By Brandt Mannchen

December had been very busy and now that Christmas was past, I was itching to get into the wild.  I contacted my friends, Dave and Brandon, and we made plans to meet at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and enjoy a cold, sunny, day with birds and whatever else we scoped out.

Brandon and I carpooled and arrived a bit early, 8:45 am.  We got out to stretch ourselves.  It was then we realized we wouldn’t be alone.  Mosquitoes were hungrily buzzing around us.  We would play tag with them throughout the day, both inside and outside my car.

Dave soon drove up, put his gear into my car, and off we went to see the Refuge.  As Brandon and I had driven on the entrance road to ANWR we saw both Black and Turkey Vultures sitting on electric poles along with a Red-tailed Hawk and a Kestral.

Now we drove down to a nearby boat ramp and noted all the trucks and boat trailers parked.  This showed that those who hunted and fished had arrived early and were already boating in the Refuge.

We enjoyed seeing a Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher along the boat ramp road along with an Eastern Phoebe and White Ibis.  The sky was a beautiful blue with white clouds stretched across it.  The sun was shining bright even though the temperature was cool and there was a constant wind.

Sparrows flitted from grasses and shrubs and a Yellow-rumped Warbler stood its ground on a small tree limb as we slowed down to study it!  Along the road ditches, Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons stood by the water with their necks drawn in trying to warm up for breakfast activities.

As we moved deeper into the marshes, Rosette Spoonbills showed their pink and white feathers, Pied-billed Grebes floated until they ducked under water and looked for food, and Blue-winged Teal motored on the shallow lake between flooded marsh grasses.  A few small American Alligators sunned themselves on the banks while ibis flew overhead.

When we got to Shoveler Pond, we saw lots of Northern Shovelers and teal along with grackles, Willets, and yellowlegs.  Northern Harriers flew close to the ground trying to flush out small mammals for a tasty meal.  Snowy Egrets, with yellow socked feet and black bills, searched the interface between water and marsh grass for small fish and other tasty morsels.

At one location we noted a disturbance in the water and saw the head of a Nutria, a large, non-native South American rodent, as it swam to its next destination.  This was done as we finished the loop around Shoveler Pond with Red-winged Blackbirds, Mottled Ducks, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks waving us good-bye.  Later a Loggerhead Shrike, a true prairie bird that is disappearing along with its rich habitat, made its appearance and made me feel that we were where we should be, native prairie and marsh.

One of my favorite moments on our visit was seeing two Hooded Mergansers and a Bufflehead Duck swimming together.  As we drove from the East Bay boat ramp they would fly ahead of our car and land in the water.  Then we would slowly drive up to them and they would fly ahead again.

Nearby, we saw many Neotropic Cormorants and a Laughing Gull which attempted to rob a swimming cormorant of its well-earned fish lunch.  Squabbling birds reminded me of the politicians we have in Texas who want to get kudos for either doing little or nothing or from someone else’s hard work.

It was interesting that we saw three Red-eared Sliders either on the road or next to it.  They seemed to be moving and looking for a better place to swim.  Homeless turtles, who would have thought!

On our way down to East Bay, to park and see the waves come in while we ate our lunch, we were blessed to see 500-1,000 Snow Geese (along with the Blue Goose color phase) honking and sailing over our heads.  We got out and watched in awe.  The honk of geese always, for me, is what I say is, “The call of the wild!”  Truly breathtaking and rewarding to see and hear.

As we leaned on our car at East Bay, we saw a Herring Gull squat on a breakwater, with oyster beds and Smooth Cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora nearby.  We also saw a Brown Pelican and various gulls dive into the water to bring out tasty and fishy snacks.

When we got back to the entrance, we stopped at the small store where they sell books, hats, and other items to provide additional money for Refuge projects.  I carried away a treasure trove that I will use for future visits.

All in all, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge didn’t disappoint.  I felt refreshed as we motored off toward the Big H.

Photo by Brandt Mannchen.