Saturday morning NV11, 337 and the HQ 5 were calling and flying above HQ. The adults were loud and proud while the youngsters sounded like a bunch of screaming kids. Maybe they were calling Happy New Year, or maybe NV11 and 337 were trying to get rid of the 5 cohorts. Whatever is was, it was a great start to the New Year.
We also saw a Red-tailed Hawk flying and a Doe and her yearling cross Camp Crane Road while we were admiring the Cranes.
We did our birding survey today in the Ocean Springs Unit. We saw 10 different species. The amazing part was, we saw more Bald Eagles than Sandhill Cranes. A great birding kind of day.
While we were cooking our Black-eyed peas and Cabbage casserole, Ferny Kat was out and about doing her exploring.
Saturday Pics: Happy New Year!!!
Sunday was another birding day. We saw the HQ5 near the pen before we left Camp Crane. We entered the South Gautier Unit and saw Greg and a couple of Sandhill Cranes.
The Deer and Fawn were standing in the road again. They are getting more photogenic every day.
An immature Eagle was perched in a pine tree as the rain fell.
We saw quite a few birds before heading to the North Gautier Unit. As usual, the Truffle family flushed from the feeder at Browns Trail Crop Unit, leaving room for Nana and Coco to get to their corn buffet. Their friend 2002 could not hang with them and flew a short ways into the savanna.
The 2020 Cohorts were also watching and could not hold their feet to the fire, flying out in the savanna as well.
We did a little more birding, snaking, and frogging before heading back to Camp Crane.
We found the Blue Crew and the HQ 5 heading toward the backyard when we returned.
We took a walk on the Dees Trail, then let Ferny Kat outside. She enjoyed her time for a bit, then the temps started falling, and she became a lap cat. It wasn't long she was ready to go inside.
After Ferny went in, we perched ourselves behind the HQ building and took tons of pictures of the squabbling cranes, until the 9 flew away, headed to their roost for the night.
No matter the squabbles, they are still together going to roost for the night.
Monday, was the Jackson County Christmas Bird Count. We were in the refuge group with Scott, the Interns, and 3 folks from Grand Bay. It was a cold, windy, cloudy start to the morning. We started the morning at the HQ savanna looking for grassland birds. Before we started our walk in the savanna, a Bald Eagle flew over.
One of the first Henslow's sparrow we flushed, landed and hid in the Saw Palmetto. I found him, and Lauren was able to get a picture of it. It isn't very often that a Henslow's allows a photo.
We sighted 16 Henslow's sparrows and a bunch more birds at the HQ and Kiosk savannas before moving to the North Gautier Unit.
We walked the recently burned savanna off of Browns Trail where all the Cranes like to hangout. They were not happy with us being in their territory. They flew and called circling above, letting us know this was their domain. This is the most Ms. Sandhill Cranes we have ever seen flying together. It is also the highest we have ever seen them fly and the longest amount of time we have seen them fly. Even the Craniac was impressed with them.
After lunch we went to the South Gautier Unit, where we found more Henslow's sparrows and other species as we walked the savannas.
Scott caught a ride with us on the way back to the refuge. We spotted an American Kestrel that hovered over the Beasley Crop Unit.
We were passing by the Beasley Pond, when Lauren stopped abruptly, after spotting an American Bittern. This was a great find. A species that has never been recorded on the refuge. Ole Eagle Eye has still got it!!
As Lauren and I were jumping out of the truck to get a picture of the Bittern, I heard Scott cursing about not being able to get out of the truck. I had forgot to pull my seat up for him, which made it difficult for him to get out, (OOPS). He managed to get out and everyone was able to admire the American Bittern. We had a good laugh on the way back to HQ about us bailing out on him.
We had the HQ 5 and 2 Unbanded Cranes flying at HQ for our final birds of the day!!
We had 5.67 miles of walking in the wet pine savanna. Needless to say, we are TIRED.
Tuesday was another cool day in South Mississippi. We put up the Pascagoula River Basin poster in the VC then spent the evening painting one of the walls of the women's restroom at HQ. We did see the HQ 5, NV11, and 337 hanging around the pen. We only had a few pics today, a Pileated Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird and Ferny Kat around the propane campfire.
