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Ansley, Mississippi is an unincorporated community in Hancock County, in the state of Mississippi (USA).\u00a0 It is approximately 10-11 miles west of Bay St. Louis, the county seat. The community was established when the L & N railroad was built through that area in 1869-1870. It was considered a flag stop with trains stopping only if there were passengers or freight to be picked up or dropped off. The community was named after M.M. Ansley, who was a railroad maintenance official for the L&NRR. <\/strong><\/p>\n There are marshes and bayous between Ansley and the Gulf Of Mexico which makes the area attractive to people who enjoy fishing, crabbing and other water activities.<\/strong><\/p>\n Ansley Preserve is located about a mile south of Ansley.\u00a0 It is a wooded coastal birding trail that is traversed by intervening mud-flat deposits with marsh and swamp vegetation. A hot spot for migrant songbirds in the spring and fall, the preserve is managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.\u00a0 According to the Audubon Society Ansley Preserve has a bird list of more than 230 species.<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a cool, damp, winter day when we visited the preserve. \u00a0We didn\u2019t see the first bird while we were there but I\u2019ve never seen so much Spanish Moss in any one place! It hung from the many Live Oaks and other hardwood trees along the trail.\u00a0 Southern Magnolia trees offered a welcome splash of green during that dormant season.<\/strong><\/p>\n At one point the trail opened up a little to expose a small pond. Beyond that pond the open meadow of marshland created a winter view of reddish, brown and orange vegetation with meandering ribbons of brackish water.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n