Last Days in Texas Day 1
Well our time in Texas has come to an end. After visiting Aransas NWR near Rockport, TX we headed to Bolivar Peninsula, TX to bird Anahuac NWR (pronounced Anna Wack) and the High Island Audubon Sanctuaries. We drove through Galveston and took the free ferry from Galveston to Bolivar. We got to the B&B on Crystal Beach where we were supposed to stay for 3 nights. We rented a small apartment with a kitchen and another suite for my parents. We got some groceries and hard cider (ahhh finally a cold drink!). The woman who owned the B&B was nice and her small dogs were wonderful.
The day was humid, overcast and misty. We got to Boy Scout Woods and got acquainted with the renowned High Island Audubon Sanctuary. They have a viewing area of wooden bleachers that looks out on a marshy area of Cypress trees and some scrubby field. Water, food, woodland edge, marsh all in one spot, an ideal place for birds. It was like sitting and watching a Broadway migrant show. Within out first few minutes we saw Blue Bunting, Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Nashville Warblers, American Goldfinch, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat. Birders were at their best spring plumage with socks tucked into pants, floppy hats, ID books stuffed into the back of pants, vests for gear, etc. It was quite a show from the birds and their fans.
We decided to take a break from the spot where the birders outnumbered the birds and take a walk down some trails. As we walked down a shaded rather dark trail we came upon a site I’ve been waiting for the whole trip. Right in the middle of the trail to Prothonotary Pond was a wild hog (very different from a Javelina). We all stopped, a bit unsure about what to do. It was grazing on some plants at the forest edge right in the middle of the trail about 100 ft away. It didn’t seem to notice us nor care that we were there. I decided to shoot some photos from where I was, none of us walked any closer, we rerouted our course and chose another trail.
We walked out towards a field boardwalk. We saw another Painted Bunting off the boardwalk. Bobcat poop was all over the boardwalk as well as remnants of its meals. On the walk back there was a fresh Bobcat poo in the trail, very different from dog, bobcat feces is full of hair. They most often are active at sunrise and sunset.
Next we visited Smith Oaks to see the rookery. On our way there we found a strange den, like a hobbit hole. Then we saw an odd looking rabbit. It was larger, more stout bodied, had shorter ears and a different face than cottontails up north. Turns out it is a Swamp Rabbit. They build their dens more above ground and are much less timid than cottontails.
We were instructed by some helpful birders to not stay too long at the first 3 overlooks and to get to the last one. We visited each one as each provided a unique view of an amazing site. At the first we saw some gators waiting in hopes an easy meal of egret nestling and our first glimpse of the rookery, a large area of nesting and mating spoonbills, egrets, herons and cormorants. At the next we finally saw the Purple Gallinule! What a pretty and odd looking bird. Much more colorful than the Common, though both have great plumage and are certainly prettier than the Coot.
The noises the birds make is amazing and hilarious. The cormorants make these funny croaking noises and the Snowy Egret makes this hilarious gurgling noise, together their symphony sounds like pigs using mouthwash. I’ll try to find a video with audio on the net later, trying in the car is irritating everyone and I can’t find my headphones.
At the final overlook you are quite close to the birds and the noises are at their best. You can see the odd spoonbills doing their bill clapping and stick grabbing, egrets raising chicks and attracting mates with showy displays, herons hanging out and cormorants showing off.
After that we headed back, had a couple ciders (the rents had wine) on a damp but warm evening and passed out. Well all but MJ who had a looong night ahead.