Crane Ranch - 8-20-23 - 8-26-23

We had a bit of breeze on this hot Sunday morning for our walk along the Dees Trail and Crane Lane.  Our efforts were rewarded with lots of pollinators enjoying the blooms.

We got back and relaxed in the a/c for the rest of the day.  It is going to be another 100-degree day in South Mississippi.

Sunday Pics:

We got in 4 hours of work on Monday.  We went to the Fontainebleau Trail, cut up a fallen tree that was blocking the trail and repaired a board on the overlook.  The day was hot again, but not quite as bad with the wind blowing.

When we returned, we stayed inside where it was cool.

Monday Pics:  

Tuesday, Lauren, Cole, and I spent this hot day getting a few signs put up at Grand Bay.  Even though it was a 100 degrees, it was doable.  We made quite the team and the signs look great!  

We spent the afternoon, chilling out in the a/c.  You seeing a trend here?

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday, Lauren strolled the Dees Trail while I eased into the day. 

 

We made a trip to Crossroads to get the mail.  On our way back, we stopped at Island View.  We walked out with $60 of their money.  As an added bonus, we got comped buffets!  A nice way to spend a hot afternoon. 

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, it took us two trips to the Oak Grove Trail, but we finally got the sign project finished.  Today was a lot more humid than yesterday.  We had sweat rolling down our legs standing still in the shade.  We got some limbs cut with the poles saw and placed 2 interpretive signs, a daylight use only sign, and some directional signs.  Whew!!

 

When we returned, we had a much needed rain.  It didn't last long, but it was long enough to settle the dust.

Thursday Pics:

Friday, Lauren was already on the trail at 7:30 when I got up.  He thought he would find the critters more active after yesterday's rain.  He found a few critters and a few biteing Deer Flies. 

We thought about doing some mowing or sign placement.  Our thoughts changed when Jake and Theresa asked us to help them with bownet repairs.  The break from the heat was definitely what we needed.

We got the bownet repaired and set up at HQ.  Bownet watch will resume next week!

Saturday, Lauren got a Dees Trail walk in.  I met him for a Crane Lane walk. The HQ Gang were not very happy with the bownet.  They walked around it and vocalized their disagreement of it's presence.  Only Link was brave enough to eat the corn inside of it.  

 Afterwards, we headed to Island View  to meet Anita for Abbamania.  Another great time was had by all.

Saturday Pics:

  

Crane Ranch - 8-13-23 - 8-19-23

We managed a stroll around the Dees Trail and Crane Lane on another hot day.  The critter sightings were not as many as we usually see.  Although, Lauren got lucky and got a new, (for him), iNaturalist species, a Little Metalmark.

We found an Eastern Lubber on Crane Lane.  As we were trying to coax it off the road, it flashed it's pretty colors.  

The afternoon was spent organizing stuff in the camper.

Sunday Pics:

Monday we thought we would put in a couple of hours in at the visitor center.  That couple of hours turned into 5 hours of piddling.

Lauren took an afternoon stroll along the Dees Trail getting some more good photos.  I stayed in the comfort of the a/c. 

Monday Pics: 

Tuesday morning was another hot stroll along the Dees Trail and Crane Lane taking a few pictures.  It was pollinator Tuesday, except for the one crab spider picture. 

The afternoon we met Anita for another fun night at the casino.

Tuesday Pics:

We actually got a little rain Tuesday night which resulted in cooler temperatures and lower humidity for Wednesday.  Who would have thought 90 degrees could feel so good!  After we got back from the casino, we did our usual stroll along the Dees Trail and Crane Lane and got a few chores done around the visitor center.

This afternoon, some of the HQ Gang were congregated under the shade of the HQ blind.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, Lauren was out and about a little after 7 am enjoying the 72 degree weather that we are having.  He found some of the HQ crew heading through the toothache grass for their morning snack.

We started our work day, hiking the Fontainebleau Trail.  Something we haven't done in a while.  We were rewarded with first of the year, Orange Fringed Orchid blooming.

We got a glimpse of the Sunplex Family enjoying their yellow gold on our way back.

We also found the cogon grass is taking over parts of the trail.  After 2 trips to the trail, we have a plan to spray it in the morning. 

We found Yoshi and Link enjoying their yellow gold when we made our return to the Ranch.

Thursday Pics:

We were out and about at 7:15 am Friday, to help Stoesz spray the cogon grass at Fontainebleau Trail.  While we were there we did some lopping as well.  

