We woke up Sunday morning and thought it was a stay inside, and watch it rain kind of day. After a morning shower, it looked like we might have a reprise from the rain. So we decided to take advantage of it.
On our way to the South Gautier Unit, we saw NV11 and 337 at the HQ feeder.
We saw 9 more Cranes and a few deer on our drive thru the South Gautier Unit.
We were picking up trash at the North Gautier gate when we heard the Cranes a calling. The Little German Family flew across the fire lane. They were not happy about us being so close to them.
The Truffle and Milhouse Family were not very happy with us either, as we rode by the Brown's trail Crop Unit feeder.
On the other hand, Banana and Coconut obviously were happy that we run off the Truffle/Milhouse Family. They were headed to the feeder as soon as the family left. The family does not want to share the feeder with them.
Our return drive to the Crop Unit, heading to Valentine Pond, the family flew off again, giving Coco and Nana another chance at the feeder.
We had 10 Sandhill Crane sightings at the North Gautier Unit. This rainy weather had the Cranes very active.
We went this afternoon, to collect the phenology data at Fontainebleau Trail. We had an Eagle flyover on Old Spanish Trail. Too bad, we couldn't get a picture.
We made it back to camp and sat outside watching the birds and waited for the rain, that never came.
Monday, we took a stroll along the Dees Trail and was headed down Crane Lane when the rain started. We had on and off light showers today. Just enough rain to keep us close to Camp.
On our way to Gautier Tuesday morning, we spotted a couple of Cranes behind the Firetower.
We had a Black swallowtail caterpillar feasting on the Water Cowbane in the plant garden.
We also had a Long-tailed Skipper enjoying the Giant Blue Sage.
The birding activity on Crane Lane picked up this morning. Not only did we see the usual's, but had our first spotting of Tennessee Warblers.
We had another first, a Black Saddlebags on the Dees Trail.
We started putting the tin on the Kubota shed this afternoon.
As we were relaxing at Camp around 6 pm, we had Tennessee Warblers and Chestnut-sided Warblers make a visit. Our sightings of the Chestnut-sided Warblers gave us 3 new species today.
We enjoyed our stroll along the Dees Trail Wednesday morning before getting back to work putting the tin on the shed. We completed the project and have a Kubota house.
Thursday, we had a Fontainebleau Pen work day with Fire and Bio. We started the morning with stitching some of the netting edges with zip ties in the Fire Center parking lot.
The Fire Team rode in the Marsh Master, placing the netting over the Chain Link fencing and the cable. It made our job so much easier, not to be climbing up and down ladders while pulling on the netting. The Fire Team's youth and access to equipment made our lives a lot easier.
I have never seen Scott smile as much as he did today as he admired the construction of the new netted pen.
We had an 8 1/2 hour day but have made some great progress.
Friday, was another Fontainebleau Pen work day with Erin. We got the netting secured to the poles.
We had an abundance of netting inside the pen, which we worked diligently rolling up and securing to the chain link fence. It took a lot of creative thinking, but we did an awesome job.
Inside the fencing was like being in a butterfly garden. We had all kinds of moths and butterflies flying around.
The netting not only will protect the Cranes from prey but the butterflies were protected as well when a Praying Mantis was on the outside of the netting trying to figure out how to get to his prey.
We made a stroll along the Dees Trail this afternoon. Not much going on except a fort that someone has built from limbs. We will have to move them before we mow again.
Ferny Kat enjoyed her outside time this afternoon.
We stayed around Camp Saturday, getting our walking in while enjoying nature. We saw all kinds of cool critters and plants.
The evening wrapped up with pretty sunset reflections on da bayou.
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