February 19 2011, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge...

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Michael and I decided to head over to ANWR Saturday morning, we hadn't been there in sometime...Michael loves to go but dreads the drive, 1 hour 15 minutes. I, personally, think it's always worth the drive as we always see something interesting...

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Meeting us at the gate were wild turkeys...Full breeding plumage!

And before I could get a decent shot they ran off, ekk!
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Common Moorhen
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American Coot
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Bull Frog,

hard to believe our little tadpoles might be this big someday!
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Northern Pintails, and to far out in the bay for me to get a decent shot.

There were hundreds of them too.
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We spotted this baby Alligator (lasts years baby) near the walkway at Jones Lake.
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Then Michael told me he saw something across the lake and he didn't think it was a turtle. Definitely NOT a turtle but a Huge Alligator. When he came ashore I was stunned, he was probably at least 13 foot long, yikes!
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Saw a lot of these..."Greater Scaups"
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We were watching a bullfrog when a gentleman spoke up and said look down at that log...Cool another baby alligator! And only a few feet from us, as always we need to pay better attention!

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Headed to the observation deck above the canopy!

Hmm, I think someone needs to wear a belt!

I should have made him wear one, he spent 90% of the time pulling his pants up, oops!
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Eastern Phobe!
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View from the Observation deck.
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Michael playing with the viewer...
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Looking out over the canopy of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge!

When we left home it was drizzly and foggy but as the day evolved it cleared off and got hot and humid.
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Cormorant at Hog Lake.
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Grebe's
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Uh Oh...A male Grebe chasing off a rival...love the little feet skimming across the water!
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Greater Scaup with his woman!
Love is in the air....
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Grebe, it was swimming right next to the observation deck and Michael and I were laughing and trying to guess when it ducked under the water where it was going to surface!
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Momma there are hogs over there, yes there were! And she was headed for the big gator lying on the bank too...Hmm this could be interesting? She did spot the gator before she reached the waters edge and ran off with her babies.
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Greater Scaup getting a little closer...
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Egret at Hog lake.
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More Scaups...
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Ahhh Love....Mommy and Daddy Alligator basking in the sun!

The Hog was headed towards these two until she spotted them. These photos were taken at Hog lake.

Michael running from a group of boyscouts, lol...He wanted to go to the end of the boardwalk and I told him to go. I was sick and had had enough and was going to wait in the shade for him. He made it to the end but then turned around and ran right back...There was a troop of boyscouts down there and he didn't feel comfortable with all of them there.
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Michael whined when we first arrived but then once we started seeing the critters he enjoyed himself. He was so proud when he spotted that HUGE alligator at Jones lake.

I'd say we had a pretty good morning and saw lots and lots of critters! Even a few mosquitos to boot!

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They did have my favorite spot, Dagger Point, closed. It's a deck/overlook over the bay. I am hoping they will get it fixed soon, missed it on our visit!
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