MSCNWR - 6-5-22 - 6--11-22

We started off the week Sunday morning, looking for the Dougie Family.  We didn't find them, but we did find a pair of pretty Wood Ducks in the pond.

We always love to see Fox Squirrels.  We got to see one today enjoying the corn at the Browns Trail Crop Unit.  The smarty had chewed off the zip ties that was holding the fence wire and was inhaling the corn.  We made our loop through the unit then returned with wire and repaired.  Sorry Fox Squirrel!!

 

While looking for the Jabba Family, we found Nana and Coco at the Gautier Pen feeder. Wonder where Jabba, Dabba, and unbanded dad are hanging?

We saw 9 cranes, a few other birds, and a few neat plants while we were out and about.

We made an afternoon loop along the Dees Trail enjoying the pretties along the way.

After our walk, we did some bird and squirrel watching at Camp Crane.

Sunday Pics:

We got the ole' Billy Goat out Monday morning and blew the debris off the road and the parking lot then we organized one of the closets in the auditorium. 

The HQ 5 made an appearance mid morning and stayed around for most of the day.

  

On our way to Fontainebleau Trail, we found the Coke crane pair foraging in the ditch along Hwy. 57.  We stopped and eased them toward the shade trees.

We went by the boat shop to get an estimate for the Bio boat repair and picked up litter at Martins and Crane Lane.  We got an update from Scott of his plans for us to help catch crane youngsters this week. Sounds like it is going to be an interesting week.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday,we got quite a bit of piddling done at the visitors center, then worked on one of the lawnmowers.  It was too hot to work hard.  

The HQ 5 came back for another visit today.  After feasting on the corn, they went to the shade tree.  Summertime is here.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday, we met bio in the parking lot at 0600 heading to the North Gautier Pen.  The plan was we would catch Dabba, (Jabba's colt), band it, then place it in the van with the a/c on while the Fire Team did a prescribed burn.  After the burn, we would release and watch for the parents to reunite with it.  We sat in the woods watching for 3 1/2 hours.   The Jabba family was a no show.

  

We saw 23 cranes as we were driving in this morning.  On our way out, our photogenic Nana, Coco, and crane 2002 were posing for their photo.

We took a ride to Grand Bay Shop and checked out the new lawn mower and Polaris.  We also walked the Escatawpa Trail.  We will go back for a work day and get it ready to reopen.

We chilled out under the shade tree at Camp Crane this afternoon. 

Wednesday Pics: 

Thursday, we went with Scott to the North Gautier Pen for another Dabba watch.  It was another 3 hours of no show.  But we did enjoy all the birds that were singing and flitting around.  The Northern Bobwhite was pretty close as well as Brown Trashers, Blue Grosbeaks, and Gray Catbirds.  All in all we saw/and or heard over 20 species of birds. Quite an entertaining morning.

The HQ 5 were hanging around again today at the HQ savanna.  It is always a pleasure to see them.

Thursday Pics:

Friday, we got some weed eating done then went looking for the Dougie family.  The only thing we found was a Great Blue Heron. 

 

After we got the van loaded up with our stuff for the Sand Jam tomorrow, we went on another Crane Safari.  The only thing we found while looking for Dougie this time was a Great Egret.

We were hoping with the cloud cover we would see a great performance of the Crane Circus on the North Gautier Unit.  It was not as productive as we had hoped.  Although, we did see our buddies, Nana and Coco.

We found the first Snowy Orchids of the year as we were driving along Valentine Road.  We were just talking to Scott that the Snowy Orchids should be blooming soon, and tada, there they were.

We found several species of birds as we drove around, including a Red-Headed Woodpecker and a flock of newly fledged Purple Martins.  One of the fledglings got fed as we were taking their picture.

We snapped a few pictures while collecting the phenology data along the Dees Trail.  The pollinators were enjoying the blooms as much as we were.

We also saw a shy Cottontail hiding in the brush and a skink keeping a keen eye on us.

Afterwards it was chill out time with the birds and squirrels at Camp Crane.

Friday Pics:

Saturday, we represented the refuge with a booth at the Sand Jam.  For 3 hours, we had people standing in line to check us out.  The kids and some of the adults really enjoyed the pelts. They had some really good questions.  We had 334 people that came by to see us.  It was a lot bigger turnout than we expected. 

Afterwards, we headed to Crossroads for a couple of days.  It is grass cutting time again.  

Saturday Pics:

MSCNWR - 5-29-22 - 6-4-22

Monday we made our way back to Camp Crane after spending a couple of days in Crossroads.  We made a couple of loops on the Dees Trail and walked Crane Lane.  The HQ 5 finally got hungry enough and made an appearance at the backyard this afternoon.  It is the first time we have seen them in quite a while.

We sat around camp this afternoon grilling ribs and birding.  We had a teasing Northern Parula that was singing above our heads and flitting around in the oak tree.  We never were able to get a picture.

Monday Pics:

Tuesday was mow day, which was way overdue.  Some of the grass was knee high to a giraffe.  Now that the DGF season is nearing the end, we will have more time to keep it cut.  As I was making my second loop in the backyard of the visitor center, 4 of the HQ 5 were foraging at the feeder.  I changed my path and mowed away from them as they foraged at the feeder.  They stayed there for quite a while, then went to check out the mowing that I had done at the east end. A bit later they flew away toward the pond.  We heard them guard calling later this afternoon, but they did not make an appearance.  It is good to see them hanging around HQ again.

We made a stroll around the Dees Trail, then relaxed at Camp Crane, well, except for swatting those nasty yellow flies.

Tuesday Pics:

Wednesday, we made a loop around the C.L. Dees trail.  In the afternoon, we prepped the boat for another marsh bird survey.  We depart at 0530 tomorrow morning.

Wednesday Pics:

Thursday, we were on the water for the marsh bird survey before daylight.  It was a nice, tranquil ride with the mist rising from the water.  We saw a Yellow-crowned Heron, several Ospreys, and a few other birds, and heard a least bittern and a rail during the 3 hour tour.

After we returned, we cooked a good ole camping breakfast then helped the Interns lower the water in the DGF tanks.  The Croak Crew will be wrapping up the 2022 season in the next few weeks.

We updated the plant markers and got the phenology data along the Dees Trail this afternoon.  When we got finished, the HQ 5 were chilling in the shade in the savanna.  We followed suit, sitting around relaxing in the shade at Camp Crane.  It has been a long, but fun day.

Thursday Pics:

After we closed the visitors center on Friday, we went for a refuge ride.  We saw a couple of cranes shortly after entering the South Gautier Unit.  Before we departed, we saw a total of 6 cranes.  Not bad for a hot afternoon.

We checked on the Rock Hill and Dougie pair.  The Rock Hill pair has lost their nest, again.  We saw one of them in an orchard behind one of the houses.  We didn't find the Dougie family.

When we entered the North Gautier Unit, we saw 3 cranes in the fire lane to the north.

We thought we found an injured crane when we got to the Browns Trail Crop Unit and saw a head bobbing up and a wing flopping in the tall grass.  After we got out, Milhouse and her mate jumped up and flew off.  They were diverting us away from their colt.  We continued on our way and let them be.

We did not find the Jabba family. They have lost one of their colts, a family of 3 now.

We got back to Camp Crane and relaxed for the evening.

Friday Pics:

Our first visitor Saturday morning was a Decays brown snake.  He was checking out the exhibit hall when we opened up.  We coaxed him in a box and released him in the plant garden. 

 

We had a total of 31 visitors that trickled in today, giving us time to get caught up with our blog and pictures.  Each of us putting in 139 hours last month had got us behind.

   

Saturday Pics: