1-20-19 - 1-26-19 (Week 47)

Sunday
I spent the day reorganizing the cabinets and washing clothes.  We watched the Saint's loose the play off game, Boo Hoo!!  It was too cold and windy to be out and about today.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be a more outside, kind of day.

Monday
It took most of the day to warm up enough to get a walk in, but at least we did have a good late afternoon walk, although we didn't see many birds.

We had Doves, Robins, Cardinals, American Goldfinch, Purple finches, and a Blue Jay eating their smorgasbord from the feeder at the camper.  As much as they eat, they should be full and happy.

We watched the sky's colorful palate at sunset from the comforts of the camper.

                            
                                 

Tuesday

It was another cloudy, windy day.  We did a little shore bird watching, went out to eat Mexican, met Anita at Island View, watched a Celine Dion wanna be concert, or at least Lauren did.  Anita and I went back to the room after a couple of songs. 

Wednesday

We made it back to Camp Refuge with a full belly of breakfast buffet.  It was a stay inside, rainy, windy day.  

Thursday

The gigless gig continues due to the government shutdown.  The sun was shining and the cold wind was blowing.  We were able to get out late afternoon and get a little bit of walking in.  

We sat on the back porch and watched for our Free Birds that we haven't seen in over a week.  We didn't see them, but we did get to watch two Red-tailed Hawks circling overhead. 

Friday

This beautiful day was spent walking and enjoying the outdoors.  We made three hikes up and down Crane Lane and a round or two on the CL Dees Trail.  

We checked out the Dusky Gopher Tadpoles in the tanks.  Some of them were more photogenic than others. 

We went looking for Chapman's Butterworts around the roost pond at the HQ Savanna.  We didn't find them, but we did find evidence of another Crane mortality from the mean old Bobcat.  We left the evidence undisturbed and will let Biology check it out next week.

And Yes, the Government Shutdown is over, for now.  We will get back into our gig on Monday.

Saturday

We did our walking while waiting on our laundry on this beautiful, sunny day.  We finally saw one of the Free Birds and an unbanded crane at the HQ pen.  We sure were glad to see she is alive and well.

We did our Crane drive and saw a few Cranes.  

We went to Grand Bay NWR, did a bit of hiking didn't see anything really exciting this trip.

Week of pictures are here:

1-13-19 - 1-19-19 (Week 46)

Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday
The Government shutdown continues, leaving us gigless.  We went home Sunday, had a short visit with Anita and Lucy, watched the Saint's win a play off game, stayed at home Monday and did a few chores, and went back to Camp Refuge, on this cold Tuesday.  The sun finally came out when we arrived a Camp Refuge, but it was too cold to enjoy the outdoors.

Wednesday
Another can't go to work day was spent walking a bunch.  We walked the CL Dees Trail, Crane Lane, and the Fountainebleu Trail.  We walked over 7 miles today on this pretty day and saw the usual pretty birds.

                             Someone is leaving carved walking sticks along Fountainebleu Trail.👍

We made the Crane Loop and saw several Sandhill Cranes at Bright's Pasture.  We haven't seen our Free Birds in a few days.

Thursday
We went to Graveline Beach to walk and shorebird watch.  The light rain changed our mind.  We rode around and looked at birds from the comfort of the jeep.

Late afternoon, we saw a couple of Sandhill Cranes at the HQ savanna but could not ID.

We met the volunteers for dinner at Aunt Jennies for a good catfish meal.  We are all past ready for the Visitor's Center to reopen.

Friday
We spent the day at Dauphin Island.  It was a foggy day for the most part.  We had nice walks on the beach and on the Audubon Birding Trail.  We found a lot of the same ole shore birds, an Owl nesting, and some dauphins.

Saturday
We hung around Camp Crane today doing a little bit of bird watching.  The windy and occasional rain put a damper on very many bird sightings.

The whole week of pictures:

1-6-19 - 1-12-19 - (Week 45)

Sunday
A beautiful sunny, Sunday.  We got our exercise in walking around Camp Crane today, then cleaned up Amber.

Wind therapy was long overdue, as it had been about 9 months since we rode Amber.  We took a couple hour ride to Pascagoula.  We saw 100's of White Pelicans and the usual shore birds.  It was getting cool by the time we got back to Camp Crane.

It was Ferny Kat outdoor time when we got back.  She chased off birds, then treed a squirrel.

We sat by the propane fire pit for a bit, then called it a night.

Monday
We spent the day birding today.  We walked the CL Dees Trail twice, rode around Pascagoula, and sat on the back porch of the Visitor's Center.

We did see 2 Sandhill Cranes in the HQ savanna.  One of the Cranes was one of the Free Birds.  We could not ID the other.  We sure hope all is well in the Crane World.

Tuesday
We traveled west on I 10 to Waveland, then hit Highway 90 east bound beaching.  They have really made some improvements on the Beach in Waveland/ Bay St. Louis area.  They have a nice walkway/bike path and several new piers.  We saw the common shorebirds.

We met Anita for a night at Island View.  We contributed our little bit to the casino and watched a great beach sunset.

Wednesday
Anita went with us shore bird watching today from the comforts of the jeep.  It was a very low tide and very few birds to see.  They must have been hiding from the wind.

We ate lunch at Tony's Brick Oven Pizza.  Judy Hathcock had told us the food was good, and it was.

