Black-Necked Stilt along Bayside Trail
If you are ever going to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas, I would highly recommend making at least one trip to this park. Though not the prettiest of local highlights, it is most definitely one of the most productive of all parks in the area. This park being the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge located at 22817 Ocelot Road Los Fresnos, TX 78566. Not only does this park boast an abundance of wildlife, insect, flora, and fauna, it is home to a small museum that highlights the history of the region and the various wildlife that predominates throughout the park. Though the museum is small, it is fairly interesting.
When I get a chance to travel and bird in the South Texas area, I definitely take the time to stop off here. I have taken many beautiful photographs of the vast amount of wildlife within its borders. Being a birder, I have found many an opportunity to capture shots of these birds in their natural habitat, and also get to study their interactions. Though birds are generally my major reason for traveling here, I enjoy the other wildlife that call this park home.
Let me tell you a bit about the park itself. Laguna Atascosa-which means “muddy lagoon” in Spanish, is a vast area of 45,000 acres of scrub habitat that represents the largest single collection of protected habitat in the region. This park is a unique blend of temperate, subtropical, coastal, and desert habitat. The park is home to an abundance of birds, reptiles, insects, and rare mammals such as the rarely seen endangered ocelot. Though rarely seen by anyone other than the parks employees, there are many videos available of recorded images of the Ocelot on night cams. They are enerally more active at night, but always keep your eyes open while looking through the dense shrubbery.
Laguna Atascosa represents a major stop over haven for many species of birds and is the harbor for many once-common animals. The park is also the home to snakes, jaguarondi, bobcat, javelina and coyote that all prefer the dense thorny brush land areas of the refuge. The ponds and Resaca’s are chosen by alligator, least grebe, black-bellied whistling ducks, Stilts, while spoonbills, egrets, and herons perch along the shores of the Laguna Madre. This is only naming a few of the many species of bird found here.
When I get a chance to travel and bird in the South Texas area, I definitely take the time to stop off here. I have taken many beautiful photographs of the vast amount of wildlife within its borders. Being a birder, I have found many an opportunity to capture shots of these birds in their natural habitat, and also get to study their interactions. Though birds are generally my major reason for traveling here, I enjoy the other wildlife that call this park home.
Let me tell you a bit about the park itself. Laguna Atascosa-which means “muddy lagoon” in Spanish, is a vast area of 45,000 acres of scrub habitat that represents the largest single collection of protected habitat in the region. This park is a unique blend of temperate, subtropical, coastal, and desert habitat. The park is home to an abundance of birds, reptiles, insects, and rare mammals such as the rarely seen endangered ocelot. Though rarely seen by anyone other than the parks employees, there are many videos available of recorded images of the Ocelot on night cams. They are enerally more active at night, but always keep your eyes open while looking through the dense shrubbery.
Laguna Atascosa represents a major stop over haven for many species of birds and is the harbor for many once-common animals. The park is also the home to snakes, jaguarondi, bobcat, javelina and coyote that all prefer the dense thorny brush land areas of the refuge. The ponds and Resaca’s are chosen by alligator, least grebe, black-bellied whistling ducks, Stilts, while spoonbills, egrets, and herons perch along the shores of the Laguna Madre. This is only naming a few of the many species of bird found here.
Little Blue Heron at Alligator Pond
Without a doubt, the ocelot is the top draw for Laguna Atascosa. The small wildcat has been on the endangered species list since 1972 and as late as 1995, there were only an estimated 120 cats in the wild. Laguna holds and estimated 35 of those cats. For an interesting site to learn more about the endangered Ocelot click here.
Whitetail deer hunting is also allowed during late fall and winter. Hunters must apply and be selected for a permit in order to hunt. Many times I have visited the park at the peak of hunting season. The park has done a superb job of making the environment safe for both visitor and hunter, which is a major plus when visitors bring their families. Two separate archery hunts are conducted on the refuge, the first being in December on a first come first serve basis. The second being in January, and is randomly chosen by a computer drawing.
