Where has the time gone

December 14... Wow, we have 5 days left at Anahuac NWR. Seems like we just arrived  and now it's time to move along. We arrived on September 11 for three months so the calendar doesn't lie.

November brought shorebirds to Skillern Tract

Long-billed Dowitcher

American Avocet

Black-necked Stilt with a Blue-winged Teal hiding behind them

Fog was a regular visitor this last month

turning spider webs into jeweled works of art

The ramp at the VIS was a treasure 

Other days ballooning spiderlings covered everything with silk

Bear observed Veterans Day

November 10 we moved onto the new RV pads

Big enough to hold our stuff and the GOV (Government Vehicle) that we drive to work every day. 

At Rollover Pass on Bolivar peninsula, we discovered the largest flocks of American Avocets I've ever seen. 

I thought they must be gulls before turning binoculars on them. 

Early one morning I heard the Great Horned Owls calling and I stepped out to see the pair in silhouette against a rosy sky.  

makes my heart skip a beat 

The geese decided to hang out on the freshly roller chopped rice fields at Skillern

Hunters call the Greater White-fronted Goose speckled belly

Snow Goose

and the Blue Goose morph, the inspiration for the logo for the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

Pectoral Sandpiper

Sunset near Frozen Point

Dunlin

Water Hyacinth in East Bay Bayou 

 Roseate Skimmer

East Bay Bayou at Skillern

Roseate Spoonbill

Wonder how he got his name...

White-faced Ibis

Black-necked Stilt

Snow Goose flyover at the VIS

Never get tired of the sight or the sound

Another day of spiderling ballooning

And a cattle drive

just like the old west

Another boring sunset

We spent a Saturday with friends birding West Jefferson County

hidden among 1000 Sandhill Cranes was this pleasant surprise

Back on the refuge

American Bittern totally hidden from view, so he thought

Reflection of waning gibbous moon in the canal 

sunset from Shoveler Pond

Rays of sunshine shortly before sunset

Black-bellies Whistling Duck exhibiting frenetic feeding behavior

churning up the pond

rafts of coots 

smiley gator

enjoying the sunshine

juve White-tailed Hawk

Ruddy Turnstone

And that is the end of November. 

October in a nutshell

We always visit San Jacinto Monument while we're in SE Texas

The Battleship looks good

I had never noticed the blue flag flying on the bow

Brother BJ explained while in port, US ships always fly this flag representing the 50 states.

After a terrific lunch at Monument Inn

We rose Lynchburg Ferry

which only holds 10 vehicles max

We took a day to qualify for conceal handgun permits 

before turning attentions back to critters...

Savannah Sparrows are arriving daily on the refuge

Dragonflies perch in obelisk to orient their bodies to minimize sun exposure on sunny days 

Farmer discing field on FM 1985 attracted hoards of egrets

and several Caracara to feast on insects and rodents exposed by the blades. 

I captured the tiny eyelash moon shortly after sunset 

and 3 days later snagged Venus, Jupiter, and Mars in the early morning. Mercury was nearer the horizon, too. 

October 17 was Bike around the Bay and the RV pads were the location of a rest stop for more than 1300 riders. 

The most unique bike suit of the day

I was fascinated by the bike shoes that made a rhythmic staccato tap dance on the drive  

The highest number I saw

And must have a Texas hat

The butterfly garden at the refuge is one of my favorite spots

Turks cap is a butterfly trap

Crawfish are also called Mud bugs, I know why

I don't bird and butter all the time, like to keep my hands busy, too. Crocheted basket from clothesline rope in just a day.  

Bear dressed up as a pirate for Halloween.

One of the things we love about Anahuac is the flat horizon both east 

and west

 I use the sunset to judge the progress of the season.