Into Louisiana

To continue our trip towards the south-east, we headed for Louisiana.

Our last two nights in Texas were spent at Sea Rim State Park in the south-eastern corner of Texas.  The park was devastated by hurricanes Rita (2005) and Ike (2008).  Funding was recently provided for reconstruction, but the repairs are only partly done.  Only dry camping was available when we visited.

After Sea Rim we headed to Abbeville, Louisiana, in the heart of Cajun country.  In Abbeville we were able to get into Betty's RV Park with only a few days notice.  Betty's is a wonderful little park recommended by a couple of our Lazy Daze motorhome friends.  Many of the other rigs were full-timers spending up to a month.

After visiting Abbeville, we headed to Baton Rouge where we stayed at the Farr Equestrian Center's RV campground.  This location near the Mississippi River feels like being out in the country.

Although our visit to Baton Rouge was primarily to visit family, we did get in a trip to visit a nature preserve at Lake Martin near Lafayette.

The edge of the lake was mostly cypress swamp.

Near part of the lake is a Great Egret rookery which had many birds, most in breeding plumage.

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

After Galveston Island, we headed to Double Bayou County Park near the town of Anahuac so that we could visit Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.

We first visited the refuge's visitor's center which is some distance from the refuge.  They have a nice nature trail through a cypress swamp to the edge of Lake Anahuac.

We saw a number of turtles sunning themselves.

At the Anahuac harbor we found these Brown Pelicans just resting.

When we got to the Anahuac NWR, we were told about a male Vermillion Flycatcher that had been posing for photographs.

Common Moorhens

Snowy Egrets

We found a few White-fronted Geese.

A Great Blue Heron flying off

And a Lesser Yellowlegs

Galveston Island and Brazoria NWR

February 10th through the 14th was spent getting to and visiting Galveston Island, Texas.

The night of the 10th was spent near Magnolia Beach boondocking on the beach.
We were parked literally  feet away from the edge of the water.

The beach was mostly compacted crushed shells and was very firm.

On the 11th we continued on to Galveston Island where we stayed at the Galveston Island State Park.

Hanging around the park were a couple pairs of White-tailed Kites.

A Northern Shrike

One of our goals while at Galveston Island was visiting nearby Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge had a large population of wintering Snow Geese.

There were several Northern Harriers hunting over the fields.

We spent quite a while watching one harrier that kept hovering and landing in the same area.  We have no idea what it might have been doing.

Great Blue Heron peeking out of the grass

Meadowlark

A few White Ibis and a Glossy Ibis showing its iridescent sheen

 Immature White Ibis

Another Northern Shrike

Pie-billed Grebe