The main path to Laguna Atascosa is both a paved and unpaved dirt road on County road 106. Though not the smoothest route, it is also an interesting drive to the refuge, one interest being the endangered Aplomado Falcon that is often perched on the power lines outside the parks boundaries. I think the sites along the way outweigh the rough and dusty ride. There are a few trails near the entrance of the park, but the main ways of getting around are two main driving trails. Those trails being the Lakeside Drive which is 1.5 miles long, and passes along the actual Laguna Atascosa, a large and shallow lake near the visitor’s center, and the 15 mile one-way Bayside trail which goes through the majority of the park. I find this longer one way trail most beneficial for you get to pass all the different areas of the park. There are many stop offs along the way to get out and enjoy the landscape.
One of the more popular trails is the trek to Alligator Pond. Alligator watching has become very popular at the refuge and during wet years the Alligator pond usually has a gator or two. I once had the pleasure of coming up on an alligator that was sunning itself in a ditch along the longer Bayside Trail. My stopping to watch ended in a long set of parked cars waiting to get a chance to see him in all his glory. I snapped my pictures and moved along...not wanted to be a "gator hog". There is an observation deck which not only offers a look out for the Alligators but also offers a view of birds and mammals. South Texas is a great location for birders from all areas of the United States. Many people will travel thousands of miles to get a glimpse of birds only seen in the southern Texas area. Laguna is home to many of these birds. The Crested Caracara, Green Jay, Brown Jay, and Alpomado Falcon are only a select few of the birds sought after at this park. Many photos in my portfolio can be accredited for being found in this park. Many a picture is captured along these trails of the vast array of birds. Laguna is a nature photographer’s haven.
http://www.stateparks.com/laguna_atascosa_national_wildlife_refuge_in_texas.html
Whitetail deer hunting is also allowed during late fall and winter. Hunters must apply and be selected for a permit in order to hunt. Many times I have visited the park at the peak of hunting season. The park has done a superb job of making the environment safe for both visitor and hunter, which is a major plus when visitors bring their families. Two separate archery hunts are conducted on the refuge, the first being in December on a first come first serve basis. The second being in January, and is randomly chosen by a computer drawing.
The main path to Laguna Atascosa is both a paved and unpaved dirt road on County road 106. Though not the smoothest route, it is also an interesting drive to the refuge, one interest being the endangered Aplomado Falcon that is often perched on the power lines outside the parks boundaries. I think the sites along the way outweigh the rough and dusty ride. There are a few trails near the entrance of the park, but the main ways of getting around are two main driving trails. Those trails being the Lakeside Drive which is 1.5 miles long, and passes along the actual Laguna Atascosa, a large and shallow lake near the visitor’s center, and the 15 mile one-way Bayside trail which goes through the majority of the park. I find this longer one way trail most beneficial for you get to pass all the different areas of the park. There are many stop offs along the way to get out and enjoy the landscape.
One of the more popular trails is the trek to Alligator Pond. Alligator watching has become very popular at the refuge and during wet years the Alligator pond usually has a gator or two. I once had the pleasure of coming up on an alligator that was sunning itself in a ditch along the longer Bayside Trail. My stopping to watch ended in a long set of parked cars waiting to get a chance to see him in all his glory. I snapped my pictures and moved along...not wanted to be a "gator hog". There is an observation deck which not only offers a look out for the Alligators but also offers a view of birds and mammals. South Texas is a great location for birders from all areas of the United States. Many people will travel thousands of miles to get a glimpse of birds only seen in the southern Texas area. Laguna is home to many of these birds. The Crested Caracara, Green Jay, Brown Jay, and Alpomado Falcon are only a select few of the birds sought after at this park. Many photos in my portfolio can be accredited for being found in this park. Many a picture is captured along these trails of the vast array of birds. Laguna is a nature photographer’s haven.
http://www.stateparks.com/laguna_atascosa_national_wildlife_refuge_in_texas.html
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