has dried up? According to locals, there used to be a perennial stream of water flowing through Macy’s Creek and that dried up some time ago.

The image below was taken at Winfrey Point on May 5, 2012.

Winfrey Point - White Rock Lake needs rain

 The dry ground is cracking up at Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake

Winfrey Point: Don’t Pave Paradise, And Put Up a Parking Lot!

The dispute between the Dallas City Council and White Rock Lake residents and supporters continues. The furor arose as a result of the City Council allowing the Dallas Arboretum to park cars at Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake, an area that contains several acres of protected Blackland Prairie grasses. Winfrey Point is part of a very unique and endangered ecosystem that is home to rare birds, plants and many animals. 

 Supporters of Save Winfrey Point gather to protest

This morning, a judge ruled against the defendants preventing them from constructing any permanent structures, but he did allow temporary parking at Winfrey Point and mowing of the area.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION!

You can click here to watch one of the TV news reports, and click here for Channel 5 NBC.

 A protestor makes her point - Save Winfrey Point!

Save Winfrey Point immediately arranged a protest and concerned residents and supporters gathered at Winfrey Point, as well as TV news crews and reporters. 

 The press converged on Councilman Sheffie Kadane upon
his arrival at the Winfrey Point protest

Sheffie Kadane, councilman for the area, arrived to address the gathering. He immediately assured concerned protestors that no mowing would take place this weekend, and that the Arboretum would not be parking cars in the area this weekend (the Chihuly exhibition starts this weekend). Kadane said he would do everything in his power to prevent the parking lot proposal going forward. The crowd was skeptical, but Councilman Kadane seemed sincere in his remarks.

 Councilman Sheffie Kadane (white shirt) addressing the gathering
at Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, with Chris Herron.

Halfway through his address, one of the Save Winfrey Point supporters asked Mr. Kadane if he would wear a “Save Winfrey Point” t-shirt if he was given one. The councilman readily agreed, and sportingly squeezed into a t-shirt that was at least two sizes too small for him.

 Councilman Sheffie Kadane showing some solidarity with the
Save Winfrey Point supporters

 Ironically, the Dallas Little League erected the sign below at Winfrey Point.

 Do not pick wildflowers ... the city will mow them for you!

The supporters of Save Winfrey Point will be protesting outside the Dallas Arboretum tomorrow.

Hopefully, they will have the support of a portable stereo blaring out the more familiar cover version of Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows.

             Don't it always seem to go
          That you don't know what you've got
          'Til it's gone
          They paved paradise
          And put up a parking lot

Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, Dallas to be used as a Parking Lot

Let’s state this categorically at the outset: we love and support the Dallas Arboretum. They are a HUGE attraction in Dallas, and they deserve their rock star status … BUT … hands off Winfrey Point! 

White Rock Lake is a gift that belongs to the people of Dallas. The objective is to conserve it, not pave it for a parking lot. Turning Winfrey Point into a parking lot is a totally absurd idea.

 This endangered ecosystem is home to birds, plants and
all kinds of animals

If ever there was a situation that epitomized the 1970's Joni Mitchell song, Big Yellow Taxi, this is it.

It would appear that the takeover of Winfrey Point is part of a larger planned expansion of the Dallas Arboretum and the opening of the children’s interactive education park in 2013.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION!

Whilst we will always remain huge fans and support the Dallas Arboretum, we believe that they need to exploit all options for a creative solution to the problem, and Winfrey Point should not be part of the solution.

The Issue

The Dallas Arboretum has run out of parking space for special events.

Without any consultation with residents or concerned citizens, the Dallas Parks Board recently authorized parking in the Texas Lone Star Land Steward prairie grass and wildflower areas on Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake.

Winfrey Point is located on the east side of White Rock Lake, the “crown jewel” of the Dallas parks system. It is the site of many cultural, athletic and community events and contains several acres of protected Blackland Prairie grasses. This is a very unique and endangered ecosystem that is home to rare birds, plants and many animals. 

 Protected native tallgrass prairie at Winfrey Point

Dallas Parks have won a Texas Land Steward award for their efforts to protect and preserve this prairie.

