Goose Island State Park, Texas

In a previous blog, I had talked about "Big Tree," that is located on Goose Island State Park and I am going too do now is discuss other features of this Park.  From the information site of Texas Parks and Wildlife, The description of the Park is as follows: "Goose Island State Park is located at the southern tip of Lamar Peninsula amid the bays and estuaries of the Texas Gulf Coastal Bend. The mainland portion of the park is comprised of a live oak, red-bay woods which contain yaupon holly, American beautyberry, coral bean and wax myrtle. Also on the mainland is a portion of tallgrass prairie consisting of bushy bluestem and saltgrass. Wildlife observation and photography opportunities include white-tailed deer, raccoon, armadillo, fox, squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and over 300 varieties of birds. The endangered whooping crane feeds on berries and blue crabs occurring in the coastal wetlands around Goose Island State Park.
The island portion of the park is an oyster shell island consisting of a shell ridge and marshland. Plants on the shell ridge portion of the island include sea-ox-eye daisy, wolfberry, sea purslane, baccharis and seashore dropseed grass. The marsh at Goose Island includes smooth cordgrass, marsh-hay cordgrass, saltgrass, saltwort and glasswort. The bays around Goose Island are filled with seagrass beds and oyster reefs. Red drum, speckled trout and flounder are just a few of the fish that live in the bays around the island."  The island has an elevation of 20 feet, and that August, September and October are the wettest months.  We just happened to hit the area during a wet weekend in March.  Last year, this area was in a terrible drought, so the water was welcome.
Again, not a large number of different bird species.  We did find a colony of Black-Crown Night-Herons, which gave us an opportunity for some great pictures.  In order to photograph the birds we had to stand on a narrow spit of land, because on either side were deep holes filled with water.  Everyone took turns and we did not have any accidents.
Again, no sunset so, the day ended earlier than planned.

Turkey Vulture

Re-winged Blackbird - female

Tern Hovering looking for fish

Old Tree

One of the locations we stopped and photograph was Goose Island State Park.  The park consists of 321 acres and is surrounded by the St. Charles and Aransas Bays and is located north of Rockport in Aransas County.  The state of Texas acquired the acreage in 1931-1935 in the earliest park facilities work and instructed by Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930’s.
 

"Old Tree"

  Goose Island is the location of the "Big Tree" which was named the State Champion Coastal Live Oak,(Quercus virginiana) in 1969.  The tree is estimated to be over 1000 years old, the "Big Tree" circumference is 35 feet, it is 44 feet in height and its crown spreads over 90 feet.  The "Big Tree" is the largest Live Oak in Texas.
There are 2 plaques near the tree which people have written in show their love for the tree.

Plaque at the front of the Big Tree by John E. Williams:

Welcome to my home.
I am a live oak tree and I am very old. I have seen spring return more than a thousand times. I can remember hundreds of hurricanes, most I'd rather forget, but I withstood. There was a big fire once. I hate fires.
Around me are my offspring. We are an old-dune woodland community. We provide shelter and acorns for squirrels, jays, raccoons, bobwhite, deer, javelin, and most other members of our community.
For most of my life I belonged only to myself. Now I belong to you, or so I'm told. Humpf! Branch breakers and root trampers the lot of you.
Some years ago someone came and patched my cracks, trimmed my dead branches, killed my pests and healed my fungus rots. Was that you? I'm feeling much better, thank you.
I am tired now. You may leave me in peace when you are ready to go. Please leave my home as you found it. I have important things to do. The seasons are changing again and I must get ready.

The Big Tree
by Mary Hoekstra, Rockport

I have gathered sun and rain to grow green leaves,
Swaying softly in spring, rustling like applause in fall.
My limbs have shaded generations;
My roots have reached for centuries;
My children and their children's children surround me,
Here in this peaceful part of my land.
Golden sunlight diamonds have glinted on the ground around me.
Cold fingers of ice have touched my heartwood.
Dust-dry days of sandstorms have scoured my skin.
Torrents of rain, driven by gales have rushed at me,
And I have swayed, but stayed unbroken.
Silver moonlight has kept me company many a night.
Yet through all the seasons, sorrows, bitterness, and beauty,
All of the history I have withstood and witnessed,
There has been one thing I could not do.
I could not grow green dollars, or silver, or gold.
Will you help me, standing here before me?
Then we may both grow old together,
As old friends should,
One of flesh, one of wood.

6 picture stiched pano but expose is wrong

There are other, smaller Live Oak's surrounding the "Big Tree".  The "Big Tree" was how to photograph because of its size and did require the use of a wide angle lens. I did take a panorama of the tree, however, I forgot to change my camera settings to manual this and so each portion of the panorama did have a difference in exposure

Live Oaks

Black and White of Live Oaks

Threesome  Trunks

Entrance