Wednesday, was a laid back, get a slow start to the day, until, we got a text from Scott that the rental truck was here, dropping off the lift for the Boss Blind repairs. This put Lauren in high gear.
Don had the pleasure of working with us, the interns, and Scott to repair the bent poles of the Boss blind. Nothing like working with a bunch of rookies!
What we thought would take a few hours, turned into 7 hours. We now have a steadier, more level, blind, to watch the Cranes in the HQ savanna. Lauren and Don did Good!!
It is the first time Lauren and I have worn a hard hat on the job. Don't we look cute!!
Thursday morning we were moving slow. Lauren was stove up from working on the Boss Blind, Ferny Kat was sleepy from staying awake most of the night. I was sluggish from listening to Lauren sleeping, (aka snoring), and Ferny Kat screaming and walking across us. Lauren was so tired he had no clue Ferny Kat was on the prowl until midnight.
We took a 2 1/2 mile walk along the Dees Trail and Crane Lane this morning, then went for a tour of the South Gautier Unit hoping to find the I 10 nest occupied. Again, we had empty nest syndrome. But we did see the Beasley Eagle sitting on the nest and an immature Eagle past the Ben Williams Crop Unit.
We still have hope of the I10 nesting when we saw 3 adult Bald Eagles tumbling a couple of times. Although we didn't get a picture of it.
We went to FB Trail to pick up litter and took our usual short cut through Browns Trail. Again, the Cranes were very active near Valentine Pond, seeing around 25 Cranes.
We found the HQ 5 in the backyard near the feeder after we returned.
We heard the peepers as we were sitting around our propane campfire and found the HQ 5 playing in the backyard of HQ. These guys were having a good ole time.
Ferny Kat had to get in on the action, watching from Camp Crane Drive.
While we were grilling tonight, Ferny propped up on Lauren's camera. She is one spoiled cat!
We went to work Friday morning getting the painting done in the men's bathroom at the Visitor Center. Afterwards, we went to FB Trail to place brochures and the South Gautier Unit to check on the I 10 Eagle nest. Again, we have empty nest syndrome.
4 of the HQ 5 were at the feeder when we returned.
Ferny Kat snuggled up in Lauren's lap as we sat by the propane firepit.
Saturday was the last day of the first week of 2022. The week felt like a month with all the accomplishments we made. Between the 5.67 miles we tromped in the wet pine savanna, the replacing of the legs of the Boss Blind, and the painting of the restrooms. We are tired, but proud of our accomplishments.
We took a leisurely ride to the Gautier Units. The North Gautier Unit did not disappoint. We saw at least 16 Sandhill Cranes after entering the unit. Some of them were not having anything to do with us. The Fontainebleu Pen cohorts were up close and personal with Nana and Coco when we got to the Browns Trail Crop Unit. These youngsters are learning, White Truck Syndrome, is not a bad thing.
We saw our buddy, the Merlin, (or 2) and the Belted Kingfish hanging around Valentine Pond.
I saw a bunch of big birds flying toward us, and told Lauren "get the camera." He didn't ask why or what and got the camera. We had 18 White Pelicans fly over while the Cranes in the savanna gave up a fuss.
On our drive into the South Gautier Unit, we found several Eagles. They were immature, as best we could tell. They acted like they were going to lock talons. They definitely kept our interest.
We saw several more Eagles as we drove through, including the Beasley Nester. Unfortunately, we didn't see the I 10 Crop Unit nest occupied.
To top it off, the American Bittern was hanging with the Beasley Greg. It was so cool to see this dude again.
We got back to Camp and found an abundance of vehicles parked in the parking lot. The HQ 5 were in the backyard. Most people didn't even notice. The few people we pointed out the Cranes to were very happy to see them.
Later this afternoon, we heard the unhappy peeping of the HQ 5. A couple of people and a dog decided to get up close and personal with them. They flew away to the south, over the pen and out of sight.
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