The prairie is a diverse ecosystem of mainly native grasses and flowering plants with prairie wildlife, soil, and geology all playing important roles. Texas used to have 20 million acres of beautiful tallgrass prairie. Today, there is less than 1%, and losses are still occurring due to plowing, improper overgrazing, and development.

Now this incredible resource, and specifically the area around Winfrey Point, is in danger of becoming a parking lot!

What YOU can do about it

We should be getting back to nature, not deliberately destroying it. YOU can help Save Winfrey Point so that all may enjoy the natural beauty at White Rock Lake. 

Voice your opinion by:

• Signing the petition to save Winfrey Point, and by 
• Contacting the officials who are in favor of destroying the Blackland prairie at Winfrey Point and/or those who are able to help stop this from going forward.

Maybe the protestors and supporters of Save Winfrey Point should use Big Yellow Taxi as their call to battle.

We will let Joni Mitchell have the last word:

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Til it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Note

Counting Crows had a huge hit with Big Yellow Taxi in 2002 and consequently it is the more famous version.

Queen Anne's Lace: An Intriguing Wildflower with a Regal History

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) is a tall, spectacular white wildflower that covers large areas of White Rock Lake. The plant is also known as Wild Carrot (it is related to the carrot), Bird’s Nest and Bishop’s Lace.

Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) at White Rock Lake, Dallas

During the flowering period the flower head is nearly flat or slightly convex. A flower head comprises multiple individual clusters of flowers that radiate from the stalk, and each cluster has approximately 20 individual flowers that all originate from a common point (an umbel). 

The individual clusters of flowers all arise from a common point

When Queen Anne's Lace starts flowering, the lace-like flower heads take on a beautiful pinkish hue, and this changes to white as the flower head develops.

The lace-like flowers of the Wild Carrot aka Queen Anne's Lace

An interesting feature of the flower is the single dark purple floret in the center of the flower (and sometimes it is blood red). Legend has it that Queen Anne’s Lace is named after Queen Anne of England, an expert lace maker. One day she pricked her finger with a needle while making lace, and a single drop of blood fell into the lace, thus the dark purple floret in the center of the flower. In reality, the function of this red or purple flower is to attract insects.

The single dark purple floret in the center of the flower attracts insects

If you examine the lace-like flowers of the Wild Carrot closely, you will find all kinds of visiting insects. Caterpillars of the Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly eat the leaves, and bees and other insects drink the nectar.

A honey bee visiting Queen Anne's Lace, White Rock Lake, Dallas

Daucus carota has been used for medicinal purpose for several centuries, and the root is edible. In fact, women have used the seeds from the Carrot Plant as a contraceptive, and the earliest written reference for such use dates back to a work written by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.

During the flowering period the head is nearly flat or slightly convex

The flower heads also seem to become a rendezvous for insects looking for mates, and perhaps this is the plant's biggest contribution to nature.

These bugs found love on Queen Anne's Lace

Some flowers on this plant have already developed seed heads

After pollination, the umbel of the flower head begins to fold in on itself, somewhat like an umbrella that has been turned inside out, and during this process the seed head resembles a bird’s nest.

Daucus Carota is often called Bird's Nest for obvious reasons

As the seeds ripen the flower head becomes more cup-like. At the tip of nearly every tiny flower stalk is a minute ovoid fruit covered with tiny sharp bristles, and this is what has been used as a contraceptive for centuries. The seeds are clearly visible in the image below.

In its second year the plant blooms, sets seeds and then dies.

When the seed head dries, it falls off with the help of insects that chew through the stem. The heads become tumble weed and as the wind-assisted seed heads roll all over the countryside, they distribute their seeds. 

The Wild Carrot is not native to the USA. The seeds were introduced by settlers from Europe. Regrettably, the Queen Anne's Lace is an invasive species and some dire action is required to prevent it from crowding out the indigenous flora. As can be seen below, the plant is widespread and does constitute a threat to the wildflowers of White Rock Lake.

 Queen Anne's Lace is an invasive species - some dire action is
required to prevent it from crowding out the indigenous flora

White Rock Lake is located in east Dallas, Texas.

