By Brandt Mannchen

Whenever I turn onto County Road 306, in Brazoria County, I know I am not far from San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge.  I begin to slow down and look for jewels on the power-line poles and lines.  So it happened for our Sierra Club outing in December.  Immediately I saw a large bird on a pole.  I got closer and closer.  Finally, after a bit of scoping out with my binoculars, I saw a beautiful, big, Red-tailed Hawk.  A very nice way to begin the day!  Then I saw another one.  Then I saw an American Kestral, the exact opposite of the Red-tailed Hawk, slim, fast, and maneuverable.

I turned into the refuge entrance and continued on more gravel road, dust slightly lifting in my car’s wake.  As I drove to the Bobcat Woods Trail parking lot, I could see three cars had already arrived.  Soon other cars arrived, and we had a great crew of eleven people, Sean, Charris, Elaine, T.G., Anoop, Lynn, Michael, Kathy, Grace, Lisa, and Brandt.  The day was unbelievable.  Clear blue sky, not a cloud in any direction, temperature in the low 70’s, nice sun to warm us. Nature was our guardian today.  

While waiting for everyone to make a bathroom stop and sign-in, I heard in the distance the distinct bugling of Sandhill Cranes.  That was very exciting!  I had also seen a flock fly over FM 2611 just before crossing the San Bernard River.  We walked down the Bobcat Woods Trail boardwalk to Wolfweed Wetlands, which has always been a good place to see a variety of birds.  Our first look gave us American Coots, Common Moorhens, and a four-foot American Alligator!  I was happy to see ancient reptiles out and looking good.

Our second look provided more jewels.  We watched a pair of Northern Harriers erratically fly low over the freshwater marsh, looking for a kill; saw a graceful Ring-billed Gull circle in front of us, and waved goodbye to several Greater White-fronted Geese as they headed to parts unknown.  Ruddy Ducks, Lesser Scaups, and Ring-necked Ducks cruised the waters while behind us, Eastern Phoebes, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and White-throated Sparrows frolicked in the grass, thickets, and Black Willows in Cocklebur Slough.

Michael, our experienced birder, kept us updated on what he saw and added to our tally.  On our way back we saw a wren flit through the undergrowth and water plantain blooming.  In December?  Hell yes! Climate change is in full swing!!!

We got in our cars and drove the Cocklebur Slough Auto Trail.  As we drove, we saw several more American Alligators, sunning themselves on the banks of a drainageway.  American Coots were everywhere!  But the real treat was at Moccasin Pond where the birds congregated. Michael unloaded and set-up his spotting scope.

Glory be!!!  The birds were everywhere!  There were Great Egrets, Pied-billed Grebes, Snowy Egrets, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Cinnamon Teals, Blue-winged Teals, Gadwalls, Green-winged Teals, Willets, American Coots, Common Moorhens, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitchers, Tree Swallows, Black-necked Stilts, White-faced Ibis, and most magnificent of all, Sandhill Cranes, while Turkey Vultures and White Pelicans circled and soared overhead.  Behind us a very large America Alligator sunned itself at a pond while Sean spied a Common Yellow Throat in the bushes.

We finally left Moccasin Pond, nearly sated with the cool birds we had seen.  We finished the auto tour, ate lunch at Wolfweed Wetlands, and unfortunately were not able to the see the Big Tree, the largest Live Oak in Texas, because the gate was not open.  Although bummed about this, San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge had been kind to us.  We saw over 40 species of birds on a gorgeous, mild, December day.  Who could ask for anything more?