By Brandt Mannchen
In June 2025, I needed to get away for some “Nature” time. I headed to Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge (formerly known as Anahuac NWR) with my buddy Brandon to meet my other buddy, David, to enjoy a hot, but peaceful day birding.
It was a pleasure to see so many flowers blooming including American Germander, Sensitive Briar, Common Morning Glory, Green Milkweed, Salt Marsh Mallow, Turk’s Cap, Halberd-leaved Rose-mallow, Water Primrose, Lantana species, Trumpet Vine, American Elderberry, Japanese Honey Suckle, Texas Dandelion, White Guara, Sow Thistle, White Water Lily, Dayflower, Mexican Primrose, Brazilian Vervain, Fire-Wheel, American Basket Flower, Sea Ox-eye Daisy, Knot-root Bristle Grass, and many more.
At least a dozen or more American Alligators were floating with their heads and snouts just above the water while Bull Frogs were croaking in the background at Shoveler Pond. Dragonflies darted back and forth attacking mosquitoes and Deer Flies which made us even more appreciative of their flying skills.
The birds didn’t disappoint us. In the sky and in the water we saw Eastern Meadow Lark, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Northern Mocking Bird, Black-crowned Night Heron, Scissortail Flycatcher, Northern Cardinal, Boat-tailed Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Barn Swallow, Mourning Dove, Cattle Egret, Eastern Kingbird, Osprey, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Black-necked Stilt, American Coot, Common Gallinule (with cute babies), Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Cormorant species, Great Egret, Purple Gallinule (with babies), Least Tern, White Ibis, Tri-colored Heron, Forester’s Tern, Killdeer, White-faced Ibis, and Rosette Spoonbill.
There was a lot of construction activity ongoing at JNNWR. Dump trucks were running in and out of the entrance, one of the main roads was closed for repairs, and many small parking areas were recently resurfaced with asphalt that made parking easier and safer.
All in all, it was a beautiful day and made us feel the “call of the wild”, lowered our blood pressures, and reduced our worries and cares. That’s just one good reason I like to visit JNNWR.
Photo by Brandt Mannchen