The Prehistoric Turtles of White Rock Lake, Dallas

If there is an exposed log in White Rock Lake, it will soon become littered with a seemingly endless number of basking turtles, both big and small. Turtles are ectothermic (cold blooded) which means that they rely on the temperature around them to regulate their body temperature. Although turtles are mainly aquatic, basking on a log or rock is a way for them to warm their bodies.

Turtles basking on a log at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX

White Rock Lake has a number of different species of turtles: Red Eared Slider, Yellow Mud Turtle, Missouri River Cooter, the Common Snapping Turtle, and the Mississippi Mud Turtle.

The turtle in the image below is a Missouri River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna metteri). It's a strong swimmer with webbed hind feet. Their shells are dark, and some Cooters have the most exquisite, intricate yellow patterns as you can see from the image below.

This turtle was swimming in a creek that feeds Dixon Branch Creek. Luckily, the water was clear so the pattern is visible.

 

A Missouri River Cooter turtle at White Rock Lake, Dallas

Did you know that turtles are some of the oldest reptilian species on the earth?

Turtles have remained virtually unchanged for 200 million years or more, so show these critters some respect! They date back to the dinosaurs, and still retain many traits that they used to survive back then. 

Fishing is popular at White Rock Lake and quite often turtles will bite on a baited fishing hook. The poor turtle below has a fishing hook stuck in its mouth! This image was captured from a bridge in the park that spans Dixon Branch Creek.

This poor turtle in Dixon Branch Creek has a fishing
hook stuck in its mouth

Turtles may spend most of their lives in water, but they are air breathing animals and need to come to the surface to breathe from time to time, as the Red Eared Slider below is doing. This image was captured from a bridge in the park that crosses Dixon Branch Creek.

Red Eared Slider turtle coming up for air at White Rock Lake

All turtles lay eggs. It is interesting to note that with several species of turtles, temperature in the nest will determine the dominant gender of the young: warm nests producing primarily female turtles, and cooler nests producing mainly males.

Several smaller turtles sharing a tree limb in Sunset Bay
White Rock Lake

The Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) seen below is a medium sized turtle that loves to bask in the sun, but is very difficult to approach. When they see you coming, they quickly disappear into the water. They have a prominent patch of red on both sides of the head. They are sometimes referred to as a “pond slider.”

Red Eared Slider turtle basking on a log at White Rock Lake

Turtles live for a long time, and some of them live for longer than 100 years.

A turtle emerges from the murky depths of Sunset Bay, intently
watched by a curious goose

Migrating Canadian Geese Arrive at White Rock Lake

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Today, some migrating Canadian Geese arrived at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX, a temporary resting stop on their long journey northward. These huge, attractive wild geese have a black head with a white “chinstrap,” black neck, and large black webbed feet with a brownish-gray body.

A pair of Canada Geese perched on a log in Sunset Bay

The visitors were not exactly welcomed by the permanently resident Chinese Geese, who constantly tried to chase off the Canada Geese. Unfortunately for the local fat, overfed waterfowl the tough-looking visitors were quite aggressive when they needed to be, and not intimidated by the local geese.

A pair of Canadian Geese resting under a shady tree at Sunset Bay
White Rock Lake

The Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis, is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America. They breed in Canada and the northern United States, and are mainly herbivores. Their diet includes green vegetation and grains.

 A visiting Canada Goose strolls along the water's edge at Sunset Bay

During the second year of their lives, Canada Geese look for a mate.  They are monogamous, and most couples stay together for their entire lives.

 A lone Canada Goose beside a pool of water

Canada Geese are often recognized by the famous V-formation when flying in a flock.

 

Canadian Geese taking in the panoramic view of White Rock Lake

Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918. In terms of this Act, it is illegal to harm or injure a goose (or damage or move its eggs) without a Federal permit.

Canadian Geese swimming in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake 

Waterfowl love Sunset Bay because it is sheltered. It is officially classified as a wetland, and harbors an array of colorful ducks and other water fowl. 

Cooling off on a hot day, this Canada Goose looks at home
in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake

White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas is on the migration route from Canada to Mexico.