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Port Aransas, TX October 17th, 2003 by Mike Cong.
Oct 17, 2003. Austin, TX to Port Aransas, Tx. The weather was around low 90's.
Sunny. The purpose of this field trip was to learn about salt water fish and
herps. We expected to see all of the salt water fish that was covered in the
lab. We expected to see Lampropeltis triangulum and Ophisaurus attenuatus also.
We started our trip at 8:25 am from BFL. South on I35.
South on 123. At 15 miles north of Karnes City, we saw a Red Tailed Hawk, sitting
on a telephone line post. We also saw an American Crow, a Caracara and a Turkey
Vulture.
South on 181. At the 11.3 mile marker, we picked up a road killed Micrurus fulvius.
It was about 2 feet long. An absolutely beautiful snake. It was about one mile
from the cross street of FR 3089.
We also saw a road killed Mephitis macroura. The hair on the back of the neck
formed a hood like structure. SR-202 Loop going East. Turn left onto SR-361.
We arrived at Fin & Feather Marina (1803 Highway 361 in Aransas Pass). We did
some Seining there. We caught fishes from the Engraulidae, Gobiidae, Poeciliidae,
Sparidae, Sciaenidae, Cyprinodontidae, Syngnathidae and Synodontidae families. We
also caught a Sea Trout and a Mojarra, (with the large extendable lips for sucking)
from the family Gerreidae. We also saw Hermit Crabs everywhere. We saw them in all
sizes. Engraulidaes has the big mouth, with filters on the gills so they can filter
feed. Gobiidaes are the bottom dwelling fish. Poeciliidaes are the live bearing
fish with the flat head and up-turned mouth. Sparidae are the fish with 1 dorsal
fin and an anal fin with 3 spines on them. Sciaenidae are the coakers with a blunt
head and double nostrils on each side. Cyprinodontidae are the pupfish, that has
a football like body. Syngnathidae are the pipefish and seahorses. Synodontidae
are the lizard fish. Which has large scales and a large jaw.
We then crossed some big bridge and went seining on the other side. Where Janian
and Jessica found us. We caught fishes from the Mugilidae, Tetraodontidae,
Paralichthyidae, Clupeidae, Sciaenidae, Engrauilidae, Cynoglossidae families.
We then took a ferry to Mustang Island and went to the UT Marine Science Institute.
We saw some Atlantic bottlenose dolphins swimming in the bay while on the ferry.
After UT Marine Science Institute, we drove south on 361 and went to Mustang Island
State Park, where we ate. We saw a number of Holbrookie propinqua. We also did some
seining there. We seined up fishes from the Paralichthyidae, Mugilidae and Clupeidae
families. We also caught several Sergeant Major fish from the family Pomacentridae.
I saw several Belonidae, but we were unable to catch them. On the Jettes, I spotted
a Reddish Egret and a Brown Pelican.
We then went night driving. We went 361 South, turned left on Park Rd 22 at the
4.5 mile marker. At the 11.7 mile marker we stopped a road killed Lampropeltis
triangulum (#1). At the 12.4 mile marker, we spotted a Ophisaurus attenuatus (#2).
This one was alive and well. A very nice looking specimen and it took a group
effort to get it in the bag. At the 14.4 mile marker we caught another Ophisaurus
attenutaus. (#3) At the 15.0 mile marker, we found a road killed Ophisurus
attenutaus (#4) At the 21.0 mile marker we saw a Canis latrans. It was on the side
off the road and it took off as soon as we got closer. At the 27.1 mile maker, we
saw another dead Ophisaurus attenutaus. We did not take this down as a marked
specimen. At the 29.7 miles marker, we saw another dead Ophisaurus attenutaus. At
the 36.2 mile marker, we stopped at the Circle K gas station and we found a Hyla
cinerea on the walls. That ended our first night of night driving. We went back to
UT Marine Science Institute and checked into our rooms. After checking in, we were
off to night seining in the beaches close to the Institute. We caught fish from
Belonidae, Paralichthyidae, Sparidae and Ariidae families. As also found a cut off
head from a Red Drum fish on the beach. They are from the family Sciaenidae. It
was a huge head. And must have belonged to a fish that was at least 3 to 4 feet
long. They are also known as the "Red Fish."
10-18-03: We went on the Katy boat today, to catch fish in Red Fish Bay. We pulled
a net behind the boat, and the net was ragged along the bottom of the bay. We
caught a lot of fish. We caught red drums from the family Sciaenidae, Lizard fish
from the family Synodontidae, Pin fish from the family Sparidae, Lookdowns from
the family Carangidae, left-eyed flounders from the family Paralichthyidae, catfish
from the family Ariidae, ribbonfish from the family Trichiuridae, Sea bass from
the family Serranidae, shad from the family Clupeidae, Soles from the family
Soleidae, Tongue fish from the family Cynoglossidae, a Sea horse from the family
Syngnathidae, Sea robin from the family Triglidae, tons of Anchovies from the
family Engraulidae, puffer fish from the family Tetraodontidae. We also caught
Sting rays, Blue crabs, Star crabs, Starfish, Shrimp, Squid and a Sponge. We also
caught two fish families that we didn't have to know. They were the Atlantic
Spadefish from the family Ephippidae and the Striped Burrfish from the family
Diodontidae. The Striped Burrfish was the coolest fish that we caught. Along the
way to Red Fish Bay and on the way back, we saw a lot of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins.
