Do It In Texas

SeeYouInTexas.com

Save Money
Preserve the Environment

Texas Coast - Rockport/Aransas

Texas has miles of coastal wetlands and some of the most unspoiled beaches in the United States. From the mouth of the Sabine River westwards to the mouth of the Rio Grande. You will find diversity and excitement here. Good fishing and birding can be found in abundance. If you like to watch birds, plan to include the area from Rockport and Goose Island State Park southwards to the lower Rio Grande Valley and up that river past McAllen. You can get most of the coastal birds and many species commonly seen only in Mexico. I will be adding some links to some great birding areas.

Goose Hunting Capital of the World: Eagle Lake Texas

November is the time of year that hunters arrive in and around Eagle Lake located in the Texas Coastal Plain in Colorado County. The Texas  coastal plains are the winter residence of an estimated  one million five hundred thousand Snow Geese,  half a million White fronted Geese, and around a third of a million Canadian Geese. Blue Geese and Ross's Geese are also seen in appreciable numbers. Other waterfowl wintering here include Pintails, Mallards, Gadwells, Widgeons, Shovelers, and Mottled Ducks. Thousands of ducks and geese are taken by hunters by arrangement with private clubs located in this area. If you are a hunter and want a good hunt contact Larry Gore's Eagle Lake & Katy Prairie Outfitters (established 1977) or Tim Kelley's Waterfowl Outfitters Unlimited & Eagle Lake Lodge. This is rice country and millions of bushels are harvested. This leaves rice stubble that attracts the waterfowl. Also the wetlands are managed for waterfowl habitat. There are hundreds of drainage ditches and lakes and ponds. When in Eagle Lake check out the lake itself. Watch out for the alligators. If staying in the area overnight, I recommend seeking lodging in nearby Columbus. Take time to enjoy a Bar-B-Q sandwich from Austin's Bar-B-Q located at 507 East Main in Eagle Lake. When I lived in Columbus I ate at Austin's at least twice weekly. They sell supreme quality Bar-B-Q from what looks like an old gas station.

Located nearby is the Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge. This species (above right) is extremely endangered and  lives in the wild nowhere else. The refuge covers 3,000 acres near the San Bernard River. It is a joint venture between Exxon-Mobile and the Nature Conservancy. Tours may be arranged via the Eagle Lake Chamber of Commerce (409-234-2780). Don't count on seeing this bird. Your best bet is the breeding program conducted by the San Antonio Zoo. Whether you visit the refuge or not, you will see huge flocks of ducks and geese in the skys during the day. You will probably also hear and see the Sandhill Cranes, see the Great Blue Heron, as well as various other herons and egrets. Just get out and drive around on the Farm to Market or county roads and look along the bar ditches

Rockport/Fulton

 This birding mecca is south of Refugio and Victoria and northeast of Corpus Christi. It includes Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and Goose Island State Park and is unquestionably one of the best birding areas in North America at any time of the year. I have been here at all times of the year and I really think that late October and early November is my favorite time of year to visit. If you plan to arrive during the early part of October call ahead to see in the Whooping Cranes have returned.


I like to camp out at Goose Island. In the summertime this park can become crowded and the mosquitoes can be a problem. Camping at Goose Island anytime provides access to great birding and fishing. Plan to take along your crabbing equipment as well. If you camp on the beach sites, it will be windy. There are more protected campsites away from the water. Make sure to take plenty of your favorite beverages and suntan oil during any season. Make sure you have your fishing license with a saltwater tag. You can catch a wide variety of species in the coastal flats in and around this area just by wading. Please wear your waders or at least some good tennis shoes. Going in barefoot can result in some painful cuts by oyster shells. You will need to take line and reels capable of handling the heavier fish and be sure to clean your equipment after your trip to remove salt residue. Most folks do well with live shrimp that can be obtained from concessions near the park entrance. Do not miss going to see The Big Tree thought to be the oldest in North America. This is a great place to sit and contemplate or look for warblers or both.

If camping is not for you check out this link to learn more about motels, other lodging, art galleries and other items of interest. If you visit this area at all, plan to make a trip to nearby Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This is the winter home of the Whooping Crane. If you are lucky and have good binoculars you might see one from the observation tower. If you really want to add this to your life list you may need to take a boat tour to view them from the seaward side. The small image to the right is just about the way I saw them, from a distance. In any event, just walking and driving around you are assured of seeing a wide variety of coastal and sea birds. You may see just about anything but will see geese and ducks of all description, gulls, herons, cranes and egrets, various harriers, and you really can never tell what you might see if you look closely and are patient. You will also encounter deer, alligator, raccoons, snakes, and a whole host of other critters. An automobile loop takes you around the refuge with several stops along the way at alligator ponds, an observation tower and through several varieties of habitat. Take mosquito repellent and watch where you step if you get far off the trail. Alligators and snakes are better seen than touched!.

The towns of Rockport and Fulton have some great places to eat and host a wide variety of other attractions. There are a lot of local artists and some good places to shop. Have fun. Explore. Send me some digital images.