Babies on the beach

Well,  the two remaining Wilson's Plover chicks are doing alright so far.  See.

The little one on the left is tiny and has a little limp but that don't stop it.  I watched it catch wharf crabs and insects.
Further down the beach Ruddy Turnstones were enjoying a cash of horseshoe crab eggs. A couple of other shorebirds were waiting to jump into the feast.

I was able to show one Jekyll 4-H class  the Ruddy Turnstone's feast.

Just a little discussion about who get to eat.

 Another 4 H class was able to see the chicks.

 Life on the beach is good this morning.

 

The horseshoe crabs are coming up on the beach to lay their eggs.

Great to see them at this time of year. 

  They create wonderful designs in the sand. 

It a boy!!!!!

Today, I spent the day with the crew from William & Mary, Georgia Department of Nature Resourses.  We were out to put a transmitter on a  Whimbrel. This hard working  team worked through the day to catch a Whimbrel.  So at the end of the day when the rest of the flock flew away.  One stayed.   It was caught. 

 Brad Winn and Robert Heran walked in with the bird.   We held out breath.  Was it big enough to carry a transmiter.  It was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Then these hard working scientist went into overdrive.  The tranmiter was careful put on then the bird was check.  He was good to go

He was released.  He flew east toward the full moon and then north to Egg Island Bar.  The first step is complete.  We now have one more ambassador to the Whimbrel and shorebird world.
More news to come.

Purple Gallinule at Jekyll's Amphitheater Pond

There was such a heartfelt out pouring of sadness to the total lost of the Amphitheater Wood Stork's Rookery last week.  Our whole area has been under a draught for several years.  This lake behind the old Amphitheater on Jekyll is down about 12 feet.  This left the nesting herons and egrets vulnerable to Raccoon raids because the alligators were to far away from the trees.  All the nests on the lake are now gone.

Another sign that the lake is very low, there has been a Purple Gallinule feeding on the plants around the edge of the lake.  Today after a call from John Galvani,  we rushed over to see this neat bird.   It great to have a great network of birders in the area. Thanks John. 

And they are off

Today, 2 groups of young birders stopped by the Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop on Jekyll. They are starting their Youth Birding Competition. It starts are 5 p.m. today and ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Excitement builds Binoculars up

And they are off. Best of luck and great birds for all.

Wow! What a day. The warblers were everywhere we went. But the big surprise was this bird. Grasshopper Sparrow at the Amphitheater I really like this picture of the bird in the palmettos. It ended an amazing day.
Here is a list of the birds I saw today and places they were seen. Most of these were shared with the group. Jekyll Island, Glynn, US-GA
Apr 26, 2012 7:30AM - 1:00 PM
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
Brown Pelican Clam Creek
Great Egret Amphitheater
Snowy Egret Amphitheater
Green Heron Amphitheater
Black-crowned Night-Heron Amphitheater
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Amphitheater
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle 2 River Bridge
Spotted Sandpiper 4 Clam Creek,
Willet 1 Clam Creek,
Least Sandpiper 3 Clam Creek,
Laughing Gull 25
Ring-billed Gull 4 Clam Creek,
Forster's Tern 5 Clam Creek,
Royal Tern 3 Clam Creek,
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift 2 Historic District
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Campground,
Belted Kingfisher 1 Campground,
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Amphitheater
Downy Woodpecker 1 Amphitheater
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Amphitheater
Great Crested Flycatcher Clam Creek, Campground, and Amphitheater
White-eyed Vireo 1 Amphitheater
Blue Jay 2 Campground,
Fish Crow 2 Amphitheater
Tree Swallow 1 Clam Creek,
Carolina Chickadee 7 Clam Creek, Campground,
Tufted Titmouse 1 Campground
Brown-headed Nuthatch 4 Amphitheater adult feeding 3 fledglings
Carolina Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Clam Creek,
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 Campground,
Eastern Bluebird 2 Clam Creek,
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird 2 Historic District
Brown Thrasher 2 Campground,
Ovenbird 1 Amphitheater
Northern Waterthrush 1 Campground,
Black-and-white Warbler 3 Clam Creek, & Campground,
Common Yellowthroat 4 Clam Creek, & Campground,
American Redstart 1 heard Amphitheater
Cape May Warbler 2 Clam Creek, & Campground,
Northern Parula 9 Clam Creek, Campground, and Amphitheater
Blackpoll Warbler 1 Clam Creek,
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Amphitheater seen by Priscilla
Palm Warbler 3 Clam Creek,
Yellow-throated Warbler 2 Clam Creek, & Campground,
Prairie Warbler 6 Clam Creek, & Campground,
Grasshopper Sparrow 1 Amphitheater, photographed
White-throated Sparrow 2 Amphitheater
Summer Tanager 2 Campground,
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak 1 Campground,
Indigo Bunting 5 Clam Creek, & Campground,
Painted Bunting 4 Historic District & Campground,
Red-winged Blackbird 2 Clam Creek,
Common Grackle 2 Amphitheater
Boat-tailed Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 3 Campground,
Orchard Oriole 1 Campground,
House Finch 6 Campground,
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

A little conflict on the beach

While out with a group at the south end of Jekyll on Wednesday, we watched these two Wilson's Plover males have a territorial  dispute They would circle each other. 

Then suddenly run at each other and clash.  Wow! a little drama and the beach.  In the end, one bird took off and the other stood triumphant.