After the Katy, we went to the Sea Turtle Rescue place that was just across the
street from our dorms. We saw some African goose, Red Tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl.
We also saw two Gopherus berlandieri in converted plastic swimming pools, which I
tripped over. In the building, most of the sea turtles are kept there. We saw
Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricate. Most of them are pretty
badly deformed because of boat related injuries. Some of them have large scars on
their shells, others have missing parts on their flippers and one float all the
time. It's very expensive to feed them and the rescue is dependent on donations.
Outside, we saw one large Chelonia mydas and also some Sea Gulls. There were also
a couple of Brown Pelicans. After the Turtle Rescue place, we went to Port Aransas
Birding Center. We saw a snake while walking to the walk way. I just saw the body
but it was rather large. At least three feet. I think it's a snake from the Genus
Elaphe. We also saw two Trachemys scripta. We mainly saw birds here. We saw some
White Pelicans, Double crested Cormorant, Anhinga, American Avocet, Northern
Harrier and Black Belly Whistling Duck.
We traveled northwest to go to Choke Canyon State Park. We went on North on highway
35, and then went West 181, and then we got on to North 37. We stayed on North 37
until we arrived at Choke Canyon State Park. When Dr. Hall was checking in to the
park, I went around to the back of the building and was able to catch a Sceloporus
olivaceus. I also found some Hemidactylus turcicus under a curled up hose. After
checking in, we proceeded to the camp site; we set up tents and ate Dr Hall's fried
Grouper. It was great! We had hush puppies with that. After the meal, we started
night driving. Our goal was to see a Crotalus atrox. Before we exited the park,
we saw two species of large mammals. The first was a Dicotyles_tajacu and the second
was a Obocoileus virginianus. We went West on Highway 72, at the 184 mile reading.
After reaching Highway 16 at the 187 miles reading we turned north on highway 16.
At the 190.9 miles reading we found a dead Pituophis (collection #1). We decided to
zero our mileage. At the 1.1 mile marker, we found a freshly road killed Thamnophis
marcianus (collection #2). At the 1.8 mile marker, we spotted several Caracaras on
fence posts. It was like one after the other. It was quite a sight. We did a
U-turn on highway 16 and went South on Highway 16 at the 7.6 mile marker. At the 9.9
mile marker, we found a Rana berlandieri (collection #3). It had the interrupted
dorsalateral ridges. This differs it from the Southern leopard frog. Which also
shares its range. Its not the Rana blairi, because it's found too south of its range.
At the 10.8 mile marker, we found a huge Rana berlandieri (collection #4). It gave
Dr. Hall quite a laugh to watch the class catch it. At the 12.2 mile marker we found
a freshly road killed Pauraque, it was brown rather than blue which the Common night
hawk is. It also had a white band on outer wing, rather than the patches that the
Common night hawk has. The Pauraque also has more of a rounded wing tip. The Common
nighthawk has more of a pointed wing tip. The Chuck will's widow and the Poor-Will,
which also looks like the Pauraque, does not have any white markings on wing. At the
13.9 mile marker, we spotted a Hooded Skunk. But it run into the grass before we
could get a good look at it. At the 15.1 mile marker, we turned around and went
South on Highway 16 again. At the 20.1 mile marker, we spotted a mouse. Dr. Hall
thinks it was a Baiomys taylori. At the 22.2 mile marker we turned around at went
North on highway 16. At the 29.6 mile marker, we turned around and went south on 16
until we decided to call it a night for road driving. Once we got back to the camp
site, after most of the people went to sleep. Tim, Nick, Heather, Brian and I went
hiking around the park. I'm not sure were we went. But we did see another Pauraque
and an unlucky Pauraque who got ripped into pieces by something. We also found a
huge tree that was filled with Turkey Vultures. The smell around that area was
really bad. I'm guessing that place is the usual place where Turkey Vultures bring
back their food.
The next morning, Dr Hall showed us all the snakes, turtles and frogs that both vans
found the following night. He showed us a Sistrurus miliarius, a Nerodia rhombifer,
Trachemys scripta and Rana berlandieri. We also learned of the Crotalus atrox that
the "Alpha Whales" saw. I would have been so happy to see one of those. It would have
made my year. But oh well, there is still another trip. After the show and tell, we
went walking along the lake to look for herps. The only thing that we saw as a class
was a medium sized Alligator mississippiensis. There were some spotting of snakes
from Dr. Hall and Tim, but we weren't able to catch them. Jill was able to catch a
crayfish. We then went back to the camp site, packed up and headed to the South shore
unit of Choke Canyon. We looked around for some stuff but didn't see much. We were
able to catch an Acris crepitans. I waded in a small pool of water and saw quite a
few tadpoles of Rana catesbeiana. I identified them based on the large size of the
tadpoles. Dr. Hall, Brian and I then walked through a trial were we spotted a rabbit
and I saw a rather large Sceloporus olivaceus. After we found Tim, we took off and
headed back to Austin.
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