Texas

There’s More to it Than Birds

by Ingrid

The Rockport / Fulton, Texas area has more to offer than birding.  Although you have to admit, the birds are pretty spectacular and if you weren’t a birder when you first arrive, you just might turn into one by the time you leave.birding in Texas

The little town of Fulton sits just to the north of Rockport.  This is where I find myself spending most of my time – cruising up and down Fulton Beach Road.  I call it ‘my scenic route’ to the store because I’ll take the extra time to travel off the beaten path on my way to the H-E-B Grocery Store and Super Wal-Mart which are located off the main drag – Highway 35.shrimp fishingfresh seafoodThe title Fulton Beach Road is a bit of a misnomer because there is no sandy beach.  The town of Fulton is more of a harbor town.  The working fishermen along with their boats are quite often found docked in the harbor by late afternoon.  This is a great place to pick up fresh shrimp and fish.  Our favorite is the Grouper.Gulf of Mexico

I assure you, my little RV freezer will be well stocked with grouper and shrimp by the time we leave this beautiful part of Texas.Texas shore

Since I’m fighting a bit of a head cold, the brain isn’t working in the writing department so I’ll leave you with more images of the area and you’ll see why I know Al and I will return to this part of Texas again 🙂fresh seafoodGulf of Mexicosunrise across the GulfAllegroGulf shoresoak treeGulf of MexicoRVing in Texasbirding in TexasGulf of Mexico sunset
The Traveling Birder: 20 Five-Star Birding Vacations (Traveling Sportsman Series)
KEEN Women’s Newport H2 Sandal

71 thoughts on “There’s More to it Than Birds”

    1. Thank you. We’re enjoying our stay here but it depends on one’s interests. It’s very low key and the birds are spectacular 🙂

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  5. Loved all of your beautiful pics! That is a very nice area and one that we have never been to but need to add to our “to visit” list, for sure, especially since I love bird-watching so much. 😉 Hope you feel better soon!

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    1. This is a great place to go for birding but not beaching. Although the beach on Mustang Island / Padre Island is pretty darn awesome. I think you and you’re family would really enjoy the area. And thank you, I’m already feeling tons better 🙂

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    1. Thanks…..not sure it’s jealous worthy. Me capturing some awesome shots of the whooping cranes….now that’s jealous worthy 🙂

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  7. Hope you’re feeling better soon, we are headed to Goose Island on Tuesday so appreciate the tour of the area. We’ve fallen in love with the Port A area which is why we’ve purchased a lot here, we will be back next year but some years we do plan to go other places and rent the site out.

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    1. Sounds like a nice plan. My folks spent a lot of time in Port A and we visited a couple of times. It’s a great place. I managed to get some awesome whooping crane shots today off 8th Street and Lamar Beach Road…..a quick bike ride from Goose Island SP. Let me know if you’d like me to show you. We’re at Hidden Oaks RV Park until the 1st. 🙂

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  8. We have never spent a month there ,but Goose Island is where we want to be…Actually, Fulton is on my list of possible places to retire to…You would also love Mustang Island SP..You and Al like to dry camp, and you can on the beach. We are in the W & E but regardless of what some people say, this is just fine for us…reminds me of the sites at Goose Island on Compano Bay…I suggest you and Al try this place sometime….sunsets to die for, and beachcombing extraordinaire!!

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    1. I love this little area and I could see wanting to buy something here. I keep telling Al I want a pale yellow house with white trim on stilts…..eye roll and sigh! My folks spent every winter for 7 years at the Pioneer RV Resort just up the street from Mustang Island SP and we visited a couple of times. I’ve already taken the ferry twice and walked the beach on the island. Once is not enough, that’s for sure. We’re already discussing the possibilities for next winter. Managed to get some awesome whooper shots today 🙂

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  9. Oh my Ingrid! Your pictures are absolutely stunning!! I’m so glad to see this post. We spent a bit of time in the Galveston/Freeport area and I was so disappointed when we arrived. I had expected to see nice beaches but in that area (at least at the time we were there June 2012) they were awful. Your post of the Rockport/Fulton area has me wanting to give the Texas coast another try! Thanks 🙂

