Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge

The Gulf Coast has numerous wildlife refuges, most of which are intended to preserve the nesting, breeding and roosting grounds of migratory birds.  Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is similar in this respect.  We took an hour's drive west to visit it today.

The facility is spare, with a clean, modern visitor center (closed today, a Sunday), pavilions for lunch or education, a boardwalk, and a .7 mile guided walk through the preserve with a walking tour brochure.  Here is a photo of the visitor facility, from the nature walk section:

This section of the preserve highlights Big Slough, which is a 20-mile fresh water way through the prairie and marsh lands along the Gulf of Mexico west of Galveston Island.  A slough is defined as "an extict alluvial stream with slow moving water."  By its nature, it provides fresh water to, in this case, a marsh that would otherwise be salty.  The result is a mixture of ecosystems that supports a wide variety of wildlife and is particularly amenable to wading birds.  Here is a photo of one of the more open portions of Big Slough:

Here is another.  Much of Big Slough is home to marsh grasses, including millet, which in this case the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service manages to maximize food resources for migrating birds:

One of the rarer wading birds we have seen (and not seen) in Florida and along the Gulf Coast is the roseate spoonbill.  Their bright pink coloration and unique spoon shaped beak make them dramatic birds to spot and watch:

We spent about 2 hours at the wildlife refuge and then drove back to our campsite.  On the way, we noticed that the entire 27-mile length of Galveston Island appears to attract car- and truck- beachgoers and campers on weekends.  We haven't seen this in other states, but in Texas along the Gulf Coast, it appears to be popular to drive your truck or car onto the beach, park it, and hang out in it for shade and such.  Some people just sit and talk.  Others play on the beach by their vehicles.  Yet others fish in the surf.  Kathy caught a photo of some vehicular beach-goers as we were driving along the beach back to our campground:

Back at the RV we relaxed, watched new RV arrivals check into the campground, gossiped with dog-walkers and newfound friends, and enjoyed the sunny, breezy, 75F air.  We wrapped up the afternoon with a wonderful Skype visit with our son Matt, his wife Weina and their little 18-month son William.  What could be a nicer way to cap off a beautiful, relaxing weekend? Hot tub anyone?