Thursday, December 22, 2016

Duck doesn't duck out of the way very fast

This duck didn't seem to be in as big a hurry as his fellow Coots, which explains why I was able to get a good shot of him. The white dots on his back are water droplets -- left over from his morning  task of dunking over and over into the water for food. The shot is from the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge's Shoveler Pond Auto Tour loop -- a five-mile nature drive with lots of waterfowl, hawks, herons, alligators and more.  The Refuge is located in Chambers County, Texas. You can drive the path or get out and walk part of it for a better view. There are several boardwalks and paths into the marsh.

There is no entrance fee. They have maps at the Visitors Center at the front gate. See fact sheet here (pdf file).


The refuge's Headquarters/Visitor Center is east of Houston. It is located on FM 563 approximately two miles south of I-10 (exit 810).

See the maps section of the refuge website for additional directions.

The address is 4017 FM 563, Anahuac, TX  77514.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Head twisting lizard gives me the twisted eye.

This young lizard was hiding out in our canopy in the back yard.  I think the green color made him think it was a tree.

If you look at the images below,  he was watching me with his right eye.  In image two, he begins to twist his head. In image three, he has his head twisted all the way around to see me with his left eye.  It was as if he had to give each eye a chance to figure out if I was going to spoil his nap.





Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Nest on electric panel has been source of joy, mourning for dove


This Mourning Dove has been returning a couple times a year for the past few years to this spot above our electric panel on the side of the house. It has been perilous a a few times when storm winds blew the nest and chicks to the ground.

She abandoned the nest a week or so ago while we were away.  The nest is still there and we expect her back in the Spring.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Playful, plashy platform brings pleasure to fun-seeking Yogi fans


This splashy, swashing sentry in the middle of the splash pad at Yogi Bear Jellystone Campground in Waller is the scene of excitement for kids and smiles for grown ups. We took some of the grand kids camping there this summer and got them hooked on water parks.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Storm monsters charge at us with empty threats


For the second night in a row, the storm monsters charged at us from the northeast, eating up the sky, but became cold and sleepy before they could dump their left overs on us.

We did get a great dark-falling breeze out of it.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Night-fall boast by rushing storm


This night-fall-rushing front blowing off from a thunderstorm over Beaumont didn't bring any rain for our area, but sure boasted it wanted to.