Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX-Main Unit

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located on FM 1985 about halfway between the towns of Winnie and Anahuac.  The 34,000 acre refuge has vast expanses of coastal marsh and prairie which borders East Galveston Bay.  There are 3.5 miles of walking trails, a 2.5 mile pave road that encircles Shoveler Pond (220 acre freshwater impoundment) and 14 miles of roads for wildlife observation. 

Osprey on post on Shoveler Pond road

 

 

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks-Shoveler Pond

Coots-Shoveler Pond

Comorants, Spoonbills and Snowy Egrets on road to Frozen Point

Snow Geese on road to Frozen Point

 

Coyote on Entrance Road

New Visitor Information Station and restrooms built after Hurricane Ike.

 

Osprey on edge of Shoveler Pond "protecting a catch" and leaving with it

 

American Alligator-Shoveler Pond

Rosetta Spoonbill (pink), White Ibis, and White-faced Ibis (dark)-Shoveler Pond

Common Gallinule-Shoveler Pond

Great Blue Heron-Shoveler Pond

White Ibis-Shoveler Pond

White-faced Ibis-Shoveler Pond

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX-RV Community

The RV Village is on FM 1985 between the East Unit and Skillern Unit. 

 

The approach to the pad was very muddy, but we finally made it.

 

 

 Our nice large paved pad 

There is a nice community building with a kitchen, lounge area, restrooms, shower, and washers and dryers.

 

A mower cut some of the grass in the field around the RV Village.  Notice the track for the drive train.

 

We see a variety of birds

Eastern Meadowlark

Killdeer

Sunrise through rain and fog



Sunrise on a clear day

 



Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX-East Unit

It's duck and goose hunting season at the refuge.

Northern Shoveler

Blue Wing Teal

Gadwall

Northern Shovelers (top 4) and Blue Wing Teal

 

Anahuac National Wildlife Unit, TX-Skillern Tract

Spotted Sandpiper

A farmer roller blading a rice field on the Skillern Tract.

 

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, TX - Visitor Center

We arrived at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, southeast of Houston, TX, on October 31. The main Visitor Center (VC) and administrative offices are located about 2 miles south of I10 near Anahuac, TX.  The VC has several displays and a simulated air boat ride through the refuge.  There is also a 1/4 miles boardwalk that takes visitors through a woodlot, swamp and ends at Lake Anahuac.  Red eared slider turtles are abundant.

Bolivar Peninsula, TX Gulf Coast

The Bolivar Peninsula forms a very narrow strip of land in Galveston County, Texas, separating the eastern part of Galveston Bay from the Gulf of Mexico.  The communities of Port Bolivar, Crystal Beach, Caplen, Gilchrist, and High Island are located on the peninsula.

Bolivar Point Lighthouse was built in 1872 and served for 61 years before being retired in 1933, when its function was replaced by a different light.  Today it is privately owned.  The structure is brick covered with white and black cast iron sheets.  After withstanding years of erosion, the lighthouse is now entirely black. This has caused some to call it "The Haunted Lighthouse" of Bolivar.

Fort Travis

 Jane Long Memorial

 

Galveston Bay

 

Ship Anchored

 

Snowy Egret 

 

Heron