Anita came along for the shore bird watching today.
Anita won a little, we lost a little, and off to the room we went.
Monday
We enjoyed our morning, drinking coffee with Anita with a great view of the sun rising from the East. Then we had a great Christmas lunch at the bunkhouse with HQ staff, our co-volunteers, and the interns.
Recently released cranes, aka Free Birds, roosted in a fire lane last night. They are living on the edge.
Instead of taking a nap after lunch, we hiked Graveline Beach. It was a beautiful cool day for a walk on the beach. We saw a Loggerhead Shrike first thing. We watched an Eagle and Osprey in flight together, several different Egrets, a few shorebirds, and a Western King-bird.
When we returned, Ferny Kat was ready for some bird watching herself, so out we went.
Tuesday
This beautiful, cool, day influenced us to go birding at Dauphin Island. We were entertained at Audubon Birding Trail by several birds, including several Blue Jays harassing an American Kestrel. We made our usual picnic stop and watched a few shore birds.
As we made our way across the Escatawpa River, on our way home, we saw an adult Bald Eagle and a Juvenile on the power lines. On our adventure to get a better view of these birds, we found a Egret roost area under the bridge.
While I was taking a picture of a couple of Egrets in a tree together, a Pelican flew by. We now have a new birding area. Thanks, Bald Eagles.
The Free Birds are still touring around. They flew across I10 and checked out the salt marsh at the Pascagoula River yesterday.
Wednesday
We worked the Visitor's Center today. The Hall's did a morning Crane Tour, and we did an afternoon Crane Tour.
It was a very productive day of sightings. We saw 8 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, deer, Egrets, a Kingfisher, and a Bald Eagle.
The first couple of Sandhill Cranes we saw on Brown's Trail, started calling and flew right over the van. A great way to start the tour.
The Bald Eagle we saw at the turn around at Beasley, must have wanted in on the action. He flew over the van, circled a few times in the crop field, then flew away. A great grand finale of sightings.
Last night, Free Birds, roosted in the savanna by I10. Today they stayed most of the day at the HQ savanna and ate from the feeder.
Thursday
We worked the Visitor's Center again today with an afternoon Crane Tour. It was another productive crane sighting day.
We saw 9 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, a Fox Squirrel, several Egrets, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, an American Kestrel, 2 Eagles on 2 different nest, and an Armadillo.
The Fox Squirrel ran down the road toward the van and really put on a show. It seemed a lighter color than the one that we see at the VC.
The Armadillo also put on a great show. He ran along the road in the savanna.
I guess the Fox Squirrel and the Armadillo wanted in on the Crane attention.
I'm not sure what critter was the most entertaining today.
Free Birds visited the pond and roosted in a low area near the pen. They need to smarten up and roost in the pond before they get predator ated.
Friday
We worked the VC today. Lauren helped Charley prepare for their camper to be towed out of Camp Crane. They plan on bringing another one in a few weeks.
Free Birds roosted on fire line to the north, (G04). Still living on the edge.
Saturday
We had 6 people on our Crane Tour this morning, a couple from Indiana and a family from Minnesota, (Mom, Dad, a 6 yr. old and and 11 yr old).
We saw a Pied-billed Grebe, a Great Blue Heron, a Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagles in both nests, a Bald Eagle flying, an Armadillo, and a Red-tailed Hawk. The tour, as the 11 yr. old said was,
" amazing."
Dougie, #1510, and an unbanded Crane really put on a show. They were just a few feet off the road walking in Bright's Pasture. They walked and foraged in the field. Then, Dougie and #1510 started dancing. It was a very entertaining venue.
The Armadillo was also a hit. He ran around in the savanna and posed for us. The tourist had never seen an armadillo before and were as excited to see it as they were the dancing cranes. The 11 yr. old has named the armadillo, Monkey Bread. She heard the stories of Sticky Bunz and wanted to call him Monkey Bread in honor of Bunz.
The Bald Eagle got in on the action as well. Two of them were in their separate nest, and one flew over with Spanish moss in his claws heading to the nest. I guess he was adding more insulation to the nest after the cold temperature that we had last night.
We had planned on a couple hour tour being we had plans for the Williams Christmas Party at Erica's. That 2 hour tour lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. We still made it to the party, just a little late.
We had a great time at the party, and continued with the great time at Anita's. Her and Lucy were quite the hostess.
Free Birds finally roosted in the G07 pond at HQ!!
The week of pictures:
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