AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

On my recent Texas trip, I drove down to Padre Island National Seashore to see what that was all about. Living on the Atlantic Ocean, I figured it would be pretty much like "home" but had never been on the Gulf of Mexico before, so headed out. Now, my GPS and I are sometimes not on speaking terms, and other times I talk to it - questioning where it is taking me - and this trip was no different. My road map (which by the way are extremely hard to find in gas stations anymore) appeared to have a road to Port Aransas where I would get the road to Padre Island NS. Driving along I spied a sign - "Wait for ferry 30 minutes." Wait. What? Ferry? What ferry? Turns out that there is a State of Texas ferry operation across the shipping channel between the mainland and Port Aransas (where there was a Whooping Crane Festival going on that I decided not to attend because I was closer to the Cranes in Rockport and could book my own tours of the Wildlife Refuge). There are 6 to 7 ferrys that run 24/7/365, so that was a nice adventure it itself. Padre Island had a lot of wildlife to photograph, although the Kestrels were nearly impossible to photograph. There were also Roseate Spoonbills along the side of the road in the ditches and a lot of other birds in the marshes. Profitable day and nice drive.

Laughing Gulls at the ferry. Poop, Poop, Pee, Do

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Great Blue Heron

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Willet on Padre Island

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American Bittern - Padre Island

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Sanderling - winter plumage - Padre Island

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Beak prints - Padre Island

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Brown Pelican - Padre Island

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Not sure what this is - someone help me out please

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Roseate Spoonbill - breeding plumage

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jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Very nice series AuntieM...and a nice road trip adventure too! Number 8 is a Merlin, they are only slightly larger then a Kestral. You were lucky, one doesn't have many opportunities to see them.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Being at Port Aransas you are northeast of Corpus Christi. To the southwest of Corpus there is a road to Padre that crosses two canals. When I was there in 1954 - 1956, there were barge swing bridges across the canals, where you could tie off a rowboat to pilings for fishing. At the Padre end there was a bail & tackle shop, a bar & eatery, and some cabanas. There was a long Bob Hall pier where we would fish from. Once hooked a Hammer Head shark whose cinvolutions looped my line about is tail - that was one job and a half. Got some great eating fish off that pier, like Pompano. Can’t do any of that fun stuff anymore I don’t suppose.

Bill_de Loc: US

Nice collection of photos AuntieM!

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BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

Looks like a worthwhile trip! Nice set!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Great tour! Thanks.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Thank you jererick for the bird ID. They certainly are quick little things, and this photo is heavily cropped because I could not get really close.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Things always change, but most times not for the better. I think there is a highrise bridge from Padre to Corpus now to facilitate the large amount of traffic. I met a guy on Padre that had been out fishing in his boat. He said that the fishing was still good there. Thanks for looking and commenting.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

Thank you sir. I appreciate to taking a look and commenting.

AuntieM Loc: Eastern NC

A very worthwhile trip indeed. Thank you for your kind comments.

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Beautiful set!

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

Well, I like the narrative as well as the photos. Good Job!

harleridr Loc: S.Texas

Yes, you still can and the pier is still there! You can also go down a little further and enter the National Seashore Park and "bird Island Basin! I live in Corpus and go there from time to time!
Harle

angler Loc: StHelens England

Nice set.

Bertk Loc: NY

AuntieM Nice set. Looks like a tempting trip. If I ever make it to Texas again, I will surely try to go there. Thanks for Sharing...