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Description
The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge, formerly the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, is a wildlife conservation area along the coast of Texas. The 39,000-acre refuge supports a lot of waterfowl and shore birds, there are also a lot of migratory song birds and warblers and raptors, especially during the spring migration. Thousands of warblers and other passerine migrants travel nonstop from the Yucatan Peninsula to this part of Texas, where they stop to rest and refuel.
A wide variety of birds nest at the refuge, including herons, egrets, rails, owls, and ibis, as well as several species of waterfowl. The refuge is noted as a location where all species of North American rails occur. Clapper Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail and Sora are all regularly seen here in spring. Also the rare and secretive Black Rail is sometimes recorded. During the fall and winter months, the refuge is home to ten's of thousands of ducks, geese, shore birds, along with Bald Eagle, various falcon species, hawks, owls, and numerous wading birds.
This refuge is very large and most of it is roadside accessible, however, there are also a few walking trails. To see the most wildlife, drive around Shoveler Pond, a 2.6 mile auto loop where you can see a variety of birds. From there you can walk a short boardwalk overlooking the marsh. Clapper Rail, King Rail, Virginia Rail and Sora are all often observed here. Least Bittern can be observed in summer, and American Bittern in winter and during migration. Shoveler Pond is also a good spot for Mottled Duck, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Redhead, Long-billed Dowitcher, Willet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Stilt Sandpiper, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Black Tern, Gull-billed Tern and Purple Gallinule.
Details
Access
Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Texas Gulf Coast about 30 miles east of Houston. The refuge is accessible via FM 1985 and is near Beaumont. The refuge is open dawn to dusk. There is no fee to visit the refuge. Restrooms on site.
The area offers opportunities for birding, hiking, boating, and photography. Besides Shoveler Pond (1), good areas for birding are Willows Trail and Butterfly Garden (2), Hackberry Trail (3) Woodlot Trail (4), East Bay, (5), Yellow Rail Prairie (6) and the Skillern Tract area (7). Press a P on the map for directions to parking areas (zoom in on the map to see all the P's on the map)