a large freshwater fish with a stripe down its side and a big mouth. there were a couple of these hanging out with several bluegills (photo 4 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14212359) in some shallows extending from the big pond by the meadow after heavy rains.
in a surprising place--the swamp! maybe seeds blew over from the meadow...
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
The bird, not the turtles
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center