Aransas Wildlife Refuge

Aransas Refuge is the winter home of the Whooping Crane.

This 500 year old oak tree is worth the hike to see.

Enlarge this photo and you should see an alligator on the left, as the heron is on the right.

One of several armadillos we encountered on our bird walk.

Pat chasing an armadillo with her phone camera.

Our major trip of the week was to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is about a 50 mile drive from Mustang Island, but is really much closer than that by water. ANWR is the winter home of North America's Whooping Crane. Nearly extinct a few decades ago, the breed has made a remarkable recovery. In the January, 2009 census 270 whoopers were counted on the refuge. Because the refuge is so large, and access to all parts limited, we only saw one whooper - and that was too far away to see without binoculars. Sadly, it was also too far away to photograph with any meaning. We may try a boat trip next month to see if we might be able to encounter more whoopers, and get a little closer. Meanwhile, the day we spent on the refuge was a full one. We saw LOTS of birds, including a large concentration of hawks, feral hogs, whitetail deer, armadillos, and alligators. No danger from the alligators as it's not possible to get very close to them. Nonetheless, they are present in good number - we counted about 14 - and interesting to watch.

Winter Tomatoes

Universal Mustang Island sign of welcome. It's an attitude!

Our winter tomatoes as of January 14th, 2009. Can't do this back home (outdoors).

Black necked stilt.

American avocet.

Last night we were forecast to have a freeze, but I'm pleased to report that it didn't happen. Went birding today, as is usual for a Wednesday, and met a couple of new species not seen before. The black-necked stilt and american avocet are pictured above.

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Stay in touch. Dave & Pat

Mustang Island Winter

Brown pelican on south jetty, Mustang Island TX

Sandpiper on the beach, Mustang Island TX

Pat having a visit with Gracie, resident pelican on the jetty.

Brown Pelican taking off.

Juvenile Pied-bill grebe.

Dolphin riding the bow wave of oil tanker in ship canal.

Christmas and the Holidays are behind us and winter has settled in at Port Aransas, Texas. Life on Mustang Island during the winter is quite different than back home. The weather has been mostly very nice. We've had a few cool evenings, but nothing even approaching freezing. Days have been in the 70's and 80's, mostly. Our tomatoes are beginning to turn ripe, and it's only Jan 9th. We had hoped to have ripe tomatoes by Christmas but obviously didn't get an early enough start. Of course, we didn't arrive here until Halloween and should have had plants well along by then instead of just getting started.

We go birding, walking on the beach, and manage to stay busy most of the time. Pat has several sewing projects under the needle and Dave is getting caught up on all the reading he has missed over the last couple of decades. We're also building a good collection of photos of scenics and the local wildlife.

Stay with us as we enjoy what just might be the most pleasant winter of our lifetime.

Dave & Pat

direct email at dwink@supersat2.net

Greetings of the Season

Here's proof that Molly opened her own presents.

Christmas morning at our house.

Annie and Molly in their play yard.

We were hoping for ripe tomatoes by Christmas, but didn't quite make it.

What we are missing back in WA, photo courtesy our former neighbors.

Sand drifts on the beach. The city plows them!

Our hostess, Erlinda, cutting Dave's birthday cake (at Christmas dinner).

Rita and Jim from Kettle Falls WA.

Christmas dinner at Tropic Island RV Resort with new friends.

It's that time of year when we have Christmas, Dave's birthday, and then New Year's to celebrate. For the last ten years we've been mostly away from family at this time of year, but not every year. This year is somewhat different in that we are away from family, familiar neighbors, and winter. But we do have some new neighbors, and it is not necessary to be "alone" if you don't want to. The Christmas dinner is sponsored by the resort, but is mostly a cooperative effort in that everyone brings something to the table. We miss the family, and old friends, but we don't miss winter.

