Gulf Coast Wildlife

Some of my favorite experiences while on the road is seeing wildlife.  On my Gulf Coast trip, February-March 2012, I specifically visited National Wildlife Refuges to get a real appreciation of the areas' natural inhabitants.

Flying in formation, South Padre Island, Texas

Shore birds, Boca Chica Beach, Texas

White pelicans, seagulls and other shore birds ... fisherman throws out fish parts
Bird Island Campground, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

White pelicans paddle off at sunset.
Bird Island Campground, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

Seagulls follow the Galveston-Port Bolivar ferry, Texas

Brown Pelican, McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Roseate Spoonbills, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana

Early morning spider webs at a wildlife refuge visitors center, southwest LA

 

Wild hogs at Palmetto Island State Park, Louisiana

Cardinal defending his territory from the "intruder" in my side view mirror.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, northwest Florida Gulf Coast

Garter snake, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, northwest Florida

Swallowtail Butterfly, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Black vultures line the dock at Manatee Springs State Park, Florida

Manatees at the Tampa Electric
Manatee Viewing Center, Florida

Ahinga (snake bird) at Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Cormorants at Everglades National Park, Florida

Alligator swimming among mangroves in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Great Blue Heron and Alligator, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, FL

Alligator, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Great Egret, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Wood Storks, Loop Road,
Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida



Osprey in nest, Flamingo area,
Everglades National Park, Florida

Crocodile, Flamingo area, Everglades National Park, Florida



Manatee, Flamingo area, Everglades National Park, Florida

 

Miniature Deer, National Key Deer Refuge, Big Pine Key, Florida

Great Egret, Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

Of course, I saw wildlife of which I didn't get pictures.  My most memorable sightings include a caracara pair (large raptors) off of the Boca Chica Hwy in Texas, a huge eastern diamondback rattle snake sunning itself on the road in the Everglades National Park, and an alligator (about 5') pass us as we canoed through a mangrove tunnel in Big Cypress National Preserve.