Mellow marsh menagerie on display on Gulf-side boardwalks

The walkways over the marsh at Sea Rim State Park give an up-close view of these "next-to-the-Gulf" habitats.

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.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck duo dodges danger

This pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were out on the Brentwood Golf Course but flew off in the direction of our house.  As we were walking home, I noticed they had taken to the safety of the top of neighbor's house.  According to eBird reports, this is about as far north as they are see in our area. They are more commonly see at the Terrell Park Cattail Marsh.

Fighters never win!

While these two Brown Pelicans were arquing about who was going to get the biggest fish for this meal, they missed the thief. Look in the back ground at the wood duck who was taking advantage of their fighting ways to fatten himself up.

The shot was on a trip to the Houston Zoo recently.

--steve buser