Port Aransas is on the north end of Mustang Island, which is an extension of Padre Island. After taking miles of bridges and causeways over swamps and waterways, the final couple of hundred yards (at best) is by ferry. I guess this is because this is a shipping channel (Corpus Christi is the 5th busiest port in the U.S.), but on the surface, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. There are 5 ferries, running in parallel berths, many deck hands waving, and a very, very, short ride. Perhaps the ferry company is owned by a Senator’s family, or something.
It was pretty efficient, at least during the day, during the week, when we were there.
Port Aransas does have some excellent birding sites, and it was Port Aransas Nature Preserve At Charlie’s Pasture which was our initial destination. Charlie’s Pasture was named after Charlie Bujan, son of the man who initially pioneered and brought cattle to the island in the 1850’s. The city has put a lot of time, effort and funding into this area, and it shows.
Dogs are not allowed on the trails, so Kirkly and I sat at a table and drank coffee, while Nancy headed off down the trails.
Blue Crab
Lantana
Evening Primrose (yellow) and Indian Blanket (Gaillardia)
Coreopsis
Snowy Plover
Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks
Summer Tanager
Roseate Spoonbills, Teals and Coot
Avocets
Crowded Island - Red Eared Slider Turtles and Coot
Green Winged Teal (in front)
Long-Billed Dowitchers
We also stopped at Paradise Pond, and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Centre. On the way home, we also stopped at the Lighthouse Lakes Trail (first paddling trail established on the Texas coast)
And then it was Back to Drifters RV Park for the pool and a beverage.
The Trusty Accord
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