Aransas Wildlife Refuge

We have been here at Aransas NWR for 2 weeks now and so far the weather has been really nasty…….very unlike typical South Texas winter weather!! Raining and cold, not a single day of sunshine, but this is Texas and as they say, “if you don’t like the weather, just wait 5 minutes, it’ll change!” Well, I’m waiting………..!!!!

As we only work 3 days a week we have lots of time to tour the area and as soon as we had the coach all set up, we did a driving tour of the refuge. There is a coastal tour road with lots of trails leading to the water where we found herons, egrets, and other wading birds.

At the end of the coastal road is an observation tower where we were able catch glimpses of the refuge’s star attraction, whooping cranes…..from a distance!!!

From there we walked out on a boardwalk into the marshes to get up close and personal with the egrets and herons.

 

                                    Great White Egret

 

                   Reddish Egret

 

                                          Brown Pelican

 

          

           Raccoon Tracks in the sand

 

After the coastal road there is a 9 mile Auto Tour Route through the inner part of the refuge where we saw lots of deer, hogs, armadillos.

 

               Feral Hog (big destructive nuisance on the refuge)

 

          Flight of Sandhill Cranes

 

Deer are everywhere and even hang around the Volunteer Village

The refuge is really out away from everything so our internet connection is not the best, so we have to save our updates for when we go to town. So if we are absent periodically, never fear we will return………..when we go to town for groceries!

Stay tuned……….just us kids out here on the refuge!!!