Sunday, we had an Eastern Kingbird and a Summer Tanager perched in the backyard while Lauren was mowing grass.
He barely got finished mowing before the heavy rain started. A Box Turtle seemed to enjoy the water puddle under the Oak Tree.
Monday when we got back to camp, a Fox Squirrel was hanging out near the bunkhouse.
We walked up to the Fire Center to see the goslings.
A Black-bellied Wood Duck was snoozing on the island.
We saw our first Swallow-tailed Kite of the year. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture. I missed the shot, and Lauren couldn't get his camera out of his new camera vest.
Little Leaf Sensitive Briar has started to bloom on the Dees Trail.
On our second walk along Crane Lane, Link, Yoshi, Mist, and Sylph were feasting at HQ.
A White-tailed Deer was very photogenic along Crane Lane.
Siren and Squall had joined in on the feast as we were heading back to camp.
A rainy evening put a damper on our arm chair birding this afternoon.
Tuesday, we cut grass at HQ, the Bunkhouse, and Crane Lane.
We enjoyed photographing birds as we lounged around Camp Crane this afternoon.
As we were watching, all the sudden there was an influx of birds.
Cape May Warbler
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Bay-breasted Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Norther Parula
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
And a Red-bellied Woodpecker eating from the suet
One of the coolest shots was of a Brown Cowbird as he was leaving his perch on the dead tree.
We saw over 30 species during our arm chair birding and set a record for the first obervations of the Cape May Warbler and the Bay-breasted Warbler for the Crane Ranch!!
We did some weed-eating then blew off the roads and sidewalks around HQ, Crane Lane, and the Bunkhouse.. Afterwards, we headed to Island View to play our free play. My free play turned into $10. Lauren's free play turned into $175. It actually was free play today!
We returned with our bellies full after our free buffets. I took a nap while Lauren walked the trail.
We both enjoyed an evening of armchair birding when he returned. Although, it was not nearly as exciting as yesterday.
Thursday was trail walk day. The trail walk on the Oak Grove was aborted when we were ambushed by those mean yellow flies.
We stopped along Bayou Heron Road and admired the Fewflower Milkweed and the Tuberous Grasspinks.
We helped a Gulf Coast Box Turtle safely cross Bayou Heron Road. He gave us the stink eye when we turned him over for a pic.
The critters were out and about along the Escatawpa Trail.
After lunch, we checked on the Rock Hill Family.
The bloom chasing continued as we strolled Fontainebleu Trail. Seeing our first of the year Small Coastal Plains Spreading Pagonia.
We also saw a few critters along the way.
On our way to the Dees Trail, a broke beak Mockingbird was singing it's heart out.
A Red-headed Woodpecker along with a few others showed up for our arm chair birding at Camp Crane this afternoon.
We enjoyed our 6 hour day of nature chasing, even though it was hot.
Friday, we worked in the visitor center. We only took a few pictures of a Northern Parula gathering nesting materials during our arm chair birding this afternoon.
Saturday the cranes were hanging near the Oaks when we went to the visitor center.
Lauren and I hosted the Gulf Coast Orchid Society. We had 21 very engaging people. They watched the movie and looked at the exhibits. We took them on a guided trail walk along the Dees Trail.
We even had the cranes show up for them to admire. Everyone seemed to have a good time even though there weren't very many orchids in bloom, just yet.
Prior to the walk, they presented us with the poster they used for their presentation in February and a $100 donation for the Friends of Bon Secour. The poster had a write up from Mark LaSalle about the orchids, pictures of orchids that we took, and pictures of us, Scott, Erin, and Bill on some of our Orchid Safaris. A fabulous way to spend one of our last few days here!!
No comments:
Post a Comment