We spent the morning around camp getting ready for our Anniversary Eve trip to Island View tomorrow. My sweet sister, Anita, got us a room for tomorrow night. She is staying tonight, so we met her there this afternoon and had a great visit. We had a gorgeous sunset when we left the casino tonight.
Monday
We had 8 tourist and 6 people on the waiting list for the Crane Tour this morning. We saw 8 Sandhill Cranes, an American Kestrel, several Great Egrets, Red-tailed Hawks, Geese, and a Great Blue Heron A great time was had by all.
We went to Island View after the tour. We walked the beach on this cloudy, cool day, had drinks at Prime Cut, walked to Chandelier Brewing Company and had a sampler platter of beer, then went to Carter Green Steakhouse for prime rib. It was an awesome Anniversary Eve Celebration.
Tuesday
We had a Happy 37 Year Anniversary. We shore bird watched along Highway 90 then went to McLeod to visit George and Lisa and checked out the nature in the area. I would have never dreamed 37 years ago that we would have spent our anniversary checking out nature.
We had a nice campfire this afternoon at Camp Refuge with the volunteers, celebrating Charlie's birthday and our anniversary.
Wednesday
The rain last night cancelled the school outing that was planned for today at the VC. Too bad, it was a gorgeous day. We visited Oak Grove Trail to continue our work on the trail brochure.
We had an impromptu afternoon tour of 3 people and saw 11 Sandhill Cranes, a Bobcat, the Eagle twin nestlings, several Great Egrets, an American Kestrel, several Deer, a Belted Kingfisher, several Red-tailed Hawks, Geese, and an Southern Black Racer. The critters were on the move this afternoon.
Thursday
We worked the VC today with the Loew's and Pat. We went to Tiki for the Hall's farewell luncheon.
We watched a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, making a hole in a dead tree. We suspect they may be building a nest.
We found our first blooms for the Pale Pitcher Plants, Zig Zag Bladderworts, and the Yellow Butterworts on the CL Dees Trail today. Let the blooming begin!!
Friday
We walked the CL Dees Trail and the Fountainebleu Trail today. The bridge replacement at Fountainebleu is long overdue and looks fabulous. Every time we go, they have done more habitat restoration. The trail is looking better and better.
We were told that there are a couple of Sandhill Cranes hanging out at Sunplex around 11 am every day. As we were passing by the area on the way to Fountainebleu, I had just got out of my mouth that I thought someone was lying about seeing cranes here. We saw 2. They did a fly by when we stopped to admire. After further research, we found out this is the same male from last years pair that hung out here. He has found another, after his other half died of Liver Cancer last summer.
Later this afternoon, we saw 2 Sandhill Cranes visiting outside the temporary pen. The 5 Sandhill Cranes were very energetic and dancing. A great view from the back yard of the HQ savanna.
Saturday
Happy One Year Anniversary At The Refuge!!!!
It has been a year today that we parked the camper at Camp Refuge. We never dreamed we would still be here and having fun. What a year!
We covered for Pat at the VC today and worked with Jeff. Around 1 pm, we went to the South Gautier Unit just to check on the Eagle nestlings and to take pictures of the progress of the vegetation after the burn one month ago.
By the time we got past the pond on Firetower Road, we saw 2 Great Egrets, 2 Sandhill Cranes, a Great Blue Heron, and an Alligator. On this 3 hour tour, we saw 9 Sandhill Cranes, Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, a Cooper Hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk, and an Alligator. The critters were moving.
The twin Eagle nestlings were sitting up in the nest with their parents nearby in the tree limbs.
The Beasley Baby was standing in the nest with one of his parents nearby. BB was standing behind a limb obstructing our pictures, but his parent was standing magnificent with the wings spread making a perfect pose for the camera.
We saw a lot of new Pale Pitcher Plants, Tracey's Sundews, Pineland Daisies, Pipeworts, and Butterworts emerging in the recently burned savannas..
Ole Hawk eye, AKA Lauren, made a good find today in one of the burned savannas. A Pringle Turpentine Cup that was used to collect resin from the Long Leaf Pines back in the day. It was in really good shape and surprisingly, no cracks
Weeks worth of pictures:
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