Today, January 30th, we ventured southwards towards Port Isabel and South Padre Island. We were very surprised to see the development on South Padre. It is like any other touristy island with lots of hotels, shops, rental condos, restaurants and this time of year - Winter Texans.
The Gulf of Mexico draws wind surfers and water enthusiasts to its shores. We saw para sailers and wind surfers making the most of the northwesterly winds today. They shunned this turbulent shore on the Gulf of Mexico for the calmer waters of the Laguna Madre Channel.
We took a drive on the island highway up through the dunes and drifting sands. They don't snow plow here but sand plow!
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| blowing sand - you can imagine what it does to the finish on your car! |
We stopped off at the Birding Center and spent a couple of hours walking the boardwalk and looking at the birds.
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| Tri Colored Heron |
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| Great Egret |
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| American Widgeon |
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| male and female American Widgeons |
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| Snowy Egret |
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| Common Gallinule - his beak looks like Candy Corn |
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| White Ibis resting - notice the pink legs |
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| Northern Pintail - male and female |
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| Redhead ducks - male and female resting |
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| Reddish Egret |
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| Moorhens |
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White Ibis with pink curved bill
Birds weren't the only thing present amongst the reeds and wetlands. We spied several of these turtles in and out of the water.
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| this Alligator was all but buried in the mud |
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| we saw three Blue Crabs with orange pincers |
After being out in the wind and weather for a couple of hours we were glad to go inside and take in the museum. We also ventured up to the observation deck that overlooks Laguna Madre Channel.
Leaving the island of South Padre we crossed the causeway and entered Port Isabel. We paid our admission and walked to the top of the lighthouse. It cost $2 each to climb metal stairs and a vertical ladder, 60 feet up to take in the view from the lighthouse.
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| yes, that is me - I can't seem to dissuade Clark from snapping my photo! |
The lighthouse was built in 1853. The brick tower was topped by a stationary white light that could be seen from a distance of 15 miles at sea.
In 1950 as a historical site, the lighthouse was donated to the State of Texas. Port Isabel lighthouse is the only one of 16 lighthouses along the Texas coast open to the public.
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causeway between the mainland and South Padre Island
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On the way back to San Benito we came across a typical touristy business in the town of Los Fresnos. I am sure many a young family has stopped at this attraction.
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| Bobz World! |
