Alligators - Where to see them in their natural habitat

There are occasional reports of alligator sightings along Buffalo Bayou. There is even a warning sign in the Houston Arboretum at the boardwalk to the observation deck overlooking the bayou near the railroad trestle bridge.

But if you want to observe alligators in the wild, Houston-area bayous are not the best place to go on a reptilian safari. They are the main attraction of a nearby state park, where there are hundreds of them: Brazos Bend State Park off Highway 59 near George Ranch in the Richmond, Texas, area.

The alligators there are mostly passive, either floating in the water or basking on the shores in the sun. But that does not mean they are harmless. Alligator etiquette must be strictly observed. Obviously, you can't feed them. Nor are you allowed to approach them. For nature lovers and curious tourists alike the good thing is you don't have to go search for them, and don't have to take unnecessary risks. Adult and juvenile alligators populate multiple lakes in this huge park. They are easy to encounter both in the water on the shores, -- and to take pictures of (with zoom). You can even observe them from the fishing pier, or from the trail leading down to the fishing peer. Watch out! Sometimes they even come out to the trail. And don't fight an alligator for a fish you have on the line. Cut your line, and let him have it.

Brazos Bend State Park sign at access road to the park

Address: 21901 FM 762 Needville, TX 77461

Alligator warning sign at fishing pier in Brazos Bend State Park

Floating alligator's back exposed above the water surface in one of the lakes

Egret and alligator on lake shore

For more information on Brazos Bend State Park, check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department web site. 

Clematis - Purple bell-shaped swamp flower

Closeup of clematis bloom in wooded area inside Barker Reservoir

Katy Prairie landscape pics

George Bush Park near North-South Bike Trail (6/6/2013)

Ducks in pairs and bevies - Black-bellied whistling ducks are plentiful and gregarious

A pair of black-bellied whistling ducks side by side in wetlands habitat

Silhouette of dead tree with whistling ducks sitting on tree limbs

Whistling Ducks taking off in the wetlands

Black-bellied whistling ducks perched at pond on Exxon Chemical corporate campus
next to Terry Hershey Park on Memorial Drive

Duck perched on a barbed wire

Ibis birds all have scythe-shaped bill, but come in different colors

Great White Egret

Great White Egrets are majestic birds that can been seen throughout the area along bayous and lakes, even in the heart of the city, such as the pond at Sam Houston Park on the Western edge of Downtown.

Little Blue Heron and Great Egret on take-off at a lake

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron amid greenery on lake shore

Green Energy Corridor

BP America Office Towers seen across Highway 6 and tree canopies from Barker Dam Road

Sufficient rain and humidity this year to keep the grass and foliage lush. No drought condition. So the Class A Energy Corridor Office Towers can not only sport their "green" credentials in terms of design, energy efficiency, and functionality; they are also surrounded by abundant greenery of the natural and seasonal kind.  

Enclave Parkway - Corner at Briar Forest

Night Herons at the water

Yellow-crowned heron in grassy spot along Groeschke Road / Bear Creek area

Black-crowned Night Heron standing in stream flowing into Buffalo Bayou near Highway 6  road bridge

The Night Heron has its name for reason. This medium-sized bird comes out at dusk and can be found standing on the edge of the water or -- as in the picture above -- in a stream of water. Along with great white egrets and snowy egrets, the night heron can be seen frequently along Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries. This bird remains still, almost like frozen, for long periods of time and is easy to photograph, albeit in a low-light environment. The photo above was taken at the spillway downstream from the gate where Buffalo Bayou gushes out from the reservoir behind Barker Dam. 

Buffalo Bayou at Highway 6 Bridge, where herons and egrets can be seen regularly

Night herons and many other large birds, including great white egrets, blue herons, and ibises, are even more abundant at Brazos Bend State Park near Richmond, TX. Night herons can be seen there at dusk on the shores of several lakes. The photos of the white-capped night herons below were taken there. 

Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Energy Crossing II Construction Update (photo of skeleton of Class A office building under construction at Katy Fwy and SH-6)

Energy Crossing II -  Project status as of June 5, 2013
(photo from Barker Dam looking North)

Dandelion

Wildflowers in George Bush Park in June

Sensitive Briar in field behind Barker Dam

Yellow Cone Flower are ubiquitous in the area

Even a mere stroll on Barker Dam offers a microcosm exemplifying the diversity or area wild flowers, not to mention a palette of magnificent colors.

Indian Paintbrush flowers are also common, but not as abundent

Purple Passion Flower grows as a vine, but also close to the ground
and in the grass

Flowers along the gravel road on top of Barker Dam

Bush of yellow flowers growing in gaps between stone slabs at Buffalo Bayou spillway
downstream from the Barker Dam gate

West Houston landscape pics with clouds

Sunset at Lake inside Barker Resevoir behind the Dam

Katy Prairie / Landscape in Equestrian Trail Area of George Bush Park (6/6/2013) 

Silhouettes of prairie grasses against blue sky with back-lit clouds

Storm clouds over Noble Road Trail 

Thunderstorm weather system with heavy clouds drifting by near Katy
View from Barker-Clodine Bike Trail in George Bush Park June 6, 2013

Deer Watching and photographing in George Bush Park

Deer can be seen regularly in George Bush Park along the trail, even from top of the Dam -- whether on the Eastern side near the gate (running North-South), or on the North side which runs parallel with Katy Freeway. Taking pictures of them -- at least with amateur equipment -- is more of a challenge, for they are shy and will disappear back into the woods  if you were to approach to reduce the distance (and focal length). Because they typically emerge only at dusk, i.e. in low-light conditions, shutter speed is an issue.

A point-and-shooter with superzoom will help, but the animals will often still come out blurred if they move when you press the release button, even when you use a tripod and there is no camera shake.