One of our goals over winter break was to get outside and do some hiking. Between all our Christmas activities and wet weather, we only had a few opportunities. Yesterday was a gorgeous day (sunny with a high in the upper 60s), so we knew we needed to get outside and enjoy some time in nature. We debated our choices -- a state park we've visited before or a national wildlife refuge that was new-to-us but with limited services because of the government shutdown. In the end, I really wanted to see birds, so we headed east to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.
The visitor centers and restrooms were all closed, but the gates to the refuge were open and the trails were available. We started at the main refuge entrance and walked the Willows Trail, which was a raised boardwalk along a freshwater marsh.
We startled a great blue heron, but this great egret hung around, hunting for lunch.
Next, we drove the Shoveler Pond Auto Loop. We saw tons of ducks, one small alligator and this muskrat.
We walked the long boardwalk out to the observation deck.
The birds were incredible!
Ibis
Great Blue Heron
After a picnic lunch, we drove seven miles to the Skillern Tract. As we were driving down FM 1985, we came across a wake of vultures (a wake is the term used for vultures that are feeding) eating a wild boar carcass. As the birds flew up, we noticed that one of the birds was not like the others. With a white head and white tail feathers, we knew we had spotted a bald eagle. What an amazing sight it was!
Our last stop of the day was the Rookery Trail, which was lovely and quiet.
There's more to see and do at Anahuac and other nearby national wildlife refuges, and we hope to return to explore these beautiful national treasures again soon.
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