Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

It was an all-day event and we were pretty beat when we got home, but we enjoyed every minute of our time at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge is located east of our campground about 30 miles near Point Isabel and South Padre Island.  Laguna Atascosa is comprised of nearly 90,000 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and thorn forest which is home to shorebirds, songbirds, ocelots, pumas, javelinas, and alligators. With over 400 species of birds and a location along the Mississippi and Central flyways, Laguna Atascosa is a magnet for serious birders.

Green Jay

We spent about an hour just walking around the pathways outside the visitor center and could have spent more time there.  There were hundreds of birds in the feeding area just a few feet from the parking lot.  We drove out to the osprey overlook and parked the truck.  Then we took a 3 mile hike which took us past Alligator Pond, Mud Lake, and Scum Lake.  We saw two huge alligators, a blue heron, snowy egret, and our very first road runner.  We once again saw evidence of the nilgai, but not see this antelope from India.

Blooming Yucca

After our walk, we drove back to the Visitor Center for our picnic.  That was pretty exciting.  The green jays were there very close to our table, just like jays all over the world looking for a handout.  We jumped on the tram for an hour and half tour of the loop drive.  The most exciting things we saw were several osprey and a flock of Roseate spoonbills.  The spoonbills were so far away we really couldn’t tell much about them except for their vibrant color.

Roseate spoonbills from afar

Oriole

We are not birders and without being on the tram for the guide to tell us what we were seeing, we would not have known that we were seeing osprey and we would not have even noticed the spoonbills.  I really lucked out while walking around the visitor center.  I saw three things that I would not have known except for the people around me.  One was the chachalaca and one was the beautiful oriole.  I also saw one of those rare birds that birders get all excited about seeing—a tropical parula.  It was such a tiny, little thing and I only got to see it because a gentleman had his camera aimed straight up.  I stopped on the path so as not to disturb his bird.  I watched as he made several pictures before the bird flew.  He was kind enough to tell me what I had seen.

Chachalaca