We are escaping the snow and cold, and that's a big reason for us being here. Pat got a feeling for winter a week ago as she flew to Spokane and stayed with our former neighbors, Dan & Shirley Christman. She got to shovel a lot of snow and endure temps as low as -22. When we got up this morning the temp was 70, and is now up to 80. That's why we are here.

Yesterday was Dave's 69th birthday, and our next-door neighbors, Jack and Bernie (from Illinois) took us to Corpus Christi for some shopping and dinner. We don't know yet what we'll be doing to celebrate New Year's, but I'm going to be checking around to see where there might be a fireworks display.

So, blessings to all, and our best wishes for a great 2009.

Dave & Pat

Winter break

Pat in the Tropic Island Resort hot tub
Brown Pelican greeting ferries to and from Mustang Island.

What, you've never seen a Christmas Palm Tree?

Part of the Christmas Boat Parade in Port Aransas Harbor.

Today is Saturday, December 13. Pat is in Washington for some dental appointments and a visit with former neighbors and I remain in Texas. Pat reported last night that there is already over a foot of snow on the ground with yet another foot or more yet to come. They expect a low temp this weekend of -22F! I woke up this morning to blue sky, fluffy clouds and 65 degrees. Now you know why we are here for the winter instead of back in WA, or even MN. Pat will be back next Tuesday.

The photos are just some catch-up to events in our life. Here at Tropic Island Resort there is a year-round swimming pool and hot tub. Christmas is done a little differently in that they decorate palm trees with Christmas lights, and have a parade with decorated boats. We have our own little (about 2' high) indoor tree, and have run several strings of colored lights outside, so we at least look slightly traditional for the season. But lights and decorations are only the external manifestation of the season. The real spirit of Christmas is always internal.

Let us hear from you.

Dave & Pat

Dollar Day at Texas Aquarium

Thousands of people lined up to enter Texas Aquarium on $1 day.
Some kids with Sea Turtle mascot.

Pat watching the dolphins play underwater.

The finale of the dolphin show.

450 pound dolphin leaps 12' out of water.

Touch tank for manta and sting rays.

Dave with sea turtle sculpture. USS Lexington in background.

Dollar day was a day well-spent at the Texas Aquarium on the west side of Corpus Christi Bay. The unversity has a campus on the west side, the USS Lexington is docked there, and the Texas Aquarium rounds out the area attractions. We needed the whole day at the aquarium so will have to make a second visit to tour the Lexington a/c carrier.

The aquarium is quite large and has a lot of hands-on displays that are particularly geared to school children. Of course, it's pretty neat for adults as well. As you might expect, and can see from the photo, the crowd was quite massive. After all, only a dollar for admission is quite a bargain.

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One Month Down, Five to Go

Tri-colored Heron found on bird walk.
Example of native plants and labeling in Bird Park.

Our rig at Tropic Island RV Resort.

Scene on the south jetty.

Our girls waiting for mom to get out of the loo.

Looking south along Mustang Island beach.

Some of the migrating ducks near the bird walk. Oil derrick on barge in background.

Some of our Wednesday morning birding group.

Well, we've been on Mustang Island for one month. Having no first-hand knowledge of what to expect before we got here I have to say that we are anything but disappointed and except for a couple of days when the humidity was pretty high, wholly pleased. This is a tropic paradise. Looks like we might be in for a really good winter. After a lifetime of Minnesota winters, and about ten Washington winters, it feels good to be wearing shorts and t-shirts instead of sweats and polar fleece this time of year.

The attitude of the locals towards tourists has to be mentioned. We are treated as welcomed guests. There are signs that say "Welcome Winter Texans." It's an attitude that goes a long ways toward making people feel welcome.

Perhaps the most important aspect of tourism is to have sufficient infrastructure to handle the crowds. Here you will find plenty of RV resorts, motels, restaurants, and fishing accommodations. Even if your town only has a (full-time) population of 2,000 somehow that governing entity has to enable the building of facilities to handle 20,000 or more visitors. They have made it happen on Mustang Island.

Check back often. We're keeping busy.