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