Wednesday, December 30, 2015

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