MSCNWR - 7-4-21 - 7-10-21

We had a great 4th of July.  We started the day with a slow stroll on the Dees Trail enjoying the beauty of the wildflowers and critters along the way.

We took a ride to check out the Arthur Street Property.  They have really improved the property since we helped with the iNaturalist bioblitz a few years ago. Again we saw pretty blooms and several different species of cute critters.

We rode to Pascagoula Beach, then back home for a nice evening of critter watching and grilling ribs.  Ferny Kat also enjoyed her evening outside bathing in the water drippings from the a/c runoff.  Life is good!

Sunday Pics:

We did a lot of gardening on this Monday morning.  We pulled grass and Crepe Myrtle sprouts from the native plant garden.  I don't know which one of these deep rooted plants that I dislike the most.  We transplanted a few plants in hopes of having some summer color.  We turned on the sprinkler system which resulted in a sprinkler scavenger hunt.  Most of them were covered with grass and could not come up to spray water.  We were supervised today by this Eastern narrow-mouthed toad.

We took an afternoon ride to the North Gautier Unit.  Delores and his mate had their colt quickly hide in the tall grass, which is a good for his survival.

We saw a Black-swallow tailed caterpillar, a Belted Kingfisher, lots of Purple Martins, and lots of other pretties along Valentine Road.

We also found our first Orange-fringed orchid of this year. 

 We saw Banana and Coconut at their usual hangout at the Browns Trail Crop Unit on our way out.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday was a rainy day.  Ferny Kat was insistent about going outside while it was raining.  Once the rain stopped and we went out, she was no longer interested.   That dang cat!  After we ate dinner, we took a stroll.  The plants we transplanted yesterday were looking spiffy with the soaking rain they received.  We meandered around the Dees Trail enjoying our nice, quiet walk.

Tuesday Pics: 

We spent the day pressure washing Wednesday.  We now have about 2/3rd's of the front of HQ building done.  We got as wet as the building, especially when it started raining.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, we continued our quest to pressure wash the building.  We finished the front and got about a 1/3rd of the back done.  It is slowly, but surely, getting done.

Thursday Pics:

We took the day off from pressure washing Friday.  We took some brochures to Ocean Springs Visitor Center.  On our way, we saw a couple of cranes in the powerline on Hwy 57.

  

We picked up a bucket and a half of litter at the Fontainebleu Trail. 

We checked on the Rock Hill family and all is well.

While picking up litter at the Dees Trail we saw several pretty butterflies enjoying the Frog-fruit plants.

 

We also picked up litter at the South Gautier Unit. We found lots of Black-swallow tailed Caterpillars on the Water Cowbane that line the roads of this unit and lots of pretty plants, including Scaly Blazing Star and Stokes Aster.

A check on the Valentine Pond Rookery, we found all is well with the Great Blue Heron nestlings. 

 

We also think that one of the nest is a Great Egret nest, although it is hard to see.

We sighted Banana and Coconut at their usual hangout.

Friday Pics:

We stayed around Saturday morning to help the Loews with the bookstore inventory.   Lauren got a little bit of camera time in before we headed home with the hopes of mowing the grass.  It won't happen today in this water soaked yard.  Rain, rain please go away, at least for a few days.

Saturday Pics:

MSCNWR - 6-27-21 -7-3-21

We made it back to Camp Crane on Sunday.  Lauren went for his weekly petting of the horses at Sandhill Ranch.  We walked the Dees Trail and found a few more plants blooming and lots of Dragonflies.  We sat around camp this afternoon wondering what happened to the Red-bellied Woodpeckers.  They are nowhere to be seen.  We can only hope they fledged and are on a great adventure.

Sunday Pics:

Monday was weed-eating day.  We weed-eated at the bunkhouse, Dees Trail, the sidewalks, parking lot, and around the HQ building.  We went to Browns Trail Gate and weed-eated and loped some limbs.  We also had trash to pick up.  Someone left a tub with fish remains.  This is also someone's restroom and bar.  We found plenty of cigarette butts and Miller Lite caps along with wiping papers.  UGH!!

We went with Erin to release 1 DGF at sunset.  This could be our last frog to release.  Lauren and Erin attempted to catch a Cottonmouth and a Water Snake, but they got away.  I watched from a distance.  Other than the snake chase, it was peaceful in the savanna tonight.  It was one of the most enjoyable releases we have done.

Monday Pics:

We spent the day pressure washing Tuesday.  The morning was spent getting ready, and the evening was spent actually pressure washing.  We washed in front of the visitors center and the bookstore.  It is definitely a work in progress.

We helped Angie pack tonight getting ready for her move to Iowa.

Tuesday Pics:

We were slackers on Wednesday.  We had had enough of hard work and took it easy.  We took a morning stroll along the Dees Trail, enjoying the many bees and blooms that we saw.

This afternoon, we went to the Fountaineblue Trail to place some brochures and to pick up a little bit of litter.  While we were there, we cleaned the Kiosk signs.  After a little bit of rubbing, they look much better.

We took a mile walk while we were there, enjoying nature as we strolled.

We had a going away dinner for Angie at Woody's tonight. 

 

 Wednesday Pics:

Thursday we mowed at HQ, Camp Crane, Bunkhouse, and Crane Lane.  While I was mowing I saw 4 Black Runner snakes.  They were everywhere.  I had to swerve to miss the first one I saw at Camp Crane.  My mowing was also diverted by an Alabama Red-bellied Cooter that was laying eggs at Camp Crane.  This is the 2nd one of these critical imperiled turtles I have seen laying eggs at Camp Crane.  The last one was in 2018.  

We also cleaned and repositioned the picnic tables under the oaks.

Thursday Pics:  

We placed a few more plant markers on the Dees Trail Friday morning.  We went for a ride to the North Gautier Unit to check on the Great Blue Heron nurseries.  We have babies in all 3 nest.  One of the nest has triplets and are small.  One of the nest has twins that are almost grown.  One of the nest is hidden and hard to see.

The short while that we were in the unit, we saw 13 Sandhill Cranes.  One of them was a colt with an unbanded parent.  They happened to cross the road as we were looking at the Herons.

The afternoon was spent at Angie's helping her tidy up her place. On our way back to camp, we saw a couple of deer foraging along Crane Lane.

Friday Pics: 

We got on the road early Saturday morning for a nature walk at Fountainebleu Trail led by Mark LaSalle.  It was definitely worth it. He and Lauren are like two peas in a pod when it comes to nature.

 

After the walk, we came back to camp, ate leftovers, then relaxed outside.   

Saturday Pics: