Beaumont's Cattail Marsh

Boardwalk at Beaumont's Cattail Marsh.

Tyrrell Park includes a botanical garden, a golf course, and the amazing 900-acre Cattail Marsh, which was created as one of the final stages of waste water filtration for the city of Beaumont. The marsh and surrounding areas support a wide variety of local wildlife, including many species of birds. We love watching and photographing birds, and the Cattail Marsh has a new (in July 2016) boardwalk that provided a great place from which to photograph.

As I mentioned earlier, Smoky was excited about some of the more unusual birds we saw. On Friday morning, in spite of a steady and rather strong wind, he had many photos that we both really liked. On Friday afternoon, after hearing that a big storm was coming through the Beaumont area that evening, I elected to stay at the trailer and do the laundry, just in case the storm was really bad. Smoky returned to the marsh.

American Avocet, a beautiful wading bird. Males have
a rusty-colored breast.

Just before dinner, when he returned, he said the wind was even stronger than it had been in the morning, and he didn't dare turn loose of the tripod, in case the wind grabbed it and his camera. In spite of this, he had a great time with the birds.

Here are some more of our favorite photos from the marsh.

Green-winged teal; this duck is amazing.

Another view of the green-winged teal. Notice the feather
detail.

This elegant creature is most likely an immature little blue heron. [Update:
turns out it is a snowy egret!]

This beautiful brown wading bird (photos left and right) may be a long-billed dowitcher.

This bird reminded us of a sparrow, but it is a female red-winged blackbird.

On Saturday, we travel on I-10W again through Houston and on to San Antonio.

-- Shann