A few more Pictures from last week.

Our VIS Rabbit has come back.

Another one of the Hawks on the Refuge.

We just love their faces.

The Red Belly eating seed from the ground.

This guy was in the pond behind the Visitor Center in Anahuac.

Some Pictures from this week.

Just Beautiful , there are several hundred of these guys on the Refuge right now.

One of the Otters out for a swim.

Two Spoonbills eating and clicking in the marsh.

We came across a honey Bee hive that was raided by a Raccoon and they were not happy.

PO'd Bees

Just too cool

Thousands of Snow geese coming into the marsh to settle in for the evening.

An American Bittern , they are very hard to get pictures of, so I was thrilled.

Just drying my wings.

Sunrise two days ago.

Sunset two days ago.

Our Red bellied Wood pecker out by the VIS

After seeing him almost everyday we still love hm.

He's hunting

A cliff Swallow nest in the picnic area by the VIS

We had just finished putting up a Owl box on the post in the back round.

Some Snow geese passing over us.

Remember those Duck Boxes we cleaned out last week. Well a Screech Owl has taken up one as his home , way cool.

Last nights Sunset.

Last nights full Moon.

         Another couple of cold days here , yesterday it made it up to 43 degrees with 25 knot winds off the Gulf that made it very unpleasant to be out doors in the Refuge. We hid out in the VIS and even with the floor heaters running it was quite cool in the building. We did get to see the inside of the new VIS as the Gift Shop Manager came by and we were helping her try to figure the new layout in conjunction with all the displays that the Refuge will have in the same area. The new building will have some really great views of the Refuge as it is raised up 10 feet from the raised up area it was built on so it will be 20 feet above the normal grade in that area of the Refuge. High enough to meet the 100 year storm water level. We all know how that usually work out in the end. At least this building has central heat and AC so it will be a much better surrounding for us and the visitors. Our little Garden Shed VIS is starting to look its age as the roof is going and it really needs some major sprucing up. We have been told that the new one will be ready towards the end of next month.          This morning we woke up to 35 degrees and its very over cast and the wind is still blowing pretty good. We don't have to Volunteer today so we may just do some birding later on if the Sun should decide to make an appearance. From looking at the National weather map I guess we shouldn't grouse to much as what we have been getting because it is nothing compared to what our family and friends have been getting at home and just knowing the rain we get here is going to be all snow there is not a pleasant thought. Coleen and Rick both sent snow pictures to us and it so looks like the winter of 94-95 that gave us over 90 inches of Snow in the Lehigh Valley and it just got to the point of there was no place left to pile it. My bitching about the cold here seems a little much but it should be in the 60 to 70 degree range here right now. We will get a little break over the weekend and then cold again for a few more days. You all stay warm and safe .                G                                           

It's cold down here.

Who says Duck don't dance. This guy does the limbo under the reed hanging in the water.

He wants the girls to do it next.

We just love the Moore Hens, their colors are really bright.

The cold took  its' toll on this turtle. He is freeze dried  and the ants have finished the job of cleaning out the shell, just some skin and bones are left in the shell..

To cold to fish.

Red Tail eating a small black bird.

Here you can see a wing as he pulls the last of the flesh from the little bird.

How many birds can stand on the back of a cow in the sun.

     We are once again experiencing a rainy spell with below average temperatures for the next few days. The area we are in does need the rain but the cold here has not been seen here in almost 20 years. Seems the same pattern for the Lehigh Valley. The winter of 94-95 had snow every Wednesday for 13 weeks running with a few snows or ice storms in between. So it seems after this year we should have a couple years of above average temperatures ? I know it seems weird but look up the past weather in the Old Farmers Almanac , I know it's odd that old weather records can show a pattern but they do and that allows them to print a book months in advance that is about 90 percent right . You wonder why the weather men talk about the weather like it's a mystery. Right now we are having one heck of a rain squall . We talked to family and friends in the Valley this morning and it's just darn depressing there. Laurens sister talked about a propane shortage there and you have to wonder why the country is exporting so much oil and gas while we are have shortages here.  We all know why they do it and no one cares , OH well. Every one stay warm and dry.               G

      We had a great day today . We had volunteered to clean out the Wood Duck boxes behind the Visitor Center in Anahuac and today was the first warm day to get into the water and not have to worry about bees and wasps and other critters that slither in the Cypress Swamp. Well it worked out mostly good as there were no Bees in the Duck boxes but there were some huge ass wasps in one. Have you ever seen a wasp that is 2 inches long , well I can tell you they are some thing to see and I was glad they were still a little slow as this boy could have not run away in those conditions. I know the few pictures I posted surely did not show the real picture. That was a 4 hour tour through the swamp and the water here is still only in the 50's. Just warm enough for the guys that slither to finally make an appearance along with the Turtles. Just to cool in many ways.
       We also had a chance to check out one of the many Owl Boxes on the Refuge and was pleased to see that they have also made a come back and there was more than enough evidence to assure us that the nest was active. So much for today, you never know what tomorrow will bring.         G

What would a normal person do on a warm day in January

He would slog through a Cypress Swamp to clean out some bird and duck boxes

Yes Wood Ducks nest in in boxes

To old and too fat to be doing this

You do have to admit that its way cool

It's still sad that 6 years later I am still picking up Hurricane Ike garbage in the area

Some of todays trash haul from the Cypress Swamp behind the Anahuac VC



I just love the turtles and I love all the pictures that Lauren took today. She was my Safety Person today and I could not have done all I did without her.