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    1. Well there aren’t any beaches near me except for the ‘fee’ beach in Rockport but then there is Padre Island – Mustang Island. You can boondock on the beach in Port Aransas, just don’t stay too long or salt corrosion will set in. The RV Parks around Rockport / Fulton are pretty ‘rustic’ so I’d say it depends on one’s expectations and interests. Sometimes a second look can be worth while 🙂

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  11. Ok, now you are just showing off (lol)! Your photos are fabulous Ingrid! I love all of them! Can I just fly you out here to give me a few lessons on my Panasonic? 🙂

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    1. You are too kind…..Again, leave it on auto and point and shoot. I’ve been having fun using the ‘burst’ mode this morning on the whoopers and sandhills but I’m still just a little too far away. Thus, I NEED a new camera LOL. Do you have a polarizing filter?

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  12. The docks and fishing boats have just dragged me in with their beauty…hoping we get over to NOLA. Don’t miss Ft. Pickens next year…just get on Loop A. Find that sweet park in TX…I want to know too. You deserve that new camera…wish my Canon could have a better lens…but I got the cheap Charlie that you can’t switch out.

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    1. My cameras aren’t very expensive either….just the normal point and shoot. Ah, the food in NOLA is enough to drag me back. Hope you make it there, that is if you ever decide to leave LA 🙂

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  13. I just love the photo of the trees. When we were there two years ago. Paul and I both just wondered around looking at the trees. The wind has given them such character.

    If you are into seeing some of the local history, we visited the Fulton Mansion State Historic site. It was an excellent tour for very little money.

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    1. I know those trees are so interesting. Did you see the “Big Tree” said to be over 1,000 years old? The Fulton Mansion is temporarily closed as it goes under a massive renovation. Hopefully it’ll be complete next winter when we return 🙂

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  15. Wonderful white pelican photo, and such lovely, tranquil sunset and water images. We also really like Rockport…the biking, birding, water, and sunsets are wonderful, as you know! Hope you feel better soon.

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    1. It’s a real nice low key area. I’m enjoying the birding more than I ever imagined. Perhaps because there are so many beautiful and unique birds to photograph. Rest and fluids and I’m already feeling better….thank you.

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  16. Sorry your feeling under the weather, but this scenery has to lift your spirits alittle. The pics are great, now you know why I keep saying I want to be by the water. Some day! I’ll enjoy your pics in the mean time. enjoy it for all of us. 😉

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    1. I totally see why you hope to move back to FL and the water. Next winter I would like to explore further east along the Gulf coast….. New Orleans, Pensacola, to Cedar Key. We’ll see how the budget holds up 🙂

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    1. I’m not sure if I prefer the sunrise or the sunset – both pretty spectacular. And the fresh seafood is awesome. I’ll really miss that when I return to Colorado 🙂

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    1. Oh, what you could do with your equipment and skill. I’m still struggling to capture sharp images of some of these birds. Perhaps I NEED a new camera!!!

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      1. I don’t know what kind of camera that you have, but if it’s a DSLR, more than likely, a better lens would go a long way towards improving your photos, which I think are quite good as it stands now.

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          1. A good choice. The secret to photography is to buy the best lenses that you can afford. Almost any body on the market can take sensational photos, but a cheap lens results in poor photos.

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  23. Such a BEAUTIFUL place – love your captures – going to have to put this on my travel bucket list:) Looking for a place for a family reunion in 2015 or 2016 and looking at TX since it is pretty central to all of the family. Happy Hump Day!

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    1. Texas has so much to offer. I’m located in an area more known for birding, but Port Aransas and Padre Island are known for the miles and miles of beautiful beach. So just depends on ones interest. This area is also relatively affordable which is a huge plus 🙂

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    1. The wind swept oak trees are pretty interesting and just down the road from us is the “big tree” said to be over 1,000 years old. Probably should do a post on that but the birds seem to be taking my focus!

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      1. Actually I plan to check out some other RV Parks around here. Thus far I haven’t seen one I would recommend, but working on it. A rendezvous sounds fantastic with plenty of ‘birding’. So far the plan is to return next January so hubby and I can shoot some birds 😉

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  31. Thanks for today’s post. Simplicity is what we need in this busy world and your beautiful, silent pictures gave us that. I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, but you managed to make us feel good.
    Sue

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