4-21-19 - 4-28-19 (Week 60)

Sunday
The Easter Bunny came by for a visit this morning.

We packed some snacks and went to the Ocean Springs Unit of the refuge.  We saw plenty of critters and pretty plants, but no Mississippi Sandhill Cranes.

We grilled ribs and ate an early dinner, then headed out to the savanna to do some Pileated Woodpecker watching.  Our Woodpecker watching was delayed while we waited for the Free Birds to leave our drive way.

The Free Birds finally walked into the savanna behind headquarters.  We took the long way around to the woodpecker nest, making sure we didn't disturb the cranes.  We got comfortable in our chairs in the deep grass and looked up to see the Free Birds within a few yards of us.  They put on quite a show, dancing and calling.  They either did not see us, or did not care that we were so near to them.

When they decided to fly away, Coconut went toward HQ, and Banana and Crabapple went to the fire lane.  Last we saw, Coconut had joined them in the fire lane.

The only Pileated Woodpecker we saw was in a tree along our driveway as we were walking back to the camper.

Monday
We had planned to go to Island View to play our free play today.  Anita decided the same thing, only she got us a room.  Another great time was had by all.

We walked to Jones Park right before sunset.  There were lots of people fishing late afternoon and the usual shore birds.

Tuesday
We walked the CL Dees Trail and rearranged plant markers after we returned from our overnight excursion.

Wednesday
The Free Birds woke me up at 6:10 am calling. We spent the day hanging around camp, walking around, and watching the birds at the feeders.  We had a striking new visitor today, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

The Free Birds were foraging at HQ right before dark.

Thursday
We got out ahead of the rain and walked the CL Dees Trail.  We saw our very first Bobolink, a gorgeous migratory bird.  We spent most of the day getting a few chores done.

Friday
We worked the VC, pulled weeds from the flower bed, and rearranged plant signs.  After we closed, Jeff went with us to the South Gautier Unit for what was supposed to be about an hour to get pictures of the savanna recovery that was burned on February 1st.

We were greeted with 5 Eagles flying around at Firetower pond.

One of the Eagle twins was sitting in the Firetower nest.with one of their parents nearby.

BB was on a limb close to Beasley Road.

We flushed the Sandhill Crane from the nest on Beasley Pond, revealing the 2 eggs sitting on top.  This is the nest of the Unbanded male that fought  with another male named Clarabelle  a few weeks ago.  Clarabelle lost the fight, and the Unbanded has claimed his mate and territory.  He and his mate are getting help from Aunt Alice, (another female), tending to their nest.

The hour trip was more like 2 hours.  We saw 5 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes,  10 Eagles, a Turkey, several other birds,  a water snake, and a bunch of beautiful plants.

When we returned, the Fox Squirrel hung around for a few pics on Crane Lane.

The Free Birds were at HQ foraging right before roost time.

Saturday
We had a 10 am tour with 5 tourist.  It was another great tour.

We saw 9 Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Orchard Orioles, Great Egrets, Eastern King-birds, Great Crested Flycatchers,  Brown-headed Cow Birds,  Cattle Egrets, a  Red-tailed Hawk with a snake in his talons, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Black Racer, Canada Geese and their gosling,

We packed up after work and headed to Crossroads.

Week of pictures:

4-14-19 - 4-20-19 (Week 59)

Sunday
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: