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.

Heron homework

This juvenile Tri-colored Heron (at the heronry on the I-10 by the Trinity River) was off on his/her own this day practicing his stealth techniques.  When there is no shoreline, the fish swim right up to the trunk of the tree. 

The secret for the hunter is to keep his feet out of the water so as not to tip off the prey.  Then she must stand perfectly still and become the tree.   Lastly, use those sharp eyes to follow anything that moves.  Lastly, you have a sharp beak to quickly penetrate the water without giving your prey and alert.   This young one was rewarded with several tasty catches. 
--steve buser

Heron, bird, Tri-colored Heron

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