We dropped Anita off at Island View and checked out a few crane spots on the way back.  The couple we saw were huddled down in the grass hiding from the wind.

As usual, we got a good talking to from Ferny Kat when we got home.

Thursday
Another day off due to the government shutdown.  We spent the day cleaning the camper windows and walls, and washing clothes.

We haven't seen the Free Birds in a few days.  We sure do miss them.

Friday
Another Government Shutdown day.  We spent the morning walking around at Camp Crane.  We saw 2 Sandhill Cranes in the HQ savanna, one was one of our Free Birds.  We hope the other has found a new home and is safe and sound.

We met the Hall's, Loew's, Pat, and Angie for lunch at Dynasty Buffet.  On our way, we went on the Crane route and found 19 Sandhill Cranes in Bright's Pasture, and 2 more at Sandhill Landing.  We had another great lunch with good friends.

We were rewarded when we did a late afternoon check on the HQ Savanna watching a fly off of the 2 cranes toward South Gautier/Firetower.

Saturday
An 8 point Buck was hanging around Camp Crane this morning when Lauren got up.  He didn't seem to have a care in the word.

Another gigless gig for us volunteers today.  We rode to Graveline Beach, Mars Pier, and Ocean Springs birding.  The tide was high and the birds were few.  It was a good way to spend a cloudy, occasional misty, day.

We walked the CL Dees Trail, found one of the Free Birds and an unbanded in the HQ savanna, and grilled a burger this afternoon.

Whole week of pics:

12-29-18 - 1-5-19 (Week 44)

Sunday
We watched the deer and the birds outside the camper this morning.  We took a leisurely walk along CL Dees Trail and were pleased to find  the Pineland Daisies and a Stoke's Aster in bloom.

We also found Stinkhorns on the trail. Lauren tells me they really smell bad, I will take his word on it.

We made a couple of passes along the Crane hot spots today.   We saw about 10 on our first round, then saw 25 in Bright's Pasture on the 2nd round.  We think some of these were Greater Sandhill Cranes. We really enjoyed watching them dance.  We saw a total of 35 Sandhill Cranes.  Another record breaking Crane Sighting day.

We enjoyed watching the shore birds and Dolphins at Ocean Springs, especially the Eagle chasing an Osprey.

We went to Hiller Park and found several songbirds and shorebirds, then made a stop at Courthouse Pier.

Monday
The last day of 2018 was muggy and rainy.  We went birding at Pascagoula and saw numerous Ospreys and American Kestrels, along with several other birds.  The birding at Point Park was scant. It probably had a lot to do with a Peregrine Falcon's presence.

Our last meal of this year was Popeye's Fried Chicken, and it was good.

Tuesday - Happy New Year!
The Free birds and their 2 new friends hung out in the Headquarter Savanna today.  They were very active, poking at each other, flying, foraging, and calling.

We made our Crane hot spot pass again today and found 15 of them in Bright's Pasture along with a  couple others at Sandhill Landing.

The Free Birds and their friends were in the back yard of the Visitor's Center when we returned.  Looks like they have made this their home.

Wednesday - Happy 9 Month Volunteer Gig To Us
The government shutdown continues.  We went to the Lagoons for a Christmas Bird Count with the Gulf Coast Audubon Group.  We spent the day riding around with Sharon looking for birds.

Even though it was a foggy, cloudy day, we found plenty of birds.  One of the first species we counted were Sandhill Cranes.  There must have been at least 50 Sandhill Cranes gathered together.  We continued seeing more and more all day and were constantly hearing them call, a sound we never get tired of.  On our way home, we made a pass by Bright's Pasture and saw 17 more.  We must have seen over a hundred Sandhill Cranes.  Definitely a record breaker.

The after count, pizza party, revealed a total of 134 species found on the Gulf Coast, plus some more that had not been reported.

Thursday 
Another no work day due to the government shutdown.  We are off until next Thursday, that is if the shutdown is discontinued.

We woke up to the highest water we have ever seen in the bayou at Camp Crane.

An early morning Crane calling, had me out and about watching for them in the savanna.

We walked the CL Dees Trail and saw more flood water, but only a few birds.  There were more birds at Camp Crane than at the trail.  We found another pretty bloom, a Common Blue Violet on the trail.

Late afternoon, the Free Birds and their friends were at it again - calling, walking, flying, and foraging in the headquarters savanna. 

Friday
We woke up to sunshine glistening off the high water of Bayou Castille.  We were in much need of sunshine therapy today after all the cloudy, rainy, days we have had.

The government shutdown didn't keep us from a Volunteer Luncheon at Woody's.  It was great for all of us to be together again.  The food was good, but the company was better.

We took a ride around Ocean Springs and then to Bright's Pasture for our Crane fix.  We were excited to see 21 Sandhill Cranes in the pasture.  They were not very excited though.  They were pretty close to the road, eating, preening,and standing on one foot.  A couple of them laid down, they looked like I felt after the heavy meal I ate.

We didn't see the Free Birds today, but we did see a Red Tail Hawk circling and squawking right at dark at Camp Crane.

Saturday
We spent this beautiful, warm day at Camp Crane getting our walk in while getting our clothes washed.

We saw some pretty cool birds today including a Merlin and a juvenile Bald Eagle.

We only saw 3 of the 4 Sandhill Cranes at the HQ savanna.  They were too far off to identify.  Hopefully, 2 of these are the Free Birds.

The week of pictures:

Christmas Bird Count photos: