We spent most of our day off hanging around Camp Refuge getting a few chores done. We walked the CL Dees Trail and Crane Lane. We saw the Free Birds in the fire lane from Crane Lane.
When we returned from Walmart this afternoon, the Free Birds were near the gate along Crane Lane. They were eating at the feeder in the back yard, right before dark.
Monday
We pulled weeds and fertilized the plants in the native flower garden while manning the VC today. We had 24 visitors, which is pretty good for a Monday.
Tuesday
We went to Oak Grove Trail today to put the finishing touches on the trail brochure that we have been designing. We cleared brush away from some posts and took pictures. We also picked up garbage and did other trail maintenance.
Late afternoon, the Free Birds were near Crane Lane at the VC. When Dix rode by on his bicycle, they started calling. After he left, they started dancing, as if to say, we showed him!! Coconut has finally got her adult voice. Banana and Crabapple still have the juvenile chirping sound.
Wednesday
We woke up to the elusive call of our Free Birds. What a way to start the day!.
We had a 10 am Crane Tour with 7 tourist, 3 of these were college students that were completing their Biology class assignment. It was a another great tour.
The Great Blue Herons were in shift change on their nest near the Valentine Pond.
We only saw 2 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes in Bright"s Pasture this entire tour. It was a pair that previously were assumed to have a nest. Either their nest has failed, or there was a colt hiding in the deep grass way across the pasture.
Goober and Georgie, the recent fledged Eaglets, did not disappoint. Georgia flew away when we arrived at the nest. Goober was more of an entertainer. He allowed us to view him in the spotting scope before flying away.
After the tour, Lauren mowed and I manned the VC . I stayed busy with 18 more visitors coming through the VC in this hour and a half.
After closing, we walked the CL Dees Trail and took pictures of the plant recovery since the recent burn. When we got back, the interns were coming back from their long day. The 3 Free Birds posed for a picture with the Raptor, (Angie's truck), then flew away.
After dinner we heard all kinds of sirens at the VC. The Gautier Fire Department had responded to a false smoke alarm with 3 fire trucks. All was well at the VC.
We thought the Free Birds would be spooked after all the sirens and not come back to roost here tonight. We were wrong. They were foraging in the back yard about an hour later.
Thursday
We hung around Camp Crane nature watching today. As we were walking back on Crane Lane, the Free Birds were in the savanna heading to the feeder. We went inside the VC and watched them eat corn from the feeder, forage in the grass, dance a bit, then fly away. It was a nice, relaxing day.
Friday
We walked the CL Dees Trail and Crane Lane in this howling north wind today. We saw a lot of cool blooms, birds, and a photogenic Green Snake. The Free Birds were at their feeder for lunch.
Saturday
We saw dauphins as we crossed over the water headed to Dauphin Island today. We were hoping to see a lot of migratory birds resting here because of the howling north wind. Instead, we saw a lot of people. Oh well, it is a Saturday.
We had a nice walk at the Audubon Birding Sanctuary. We saw an Alligator, a Florida Softshell Turtle, some birds and blooms.
We ate lunch at Cadillac Park while watching a momma Blue Bird tending to her young.
We browsed around Shell Mound and saw a few birds. Most of the birds were hiding from all the people and the loud music coming from the nearby neighborhood.
Ferny Kat enjoyed her afternoon bird watching when we got back. A squirrel that had been asleep in the branches of the Oak Tree, slumbered by her as she lay under the bird feeder. It was quite a show, Ferny trying to catch the squirrel. Wonder what she would have done if she had caught him??
The Free Birds were at the headquarters late afternoon, bowing, dancing, and calling. We watched them walk from the back of headquarters, across the parking lot, and over the hill near the CL Dees Trail. They definitely are at home here.
Week of pictures:
Dauphin Island:
No comments:
Post a Comment