Rockport, TX

Majestic Oak RV 
Rockport, TX
February 3-8, 2018

The Texas Gulf has been on our radar for several years.  We have made plans in the past and for one reason or another, plans changed.  Since we made the trip back to Georgia in January, this was the year !  It's all about the birds...birds we have never seen before...that drew us here.  Galveston was unharmed by Harvey, but it's a different story here in Rockport (less than 180 miles away) where the eye of the storm hit land.  Folks are working hard and will be for months to come, but everywhere we go, people are smiling, are friendly and have stories to tell centered around hope and the future.  

Majestic Oak RV was our home for the 8 nights we spent here.  It's all new concrete roads are wide and pads are strategically placed for spacing.  



And...the oaks are still here.  

We went birding 4 of the 7 days during our visit.  A couple of the days were cold, drizzly, and windy (We don't do cold !).  I have read all of Ingrid's blogs about Rockport so I knew that a pasture near Big Tree was a good place to see Whooping Cranes.  The first time we were there, we did see the stately  Big Tree, but no Whooping Cranes.

Low clouds hiding the sun... 

We rode along the St. Charles Bay.








There are no more docks and piers, but we did see a few birds.  I read that Crested Caracara (in the falcon family) often feed on carrion and will chase vultures away from road kills.  Road kill was present and so were the vultures (quite a few of them).  This Caracara sat for awhile deciding what to do...

...eventually he flew away. Just look at those talons !







Also, hanging out along the shore were...Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Roseate Spoonbills, a lonely Killdeer and a Greater Yellowlegs.

Great Blue Heron and Roseate Spoonbills

Tricolored Heron

Killdeer (a member of the Plover family)

Greater Yellowlegs (in the Sandpiper family)

 We visited the pasture several more times and did see the Whooping Cranes at a distance.  It was a struggle to get pictures of them.  

One day we rode about 18 miles (which includes a free ferry) to Port Aransas.  Port A (as the locals say), is the only established town on Mustang Island.  Our first stop was Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center.   

A damp morning on Port A...

We were reminded that alligators live here too...beware!












After a very short walk, the boardwalk came to an abrupt stop.    

Mornings start out a little foggy here...

We stood for awhile enjoying the Ibis.  It was fun watching this White Ibis try to eat his breakfast of yummy crab...taking one bite at a time...  

 until the immature White Ibis was sure he was invited.  

The Ibis with his catch of the day politely wandered off to a less busy spot.

We did spot a big gator a ways away.  

Click on the picture for better detail.

The next stop was Joan & Scott Holt Paradise Pond.  This birding spot also had damage prohibiting our view of much of the 2 acre habitat and pond.

We enjoyed a nice walk and picnic at Roberts Point Park before heading home.  It's a nice park with a marina and fishing and a huge grassy area for picnics and playground.

One day after our visit at "the pasture", we stopped at the pier on the south side of the Copano Bay Bridge.  The pier is closed, but there is a path to access the shore.  I had spotted a group of White Pelicans from the bridge as we drove by...you know what that means !

As with most crowds, there is always one in the group that stands out.  Pelicans are no different...it was this fellow that caught my eye.

Our last excursion was aboard the Skimmer with Captain Tommy.  His 3 hour birding journey makes it's way to Aransas NWR.  

Aransas provides a protected habitat for endangered Whooping Cranes as well as many other birds and wildlife.


It was awesome to see several pairs (they mate for life and raise their chicks together) of one of the rarest and largest birds of North America.  

These birds (about 600 of them) that winter on the Texas Gulf will make a 2400 mile trek north to nest in Wood Buffalo National Park in central Canada.  

 Whooping Cranes love blue crabs.  That's a good thing because blue crabs are needed to build up their body resources and reserves for their long journey home and for successful nesting.  Not only are the blue crabs high in protein, but the meat and shells are highly rich in calcium, necessary for strong bones and for forming eggshells. 
























An adult crane can eat up to 80 crabs a day.

Not a real clear photo, but we did see an immature Whooper.  According to Capt. Tommy, they are only 4 to 5 months old when they make their first trip south.

