Port Aransas Nature Preserve

I read something a friend posted on Facebook today about the opportunity of “remembering old joy” — and I love the sentiment. Because perhaps, that is what each of our trips to Port Aransas is about these days — remembering old joy. This slender spit of land on the Texas Gulf Coast gave us many days of adventure and laughter and happiness during the ten years of Island Rose, our 40-foot Endeavour sailboat. One of those adventures was discovering the Port Aransas Nature Preserve and my first look — up close and personal — of a real live alligator that was not in a zoo.

The Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center

Boots the Alligator  

I’m not sure if it was the result of Hurricane Harvey four years ago or the length of time since we have been here, but the Port Aransas Nature Preserve has changed. Improved. As we walk along the trail from the parking lot toward the new to us Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, now a large part of the Port A Nature Preserve, I ask Michael, “Do you think the alligator is still here?”

He shrugs his response.

We walk further along the boardwalk high above the marshy landscape and pause, surveying the scene. My remembered alligator or another alligator is here somewhere. Michael points and says, “Look, you can see the slide marks.”

Further down amidst a sea of birds, he lays like a log in the sun. I can’t help but wonder if this alligator is the one with the evil eyes from my past. After a bit of phone research, I discover it is a highly likely possibility. Alligators can live as long as humans and average about 70 years. If they can survive their life of biting and fighting for dominance and survival, they can live as long as 100 years. However old the alligator below me is, his name is Boots, and he has been here for as long as many Port A residents can remember.

A Zillion Birds

There are a zillion birds below us, many of them winter visitors; among the giant American White Pelicans are ducks of all sorts, cormorants, tiny birds, big birds, flying, swimming, and standing. They are an accurate illustration of the adage that birds of a feather flock together — except in a few rare instances. There are always the curious individuals invading the space of others. In all cases, it seems a peaceful co-existence — even with an alligator lurking nearby.

The weather is perfect this December day, and we linger and look, and Michael snaps myriad photos of birds while I concentrate on the water and grasses and sky, AKA — wetlands and marshes. Eventually, our curiosity gets the better of us when I notice that the boardwalk continues into the distance. We cannot see where it ends but noticing other faraway viewing areas, we are hopeful that the trail will lead us where they stand.

A Place to Rest at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve

Reaching the end of the paved walkway, we are forced to turn back; signs instruct us to stay on the trail, and for me, they are superfluous. There is no way I am going to trek through the marshy wetlands. I remember passing a bench as we walked, and on our way back to the Leonabelle Turnbull observation tower, we stop and sit, absorbing the quiet. No mosquitos buzz, no boats chug. The wind does not blow; only an occasional white butterfly silently flits and darts in and out of the grasses.

Sunset at Charlie’s Pasture at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve

Returning to our temporary abode — the FDR Suite at the Tarpon Inn — Michael heads for the computer, trying to discover just exactly what and where the large structures are that we saw earlier from the viewing platform. He finds the road leading to a pavilion that I thought was someone’s house. We wait until the sun is low in the sky before returning to the Port A Nature Preserve and Charlie’s Pasture, where the pavilion is located.

Quietly perched on a low wall at the edge of the large open-air building, we watch the sun slowly sink below the horizon before turning to leave.

Port Aransas Nature Preserve – Christmas Eve

A Picnic at Charlie’s Pasture

After a quick trip to the IGA to purchase easy picnic food and an abortive try for a picnic on the beach amidst too much wind and swirling sand, Michael says, “Let’s go back to the Nature Preserve; they have a picnic area by the Intracoastal.”

So here we sit, lone picnickers, with only one seagull to keep us company. We munch on Prasek’s Sausages and cheese, with a side we haven’t had in decades — smoked oysters. I think our smoked-oyster-side needs another side to accompany them. Crackers? A sauce? Something.

After a while, Michael can stand it no longer and throws a tiny morsel to our feathered friend, who patiently stands beside us, begging. He can have my share of the smoked oysters if he wants them; Prasek’s sausage I won’t share.

Word is out! Our lonely seagull is alone no more. These seabirds must have some type of radar or secret signal. It seems our friend has invited two more friends, who each invite two more friends. Suddenly the canopy of blue above us is full of seagull aerial acrobatics. When the last piece of cheese is tossed, we pack up, leaving a small army of gulls standing at attention—patiently waiting.

Sunset at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center – Christmas Day

The sky is not very dramatic this evening; there are only whispers of clouds, but still, we are hopeful for a spectacular sunset at the beach. Unfortunately, at the beach, the wind still howls, and the sand still swirls. We head for Charlie’s Pasture one more time.

After parking and walking up the steps to the large pavilion, we look at the sky. Noticing there are not enough clouds for a spectacular show, we decide to enjoy the quiet beauty of the evening with the marshes and all of the aquatic winter visitors who reside at the Port A Nature Center in the middle of the island. Returning to our car, we make one last trek to the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center and are rewarded with magic.

Yesterday’s abundance of birds is still here, but our friend Boots, the alligator, has gone for the evening. We take our place in a corner of the viewing platform and watch Mother Nature at work. There is movement everywhere; some aquatic creatures take a swim, others soar in the air.

As the sun sinks, groups of white pelicans, maybe ten at a time, perform their evening ritual. Paddling out into the water, they turn facing the sun, gaining momentum as they paddle, lifting off into the air toward the glowing horizon.

There are two contingents of pelicans here, the largest one on the opposite bank seems to get priority, emptying their daytime playing ground, leaving their friends below us to wait their turn. The great white seabirds are in no hurry; the takeoffs seem to be timed — a prior agreement of sorts between friends.

The Five That Are Left Behind

Finally, almost all of the black-tipped white-winged giants have departed with the exception of five laggards below us, and they are in no hurry. They are still on the tiny spit of land that they claimed as their own earlier today. They stretch and preen and seemingly check their wings to make sure they are still in flying order. It appears that leaving the peaceful cove is not one of their priorities.

We quietly urge them to hurry, the sun is below the horizon, and they may not find their way. Eventually, one by one, they step into the water. Still, they procrastinate; apparently, no one wants to be the first to leave. Finally, each one, in turn, achieves lift-off, flying toward the sun that is no longer visible. The very last pelican to leave follows his friends for only a second, makes a graceful turn, and soars in the opposite direction. Apparently, he had a reason for wanting to be last to leave. I wish I knew why.

Port Aransas Nature Center

The Port Aransas Nature Preserve sites include: Nature Preserve at Charlie’s Pasture, Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, and Wetland Park. All sites are free and open from dawn to dusk.

For more information on the Port Aransas Nature Center click on the following link:

https://www.portaransas.org/things-to-do/nature-and-parks/port-aransas-nature-preserve/

https://cityofportaransas.org/departments/parks-and-recreation/nature-preserve/