Goose Island SP is just North of Rockport. That area was hit hard by hurricane Harvey. Part of the state park is still closed and under repair. While at Goose Island, we also traveled to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). one of the winter homes of the Whooping Crane. The visitor’s center at Aransas was ruined by black mold following Harvey and is being rebuilt.
Reservations at Texas SP were becoming difficult because of their popularity and Texas activity, so we booked ahead at various parks thru March 19th. Our next stop after Goose Island was Texana Park, a former state park which is now operated by Jackson County and located near Edna, TX.
It’s hard to describe just how busy and bustling the economy is in Texas. There is drilling, pipeline construction, road rebuilding, hurricane repair etc., everywhere we go. Here are pictures from some of the last two stops.
Whooping Crane visiting near Goose Island SP
Gator at Aransas NWR. Not as big as Big Daddy, but big.
Formost plastic factory at Port Comfort. Note the flaring flame in the middle. There were 8 parking lots with buses to distribute workers.
The big tree. Not the support holding up the lower left branch.
Armadillos are also showing up. This one was at Aransas NWR.
When it's ready to throw up its March bloom, the Spanish Dagger's magnificent flower always comes out on top. ... Though its fibrous sharp dagger-like leaf is poisonous, its flower is as edible as it is surprising to behold. The Spanish dagger's flower stalk begins as its fruit, and resembles a giant asparagus at first. Picture taken at Aransas NWR. VF
This is a sleeping Barred Owl next to our camper spot at Texana Park.
Some question our lifestyle of just traveling around the country birding, so let me explain. A lifestyle when working is often defined as a balance between work and leisure, and a balance between self and others. After retirement from work, you actually have way too much time for leisure. Some retirees just watch TV, others highlight going out to eat, some men take up woodworking, etc. Donna and I have elected to get away from cold and snow and travel around to various warm weather locations looking at birds, hiking, visiting friends and relatives, and playing some golf. We generally walk 2-4 miles per day while enjoying warmer weather and looking for different birds. It is an enjoyable lifestyle for us.
American Oystercatcher near Port Lavaca. This bird lives on oysters.