Duck, Duck Goose...as in Goose Island

Yep, for real...Goose Island State Park. The park is for RV'ing, Birding, Camping, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, and beautiful all around. There are homes that will dazzle the eyeballs, there are scenic views that will take your breath away, there are historical cemeteries/churches, and remarkable LIVE OAK trees so majestic you'll be speechless coming upon their size, stature, and stories told about surviving devastating hurricane force winds!! Oh, and one more thing...this area is also the winter home [and areas much farther north along the coast] for the nation's tallest bird in America!! The Whooping Crane, which I'll share photos Saturday at I'd Rather B Birdin', migrates from their summer habitat to grace our lives with their residence here on the coast. From mid Autumn they arrive and remain here until March when they once again make their trek north to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska. Bud and I made sure we went to the island before they leave us until next year. We thought we'd best go since the weather was perfect. Warm, sunny, and NO RAIN...

We drive from Corpus Christi through Rockport, Texas. About an hour's time if lucky to travel without road work delays. After leaving the small picturesque fishing village of Rockport, we cross the vast bridge over Copano Bay. For several years now, the old bridge is being replaced with a new, state of the art, bridge as you can see here. The photo was taken from the fishing pier in the state park, looking toward the unfinished bridge; under construction. And look closely, the dark boat in the center- I zoomed in on it as seen in the photos below...

All images have mouse-over captioning!!

Once you leave the highway and turn off to enter the park road, you could easily be enthralled by the gravity of the wooded forest you drive UNDER...by that I mean the oak trees that are canopied across the blacktopped route with the overhanging branches; dappling the lane in shade and sunlight. White Tailed Deer can be seen crossing the road in front of your car. The rich, vivid red of the Northern Cardinals can be seen as they fly from one tree to the other. I lack in descriptive words of the beauty and silence within this area. The historical value of this island is a town that once was. Reputed as a ghost town, but so many homes here, I can't fathom a 'ghost town'...it's Lamar, Texas. Here, on the island you can find an historical cemetery and a small antiquated chapel. Often, along the roadway, signs direct you to "The Big Tree" [reportedly one of the most famous trees in the world].  I posted photos of the tree and its historical markers HERE.   Arriving at the tree and the educational signage, take a short walk to the shore. On the right, there is a rather small ranchland with a pond filled with cattail.  Cattle graze the pasture. This is the area that the winter whooping cranes reside!! On one side, the grasses for livestock. On the other side the glistening bay's inlet. Perhaps you could be lucky enough to hear the common loons call from near the islands in the far distance, or the whooping cranes as they announce their upcoming arrival.   Their size can't be ignored. Adults reaching 5 feet - 1.524 meters in height! And the cinnamon tones of the juvenile cranes cannot be mistaken.


After photographing the cranes and other shore birds seen in the area, Bud and I drove to the park's entrance and got out of the car and walked the long, winding fishing pier to the end.  We watched the angler's trying their luck [or expertise] from the wooded walkway. We marveled at the diamondesque sparkle on the water, watched the birds in flight and along the oysterbeds. From far off, the shrimp boats and private small craft filled with more fishermen having a leisurely morning. Eventually, we left this area and drove to Lantana Loop Trail and walked among the oak trees in the wooded forest. I'll keep the photos small in size to help the page load faster, but they can be enlarged by clicking on them for the lightbox slideshow...


Views from the Whooping Crane area and Park's Fishing pier---



In the park: Lantana Loop hiking trail---



...and to round off my post a bit of fencery and more 'wild' life found on Mustang Island [15 minutes from home]

Yellow Rumped Warbler [Myrtle Warbler]

Orange Honeysuckle on Adobe Wall