It was a great start to the week on this cold Christmas Day. This year's cohort group was hanging around HQ when we headed out for a refuge tour.
We usually turn off the radio when we are touring around. Not today. We listened to Christmas Carols, and maybe sang a few while we were out and about.
We may not have had a White Christmas, but we did have white feathers floating in the icy Elbert's Pond.
We had a great tour of the Gautier Units with lots of Sandhill sightings, along with some other critters. Nothing like Christmas, Cranes, and Critters.
Late afternoon, Barnie was barking and the Cranes were calling. We found the HQ 10 scattered under the oaks and at the feeder. The Cranes were calling, jumping, throwing sticks and Spanish moss up in the air in response to the barking. The mistletoe that had fallen out of the oak tree added some Christmas decor.
We had a total of 35 Sandhill Crane sightings. Not only has it been a Sunday Fun-day, but a great Christmas Day!
We took Monday off to go to Clyde's son's funeral in Raleigh. When we returned, the HQ 10 were foraging in the back yard.
Tuesday, was back to work day. We went on a mission to repair a handle on a blind at Woodlake. We took a wrong turn and winded up rerouting through the Ocean Springs Unit. It was a very enjoyable ride seeing 7 cranes, a few deer, and other critters.
We took the scenic route back home through Browns Trail. We saw bunches of cranes, an Eagle, and some other critters.
This afternoon, we cleaned up the feeder and the water bucket at HQ. As we were leaving the parking lot, the HQ 10 flew over and landed by the pen. After a bit, they came sashaying through the grass to the backyard. They thoroughly enjoyed the easy pickens of the corn that had spilled out on the ground. We watched them from the road with a lot of nice folks, before calling it a day.
We had another great Crane Tour on Wednesday. We were supposed to have 6 people, only 4 showed up. The 2 that missed the tour missed out. We had 21 Sandhill Crane sightings while driving around. Plus the 9 cranes that were present when we opened the visitor center. A 30-crane day!
Sometimes, we have to think of things to talk about while we are riding around, but not on this 2-hour tour. The folks were very engaging.
After the tour we did a few measly chores for the refuge, hiked the Dees Trail, then called it a day. Another great day at the Sandhill Crane Ranch.
While riding around the North Gautier Unit evaluating refuge boundary signs for replacement, we saw a bunch of cranes. They were having a good ole time jumping around in the savanna.
We also saw a juvenile and adult Bald Eagle hanging around Valentine Pond.
The HQ gang was hanging around HQ again today. They are so entertaining to watch.
Friday was a rainy day. For our entertainment, we watched the cranes from inside the visitor center. It looked like a lake in the backyard. They didn't seem to mind. They continued with their usual foraging and chasing each other in the downpours. The only thing that startled them was when it thundered.
Saturday, we worked in the visitor center until noon. Although, it doesn't feel like work when you have nice folks to talk to and 10 cranes to watch outside the back door.
After we closed, we took a stroll along the Dees Trail. Our plans to build a campfire changed when it started to rain. Not a problem, we pulled out the awning and enjoyed a fire by the propane firepit. The last day of 2022 has been great!
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