Tweets,

Saturday, March 6th was a long but productive day. I drove from Edinburg back
to San Antonio...with a side trip to Aransas NWR. I left Edinburg about 5:15,
stopped for breakfast in Riviera and got to Aransas about 8:15. The weather
way a bit foggy so I couldn't see much on the way in. The visitor center
opened at 8:30. I took a walk across the road to a marsh that was fenced. On
the fence was a sign about beware of the alligators. Hmm! This is Texas,
isn't it? Not Florida or Louisiana.

Before I left Edinburg I put some bug dope on my exposed skin. that should be
enough, right? Wrong!! I didn't think the mosquitos would get through a
cotton shirt so easily. When the visitor center opened I bought some bug
spray & just sprayed my shirt as best I could. I couldn't reach all my back,
so I still had a problem there.

Anyhow, I stayed at Aransas till about 4:00 and saw a total of 67 species and
4 lifers. The lifers were SORA, ANHINGA, WHOOPING CRANE, and SWAMP SPARROW.

The folks at the visitor center were very helpful is pointing out areas that
held specific birds. Just opposite the visitor center was a trail named the
Rail Trail. This trail connected to the Heron Trail. Both these trail were
aptly named. I drove a quarter mile or so & headed for the Heron Trail. I
left my scope in the car, duh. As I cross the first bridge over the freshwater
marsh I looked for the KING RAIL that hangs out in that area. All I saw on
the right side was a COOT and a huge log...except the log moved! Just a
little, but it moved. Upon closer inspection I was looking at a 12 - 14 foot
alligator in the water about 10 feet below me. A quick survey showed no bars
or cages. Hmmm. better not get to close to the marsh (I'm no dummy). On my
left I saw another COOT and a smallish bird the flew into the reeds. Was this
my first RAIL? I couldn't tell. Oh well, on to the Heron Trail. It was
great! Saltwater marsh on my right and freshwater marsh on my left. In the
saltwater marsh were GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRETS, SNOWY EGRETS, LITTLE BLUE
HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, AN AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and several species of ducks.
On the freshwater marsh I saw more alligators sunning themselves on the other
side of the marsh...I couldn't see if there were any on my side of the marsh
due to reeds and grasses...and I decide not to check. The Heron Trail joins
the Rail Trail about midway so I took the cutoff. I'd never seen a rail
before, heard 'em but never got my beady eyes on them, and this was supposed
to be a sure thing. Right.. I really wanted to see a KING RAIL, don't know
why, but I did. Did I? Nope, but I did see a SORA. In fact, by the time the
day was over I saw 8 SORA. Why does it seem that you look for something for
years and when you do see it they are everywhere? Also of note on this trail
was an EASTERN PHOEBE and several PURPLE GALLINULE. Next stop was the tower
where I got a view of a family of 3 WHOOPING CRANES...way off. Glad I had my
scope here. Aransas was also the only place I saw gulls or terns: LAUGHING
GULLS, and CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS.

I spent most of my time looking down into marshes and along the shore so I
probably missed some passerines, but that is OK. I did see WHITE-THROATED,
LINCOLN'S, and SWAMP SPARROWS, and several of the dove family: MOURNING, INCA,
and COMMON GROUND DOVE, as well as the ever present ROCK DOVE.

I would have liked to have spent more time here but that wasn't to be. I
guess I'll just have to go back again!! After I finished the tour I walked
the Rail Trail again...no KING RAILS, but I did see more SORA, including one
that crossed the trail right in front of me. When I stopped back at the
visitor center they told me about a checklist the do every Thursday morning.
That week they found 77 species. I did 67, so I felt pretty good. Finally
hit the road for San Antonio about 4:30 and got there at 7:30. time for a
nights rest and catch the plane home the next day.

In case you are wondering about distances in Texas, I put 1180 miles on my
rental car in 8 days! Most of the roads are 4 lane divided highways with a
speed limit of 70, so you can cover ground quickly. Driving in the cities is,
well, like driving in a city.

My thanks to friends who let me stay with them so this was a cheap trip. No
lodging fees, just a couple of dinners out.

So, 9 days, 1180 miles, 125 species, and 38 life birds. I can't wait to go
back when the birding is good!!


Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
scrbjay at aol.com

We were few and they were plenty. Now we are plenty and they are few.
Confucius