Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Now That’s a Really “Big Tree”
March 20 to March 22
The boat tour we were on a couple of weeks ago took us into the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We decided it was time to check out the land based portion of the refuge which consisted of a 16 mile Auto Tour with several hiking trails and view points along the way. From one of the hiking trails we saw about 25 alligators of varying sizes — Zaph couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t let him get near the pond. Another highlight was the family of wild boar (mom, dad and four babies) we watched crossing an inlet. We also saw deer, a Great Blue Heron having lunch, Glossy Ibis, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Whooping Cranes, Roseate Spoonsbills , some dung beetles working hard, and many more.
On the drive back from the refuge we decided to check out Goose Island State Park and “The Big Tree” and it really was a big tree..
To quote the big tree website:
“The Big Tree of Lamar is one of the most famous in the world. The giant live oak is a charter member of the Live Oak Society of America, and has been the subject of one of Ripley's "Believe It or Not" cartoons. It is measured to be more than 35 feet in circumference, 44 feet in height and has a crown spread of 89 feet. The Texas Forest Service estimates the tree to be over 1,000 years old. The Big Tree is also known as the Lamar Oak, Bishop's Oak and the Goose Island Oak. It is recognized as the State Champion Coastal live oak. It is said to have been a council tree for the Carancahua Indians and for the white men who came after them.”
Alligators
Now you see the fish.
Now you don't ---- Ok the bulge in my throat is the fish.
A Great Blue Herron chasing a Great Egret.
A Dung Beatle moving some "dung" on the path. This little guy could get under the dung and carry it.
Papa, Mama and four baby boars
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
A field of Texas Bluebonnets at Goose Island State Park
The Big Tree
A Sora at the Birding Center in Port Aransas
A Tricolored Heron watching us --- we were about 10 feet apart.
The boat tour we were on a couple of weeks ago took us into the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We decided it was time to check out the land based portion of the refuge which consisted of a 16 mile Auto Tour with several hiking trails and view points along the way. From one of the hiking trails we saw about 25 alligators of varying sizes — Zaph couldn’t figure out why I wouldn’t let him get near the pond. Another highlight was the family of wild boar (mom, dad and four babies) we watched crossing an inlet. We also saw deer, a Great Blue Heron having lunch, Glossy Ibis, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Whooping Cranes, Roseate Spoonsbills , some dung beetles working hard, and many more.
On the drive back from the refuge we decided to check out Goose Island State Park and “The Big Tree” and it really was a big tree..
To quote the big tree website:
“The Big Tree of Lamar is one of the most famous in the world. The giant live oak is a charter member of the Live Oak Society of America, and has been the subject of one of Ripley's "Believe It or Not" cartoons. It is measured to be more than 35 feet in circumference, 44 feet in height and has a crown spread of 89 feet. The Texas Forest Service estimates the tree to be over 1,000 years old. The Big Tree is also known as the Lamar Oak, Bishop's Oak and the Goose Island Oak. It is recognized as the State Champion Coastal live oak. It is said to have been a council tree for the Carancahua Indians and for the white men who came after them.”
Alligators
Now you see the fish.
Now you don't ---- Ok the bulge in my throat is the fish.
A Great Blue Herron chasing a Great Egret.
A Dung Beatle moving some "dung" on the path. This little guy could get under the dung and carry it.
Papa, Mama and four baby boars
A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
A field of Texas Bluebonnets at Goose Island State Park
The Big Tree
A Sora at the Birding Center in Port Aransas
A Tricolored Heron watching us --- we were about 10 feet apart.
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