Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of the Whooping Cranes, the poster child of endangered species. The population was down to 15 individuals at one time. The ANWP population is now around 300, and world population about 500.
The woman at the visitor centre found out we were from Canada, and asked if we had ever been to Wood Buffalo NP, the summer home of the Whooping Cranes. Of course we had, visiting our friend (Don) who used to work there. She was thrilled!
We cruised along the road system and stopped at the observation deck at the Heron Flats trailhead. Out on the flats fronting the dune system were three Javelinas, happily foraging, tails flicking to keep the bugs (of which there were a considerable amount) away.
At the southern end of the road was a novel idea; a handicap accessible viewing tower. It was constructed of modular aluminum gangways, like a dock system, with recycled plastic floor planking. From the top, you looked over miles of salt marsh, where the Whooping Cranes hunt their favourite local food, Blue Crab. Sure enough, there was a Whooper out in the marsh! Nancy had the binoculars and claimed three.
We stood in the breeze and enjoyed the moment, seeing one of 500 individuals on the planet. (or three, who am I to say?)
We were moseying along the auto tour loop at a walking pace, with windows and sunroof open, when with a buzz and a triple ricochet, something flew in, and disappeared into the car interior. The hunt was on. Since we didn’t know for sure, he could have been a large, venomous wasp, or something Worse! We stopped immediately and searched the car. Nothing. We continued on, but Kirk was determined he was under the seat. Another stop and search. Nothing. Onward. Kirk was digging and trying to launch under Nancy’s seat. Yet another search, with a flashlight. Nothing. We kept Kirk from excavating the seat until we arrived back in camp, where the offender was finally captured, photographed, and released (much to Kirk’s chagrin).
On our way out, Nancy said “What’s that on the road?” There was an undistinguished lump on the road ahead. Suddenly the lump, which had been sunbathing on the road, got up on it’s toes, and ran for cover. A three foot Alligator! Wish we had time for video, because he moved in a sinuous, but very quick wriggle.
I was thinking about the several local trails that Nancy & Kirk had traversed in the ANWR, and thinking how fortunate that they had not run across this guy on a trail. We would be in severe shit with the Refuge if Kirkly had chewed up a local....
New birds - Black-necked Stilt, Reddish egret, Black-bellied Tree Duck.
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