After a somewhat disappointing morning, aside from the Smith Oaks Rookery visit, a quick lunch, and ferry ride, we were making our way back to the Anahuac Wildlife Refuge. With neither of us having been there before we were not sure what to expect. I did know that several people had recommended this place to us and I know of a lot of photographers who visit here quite often.
On our way there Karen tells me to “STOP!”, so I do. After backing up she points out this calf standing in an old cement culvert, apparently looking for shade. She’s a sucker for cute looking animals doing strange things.
We are only a couple of miles from Anahuac at this point. We arrive and find that there is a short hiking path at the entrance. We get out to check it out and we are swarmed with those flying critters once again and head back to the car. I’ve got to figure out what these things are!
We resign ourselves to staying in the car here, which is fine because the main area is a drive-thru trail that covers the most popular area. As we enter the area, I see a little bandit crossing the road. I only get a brief shot of it as it scampers into the grass.
A little further down the road and Karen catches this sight…
By this time we are wondering if there are any alligators here, and sure enough, we see two eyes peaking up out of the water as we drive by!
This day is finally starting to turn around and we really start keeping our eyes peeled looking for anything that moves.
I finally get a decent shot of a Red-winged Blackbird…
Only to be outdone by Karen getting one in a more natural habitat…
Karen gets a gator that has come up out of the water…
And I get an immature White Ibis…
and a beautiful Snowy Egret hiding behind a leaf.
I love the look of a gator in the muck. It looks so primitive.
As the sun starts to lower in the sky I spot a silhouetted Ibis…
and a Great Egret, backlit with the wind blowing through its feathers.
As we are making our last loop around the “swamp”, I get a few more gator shots for which I actually got out of the car to get lower.
Remember, I do have a 600mm lens so I’m not so close as to be in any “real” danger, although these guys can move pretty quick for short distances.
At this point, it was time to go as they were going to be locking the gates soon. But we decided that this was a place we would come back to again tomorrow to see what else it had to offer. (Hint: more birds and gators)
Back to the hotel, and since it was Friday night, order pizza (as is our custom), download and backup pics, and shower for the night. Tomorrow is another day!
Until Then,
Michael & Karen
All words and photos copyright 2020 MHampton Photography
Equipment used: Assorted Canon bodies and lenses