Archive for the ‘Galveston’ Category

More Galveston

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

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Signs of Mardi Gras at the WalMart in Galveston.

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Finally spotted an alligator at Brazoria Wildlife Refuge. It was small, probably a young one.

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Pied-billed grebe

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Very pretty little blue heron.

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Picture of houses off to the side of where I have been staying at Galveston Island State Park. There are so many beautiful houses in the area, like these. Both these are shuttered, so I assume they are vacation homes. About half the homes in the area are either shuttered or for sale. Texas got the land for their park just in time. There are housing developments on both sides of it.

More Central Texas Gulf Coast

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

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Cute ring-neck ducks. The lower one really blends in with its surroundings. San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

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Poor quality picture of a crested caracara, the first I’ve spotted. Black head crest looks like a bad toupee. San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge

Galveston Island State Park

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

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Moved on to Galveston Island State Park. There were no sites available by the ocean when I arrived, so I took one on the other side of the highway that looks out on a lake and bayous. After the weekend people left on Monday, decided to stay where I was. The wind is a lot less here and there are only a few other campers.

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Two birds enjoying the sun at Brazoria Wildlife Refuge.

There are two wildlife refuges around 30 miles from Galveston: Brazoria and San Bernard. Brazoria is huge, with salt and freshwater marshes, sloughs, ponds and costal prairies. It looks like what I picture Louisiana looks like, with lots of water all over the place.

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Glossy Ibis. A large group of them were at Brazoria.

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A common moorhen.

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American kestrel.

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Another beautiful tricolored heron.

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I saw something colorful moving in the marsh next to the road. Some kind of shellfish.