After departing High Island in early March 2021, I set a course for the nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. I planned a quick visit before heading east on my clock-wise journey around the gulf, with intentions of ending up in Florida. Everyone I spoke with about must see places on the upper Texas Gulf coast spoke well of this 53 square mile reserve. Looking at a map of the Texas Gulf coast, you can see very little developed land there. Most of the natural habitat has been undisturbed. It’s a shame the rest of the coastal USA has not preserved more of its endemic habitat.
There are several roads to explore in Anahuac, but I chose the loop around the 280 acre Shoveler Pond. There I found and photographed American Alligators, American Coots, Blue-Winged Teals, Boat-Tailed Grackles, Common Gallinules, Great Egrets, Killdeers, Northern Shovelers, Pied-Billed Grebes, Neotropic Cormorants, Red-Eared Sliders, Red-Winged Blackbirds, White-Faced Ibis, and White Ibis. At distances too far to photograph, I saw Snowy Egrets, a Tricolored Heron, Roseate Spoonbills, and various dabblers.
My limited time visiting this reserve is not sufficient to fully describe the opportunities for meeting birds and other wildlife here. There are nearly 34,000 acres of habitat here, and most of it is devoted to waterfowl. My 3 hour tour exposed me to such a small fraction of its treasures, I’m almost embarrassed to give it a place in my “Birding Destinations” series. But it is my shortcomings, and no fault of this location that causes my chagrin. If I ever travel to this region again, I would make it a point to explore more of this reserve and its many trails.
Until this day, I’d been planning to drive all the way to northwest Florida on this trip, but I reconsidered. After looking at my maps, I saw little in the way of natural habitat along the road ahead until well down the Florida gulf coast. My drive time to get there and back would have been considerable. Additional time for explorations would have further complicated the schedule. I hoped to experience as much of spring migration in the Lower Rio Grande Valley as I could. A trip to Florida would have cut into the time I wanted to spend at South Padre Island and other key locations in The Valley. My explorations in Florida would have to wait until another trip.

American Alligator(Alligator mississippiensis) |
Description: This guy and his friends are the reason the signs say “No Swimming”. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:39 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AmericanAlligator_D5X0558-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American Coot(Fulica americana) |
Description: There were plenty of coots on the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:41 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: AmericanCoot_D5X0563-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
Description: On this part of the Texas coast, these teals may remain year round. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:09 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X0796-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Boat-Tailed Grackle(Quiscalus major) |
Description: I recently learned Boat-Tailed Grackles in Texas have dark eyes, while Great-Tails have bright yellow irises. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:12 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BoatTailedGrackle_D5X0854-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Boat-Tailed Grackle(Quiscalus major) |
Description: I recently learned Boat-Tailed Grackles in Texas have dark eyes, while Great-Tails have bright yellow irises. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:12 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BoatTailedGrackle_D5X0858-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
Description: Common Gallinules were aplenty on the edges of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:49 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: CommonGallinule_D5X0661-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
Description: These “double-banded plovers” stood guard at the road’s edge. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:31 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: Killdeer_D5X0526-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Neotropic Cormorant(Phalacrocorax brasilianus) |
Description: These Neotropic Cormorants held their ground at the road’s edge, allowing me to pass by slowly and capture close-ups. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:42 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: NeotropicCormorant_D5X0575-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Neotropic Cormorant(Phalacrocorax brasilianus) |
Description: These Neotropic Cormorants held their ground at the road’s edge, allowing me to pass by slowly and capture close-ups. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:46 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: NeotropicCormorant_D5X0628-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Neotropic Cormorant(Phalacrocorax brasilianus) |
Description: These Neotropic Cormorants held their ground at the road’s edge, allowing me to pass by slowly and capture close-ups. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:46 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NeotropicCormorant_D5X0644-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Northern Shoveler(Spatula clypeata) |
Description: I didn’t notice until I studied my images, but this poor bird has a badly broken wing. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:04 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: NorthernShoveler_D5X0744-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
Description: Pied-Billed Grebes patrolled the waters at the edges of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:44 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: PiedBilledGrebe_D5X0992-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Pied-Billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps) |
Description: Pied-Billed Grebes patrolled the waters at the edges of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:44 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: PiedBilledGrebe_D5X1005-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Eared Slider(Trachemys scripta) |
Description: Alligators weren’t the only reptiles I met at the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:59 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RedEaredSlider_D5X0731-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
Description: The blackbirds I met here were a bit shy. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:57 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RedWingedBlackbird_D5X0723-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: I met several White-Faced and White Ibis on my tour of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:51 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X0664-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
Description: I met several White-Faced and White Ibis on my tour of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:06 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X0779-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Ibis(Eudocimus albus) |
Description: I met several White-Faced and White Ibis on my tour of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 9:55 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: WhiteIbis_D5X0708-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


American White Ibis(Eudocimus albus) |
Description: I met several White-Faced and White Ibis on my tour of the pond. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:14 |
Location:
Anahuac NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: WhiteIbis_D5X0864-Anahuac_NWR |
© 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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