We went riding around with Cole evaluating signs that need replacing.  While we were out and about, we saw a family of Cranes at the Gautier Pasture. They didn't stay around for a photo.  

We made a 3rd trip to the Fontainebleau Trail to reopen the trail.  We put in 7 hours on this no picture taking kind of day.

Saturday morning we heard the cranes calling as they flew in.  Music to our ears.  By the time we got out for our walk, there was only the unbanded at the HQ feeder.

On our way to the trail, we stopped and admired a Garden Spider.  It is pretty cool to see the zipper it sews into it's web.

We had quite a variety of birds, spiders, plants, pollinators, and one lounging frog hanging out on a Cypress limb.

We spent the afternoon at the bunkhouse playing cards with Jake and Theresa.  A fun way to spend a hot afternoon. 

Saturday Pics: 

Crane Ranch - 8-6-23 - 8- 12-23

Sunday, I lazed around while Lauren did his usual nature chasing stuff.  As he was walking down the driveway he saw a Gray Ratsnake.

When he went into the visitor center, he disturbed Thunder, Unbanded, Yoshi, and Mist as they were standing in the shade by the back door. 

The Dotted Horsemint has started blooming giving the native plant garden some color.

The Rattlesnake Master were all abuzz in the garden. 

 

I joined Lauren for a stroll along Crane Lane then we headed to check out the new dam at Valentine Pond.  It is coming along quite nicely.

While we were out and about, we took a ride through the South Gautier and saw some unphotogenic cranes.  At least the Little Blue Heron, the Great Egret, and the Solitary Sandpiper were considerate enough to hang around for their photos.

The afternoon was spent inside with the ac.  These days of temps in the upper 90's are brutal.

Sunday Pics:

Monday we spent another day getting stuff put back up at HQ.  We got outside late afternoon and saw our first Inca Dove at the refuge.  They were hanging with the Mourning Doves at Camp Crane.  A new iNaturalist species for the refuge.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday, Lauren spent the day getting the oil changed in the visitor center vehicles while I got the volunteer desk area in order.  It took us both hours to get this done, but it is taken care of .  It was a no picture taking kind of day.

Wednesday, we helped Jake and Theresa pressure wash the DGF tanks.  The 2023 DGF season is a wrap!

Thursday, we left HQ at 6:30 am in the hopes of catching one of the Riley Road Cranes to band.  Unfortunately, there was construction near the area that changed their morning routine.  We will try again tomorrow.

On a very happy note, the visitor center reopened today.  YAHOO!!  

We saw several cranes when went to the North Gautier Unit to see the completion of the new Valentine Dam.

As we were admiring the dam, we saw Avalanche and another crane standing out in the pond along the cypress trees cooling off. Pretty smart birds.

We got a few errands done then took a stroll along the Dees Trail.  It was hot, but at least we had a hot wind blowing that helped a little bit.  We saw quit a few interesting critters along the way, including one of our favorites, a Hummingbird Moth.  It seems to enjoy the pretty Ironweed blooms as much as we do.

The HQ crew were all standing under the shade of the blind chilling out when we came back.  It is so nice of them to frequent this area.

Thursday Pics:

Friday, we left HQ at 6 a.m. trying to catch the unbanded RR youngster.  We got in place and waited, hoping the youngster would show up and we would chase him down.  A little before 8 am we saw the parents and his sibling fly by.  We aborted the mission.  As we were recapping what was going on, we heard the cranes call and saw the 3 of them fly back toward the area they came from and got a visual on all 4 of them.  The youngster we wanted to catch had stayed behind.  It sure was good to know it is alive and well.   

The rest of the hot day was spent doing a few chores which included a walk along the Dees Trail to update the plant markers.  When we returned, and were working on a few things in the visitor center, we saw a Doe walking through the toothache grass in the savanna. 

 

When we headed home, we saw a Doe with her fawn heading toward Camp Crane.  So stinking cute!

Friday Pics:

I slept until 8 am Saturday morning.  It felt good to sleep in after getting up the last 2 mornings at 5 am.  After lounging most of the morning, we finally got out at 10 am to take a stroll along the Dees Trail.  The critters were active and a nice distraction from the heat.

  

We watched a Red-bellied Woodpecker open mouth breathing, sticking out his tongue, fluffing the feathers on his head, and spanning out his wing.  It appears he was about as hot as we were.

We talked with a few nice folks in the visitor center then sat inside the the camper in the comfort of the a/c.  This has been another week of sweltering temperatures in the upper 90s with no rain.  Mother Nature, we need a break.

Saturday Pics: