Keychains for the plovers

Sorry for the long delay since the last post.  I have been busy with one of the perfect jobs for me.  I was an Eagle Monitor for US Fish & Wildlife.  I watched as two adult Bald Eagle connect, nest and raise two young one male and one female.  The last one flew on April 2.

In the meantime,  I have also been building the Plover Patrol for Jekyll Island.  I talked about it so much that Bryan, the buyer for Jekyll Island, made a key chain for the plovers.  They can be bought at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center.

I am so excited to see how the breeding seasons

At the end of October, I heard about a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in Brunswick.  I drove by and 

 Sure enough there it was.  It was there for about a week.  It was great to watch.

Oops!  I have been very busy for the last few months.   For a while I will try to catch you up with I've been doing.  First, I enjoyed a bird walk with teachers in August.

Most of the time you will find Great Egrets all by themselves.  They seem content to be quiet and concentrate on the task at hand, fishing. 

 

BUT after a high tide when the marsh pools are filled with tiny trapped fish, it is a free-for-all.  That is what happened this morning.  I was lucky enough to be there. 

 

                                                Some Roseate Spoonbills gather as well. 

                                                   Some fly in, while others fly out.

 

 

Wow! What a treat.

Feilds of Water Lillies

      On June 3rd, Priscilla & I went to Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.  We were looking for a Purple Gullinule.  The refuge is actually in South Carolina along the Savannah River.  We were going to explore the Wildlife Drive.

Here are a few things we found:
                   Fields of Water Lillies.

Lots of baby Common Gallinules. 

 

                                                                                  Lots of alligators

  

Everyone was looking for them

We were looking through the field of water lillies past all the alligators, and Common Gallinules.  Our patience paid off. There were the amazing Purple Gallinule. 

 

As we were leaving, I looked up there were lots of Mississippi Kites.  It was a great day!  And Priscilla got to she her first Purple Gallinule! 

Lunch Companions

I work at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center.  It has a great lunch room.  It is up the Wildlife Viewing Tower right next to the Center.  On Tuesday June the 18, I walk out to the tower.  Looking out, I was surprised to see my lunch companions were all gathered together....9 White Pelicans.  I was thrilled to spend my lunch with them. 

On May the 11th I joined a group from Atlanta Audubon to go out into the mouth of the Altamaha River.  It was a great day of exploring this naturally rich area.  Shorebirds were feasting on horseshoe crab eggs and surf clams. Here is a mixed group Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderlings, Dunlins and Short-billed Dowitchers

 Moving on to the north end of Little St. Simons Island, we encountered Dunlins, Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstones and a Red Knot.

 Here is part of the group enjoying the shorebirds.

 The tide was high so we were able to explore more the area up close.

 For me, the find of the day were 50+ American Avocet in breeding plumage.  Wow!

It is always fair weather when good folks get together.  Go explore!