We also saw other birds.  American Avocets have the prettiest blue/gray legs and feet. 

Adult non-breeding...a first for us!

 American Oystercatcher (the bird with the red beak) was yet another first sighting.  

Guess what oystercatchers like to eat...duh!  Below they are gathered on a live oyster bed enjoying a mid-morning snack !

That wraps up our time on the Texas Gulf.  It has been a fun adventure full of lots and lots of wonderful birds.  I'm so happy we finally made it here.   

Today was another chilly day with a high of 46 degrees.  It was nice and warm inside our cozy little home.  A great day for puppy snuggles and naps.  Tomorrow will be cleaning and packing day along with some cooking.  Saturday we begin the three day drive to Tucson for doctor visits, MH stuff, and hopefully some fun.    We are looking forward to some warm temps and I can't wait to see the Saguaros. 

So until then, take care and...

Great Blue Heron, St. Charles Bay

Immature White Ibis as Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Port A

Ducks at Joan & Scott Holt Paradise Pond, Port A

Roseate Spoonbills in flight on a foggy morning, Aransas NWR

Aransas NWR

Red-tailed Hawk, Aransas NWR

HAPPY TRAILS !

Galveston, Oh Galveston !

Galveston Island RV Resort
Galveston, TX
January, 22, 2018

We landed on Galveston Island January 19th by ferry from Bolivar Peninsula.  


The Texas DOT provides the free ride which takes about 30 minutes. 







What a great welcoming committee we had !

A private company began the ferry service in1929 with two wood-hulled ferries which carried 25 cars at a time and made 6 round trips a day.  By 1930, the ferries were sold to the state and for more than 12 years charged 25 cents for a ride.  The rides became free around 1949 and have remained that way since.  Today, there is a fleet of 5 ferries that can carry up to 70 vehicles each.  Ferries run 24 hours a day 365 days a week.  I also read that according to the national ferry report, its the fifth largest ferry system in the U.S. 
Galveston Island RV Resort  is a perfect spot to call home with spacious, level, concrete pads and a large, clean off-leash puppy park.  It is located on the west end of the island.





 

Our first wake-up Saturday morning...looking right towards the beach.

We are across the street from the Gulf with easy walking access and the best part...the pups can go too !  

Looking left...our site backs up to a large open space.

Saturday was a busy "errands" day.  Our first stop was the Galveston Island Visitor's Center. 








It is housed in the 1859 Ashton Villa, one of the oldest brick homes in Texas.








In 2008, Hurricane Ike left it's mark.














By the time we were done with grocery shopping, etc. the fog had rolled in and hung around through Sunday with  on/off again rain showers as well.  No worries, we enjoyed a much needed rest/lazy day!

Monday dawned with cool temps and bright sunshine...yippee !  The plan...beach time and exploring the marsh along West Bay via FM 3005.  Seawall Blvd/San Luis Pass Road/FM 3005 are all the same road which parallels the Gulf.  It runs from one end of the island to the other.  It's a pleasant, easy drive with colorful homes on stilts, folks strolling along the tide looking for shells or fishing,  and some surfers enjoying the waves.  The best thing...no high-rises !      

At the west end of Galveston, there is a $2.00 toll both and bridge that takes you over to the mainland.  






This morning we headed that way to the Kelly Hamby Nature Trail just across the bridge.  

It is a short boardwalk through "a forrest" of salt cedars (ranchers planted them years ago for the cattle) and tamarisk trees with various sea grasses.     





The trail winds it's way to the ocean...

Joe and I enjoyed a quiet walk on the beach.  There weren't many birds... just a few Snowy Plovers 

 and a lonely Ring-billed Gull.

The waves were crashing...music to my ears...

and we were the only ones around !  Doesn't get much better.

Our next stop was also on the mainland...San Luis Pass County Park.  


We drove Pearl right down to the beach.  Did you know the beach is a public highway and the speed limit is 15 mph?  We didn't...that's pretty cool. 

We weren't the only ones enjoying a beautiful day.  The pelicans were happy too !

Once we returned to the island, we did more exploring in the marshes along West Bay.  I'll save that for another post so until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !