Crane Ranch - 3-26-23 - 4-1-23

Sunday, Lauren observed one of the cranes on top of the netted pen with his legs hanging through.  By the time he got a scope to get a closer look, the crane flew off.  Which is much better than having to get a ladder and get him out.

We went to the North Gautier Unit on this hot humid morning looking for orchids.  We only found one Rose Pagonia before the rain started.

We saw several cranes and a Northern Harrier along Valentine Road. 

We saw Mean Momma and her mate walking on the other side of Valentine Pond.  They have been nesting in this area.  We are optimistic that the nest has hatched and not been predated.  (We found out later that the nest was predated, dang it)

While we were at the South Gautier Unit we looked in the area that we found Many-flowered Grasspink blooms last week.  We did not find any new blooms.

It was a very enjoyable start to the week, seeing 27 sandhill cranes and a lot of other cool stuff.  It was also nice to relax and enjoy our refuge.  

Sunday Pics:

Monday was a nice, laid back, no picture kind of day.

We worked in the visitor center with the Linas on this rainy Tuesday.  We got a lot of organizing and decluttering done.  It was another no picture, kind of day.

Wednesday we had a Crane Tour for 4 people on this cloudy, cool day.  During the 3 1/2 hour tour, we had 18 crane sightings and plenty of other bird species.

Before we got to Valentine Road, Lauren stopped the van, and said "my oh my!" in response to seeing several Calopogon multiflorus plants.  This was one of many stops that we made to admire the pretties in the savanna.

We saw a lot of other cool stuff, including a Cottonmouth, our first Eastern Kingbird sightings of the year, and our first Solitary Sandpiper sighting on the refuge.

After the tour, we took Sami on a short ride through the North Gautier Unit then headed to the casino for a night of fun with Anita.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday we made it back to camp after making a stop for breakfast and a Sams run.  We didn't win any money, (that we took home), but had a great time at the casino.

We spent the afternoon moving stuff around to get ready for flooring replacement at HQ.  We found out after the fact, that the flooring will be delayed for a few weeks.  It was another no picture taking, kind of day.

Friday morning 6 of the HQ gang and an unbanded were hanging around HQ.

While we were getting a few chores done, we saw a bunch of Cedar waxwings in the HQ savanna.

This afternoon we went on an orchid safari with Jake and Theresa.  We were hoping to find Calopogon multiflorus in a new location, the Coke Savanna.  

As we were driving out on Crane Lane, we stopped for an North American Racer that was crossing the road.  Theresa jumped out and grabbed it.  Needless to say, these Interns are into herpes.

On the way, we stopped and admired the Calopogon multiflorus that we found earlier in the week at the East Valentine Savanna.

We also found a frog skeleton.

We tromped around in the savanna for a couple of hours.  We found a lot of pretties, but not the rare ones that we were looking for.

We had several cranes around during our search, including our favorites, Banana and Coconut. 

 

A Swallow-tailed Kite did a fly over as we were walking back to the van.

We got back and relaxed at Camp Crane.  After all the walking, it was much needed.

Friday Pics:

Saturday morning we checked on the Beasley Eagle nest.  We only saw one of the babies.  It appears Bad Beak may have flown the coop.

We did not have the first crane show up for the 40 visitors that we had in the visitor center today.  After the thunderstorm, we sat outside and relaxed at Camp Crane.  We could hear the cranes calling late afternoon near the visitor center.

Saturday Pics:

Crane Ranch - 3-19-23 - 3-25-23

Sunday, was another cold day with the temps in the 50's and the wind blowing about 10 mph.  We did a little bit of shopping in the morning waiting for the weather to warm a bit.  After lunch, we headed out on our first 2023 orchid safari.  We went to the South Gautier Unit to an area that was burned 6 weeks ago.  The first place that we checked was too wet for the Calopogon multiflorus.  Even though we did not find our target orchid, we found several other orchids, Rose Pagonia, Pale Grasspink, and Bearded Grasspink, along with several other cool plants and critters.

Our second location that we checked looked more like the habitat for the Many Flowered Grasspink, and it was.  We found 2 plants, one of them had blooms.  Cha-ching!

While we were looking for the orchids, we had 2  Red-tailed Hawk squawking and flying above us.  It appears that we got too close to their nest.

We were tired of the cold wind, so we did a road survey in an area that was burned a month ago in the North Gautier Unit.  We didn't find any orchids, but we did see at least 15 Sandhill Cranes. 

 

It has been a great start to the week, having 35 crane sightings and a successful orchid safari.

Sunday Pics:

Monday, on our way to check on the Beasley eagle nest, we saw a pretty Red-tailed Hawk.

This afternoon, we got the new directional signs up along Gautier Vancleave Rd and a few other chores done around the visitor center.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday morning, a Dark-eyed Junco was feeding on the seed at Camp Crane.

The HQ gang were hanging around the feeder and the HQ savanna.   They were around for most of the day, which is always good for the visiters.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday, we had some nice, local, folks on our Crane Tour.  It was a fun tour seeing 35 cranes.  Our 2 hour tour lasted 3 1/2 hours.  Time flies when you are having fun.

As we were checking on the Beasley Eagle nest, a sub-adult Bald Eagle was checking it out as well.  The Eaglets were not fond of the attention they were getting, especially from the Eagle that was gawking at them.  He perched on the edge of the nest for a bit, then flew away.  Whew!  I am glad he was not looking for a meal. 

While we were checking out the Eagle nest, we found a baby pond slider on a log with his head resting on a limb.  So dang cute!

The HQ gang were hanging out in the backyard when we returned from our 3 1/2 hour tour.

We met Anita at Island View and had a great celebration for my birthday.  Not to mention, the great view that we had.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, we lounged around and drank coffee with Anita, and still made it back to Camp Crane by 9 am.  That's what happens when you get up at 6 am.  

On our way to the Fire Center to check on the lawn mower, a Fox Squirrel was scurrying in a tree along the edge of Crane Lane.

As we were taking the squirrel's picture, a Swallow-tailed Kite fly over Crane Lane.  Our camera lens were a little bit foggy for clear shots, but it is what it is.

Lauren got some great pictures of Palamedes Swallowtail butterflies that were attracted to the blooming Bristle Thistles.

We disposed of some tires that were dumped at the North Gautier gate, worked on the lawnmower, and pulled some grass from the native plant garden.

 

We topped off the afternoon, by doing a little arm chair birding and squirrel watching at Camp Crane.

Thursday Pics:

Friday, we eased into the day then took a stroll along the Dees Trail and Crane Lane enjoying all the pretties along the way.

We had another entertaining evening of arm chair birding at Camp Crane.

Friday Pics:

Saturday, we only had 2 people show up for the Crane Tour.  Not a problem, they seemed to really enjoy their private tour.

The cranes did not disappoint.  We saw 21 of them during the tour.

We saw several other bird species while we were out and about including a Great Blue Heron nesting at the Valentine Pond rookery.

One of the Eagle parents had brought lunch (fish) to the Beasley babies.

On our way out of South Gautier Unit, we saw 3 Little Blue Herons.

After resting up a bit, we took a stroll along the Dees Trail and watched an Osprey enjoy his fish in a tree across the bayou.

As we were relaxing at Camp Crane this afternoon, we had a Bald Eagle fly over.  It has been another great week at the ranch!

Saturday Pics: