Sunsets early

With the time change the sun is setting as I go home. Here are a couple of images I shot last night. Amazing sky

Starting a new project

Wednesday, I began a project with the Glynn County Mosquito Control. It is a study of a small pocket marsh. I will perform quarterly bird surveys. The area is east of the Clam Creek bike path. The bike path now acts like a dike. The small covert does not allow the tidewater to flow naturally. They are going to put bridge and see how it will help. The idea is to monitor the changes in this small marsh. I look forward to watching the changes.
Here a view of the pocket marsh near the bike path.This a view in the middle of the area. The area is home to several Sedge Wrens.

Hordes of Tree Swallows

Thursday was warm and wet. Friday was chilly and breezy. It is quite a change. On the way on to Jekyll, I had to stop.

Tree Swallow were amazing. Look! This was on Friday. On Sunday they were still swarming but not in the hordes on Friday.

Shorebirds to hawks

It was a warm, wet day. I wasn't sure the ramble was going to go. It looked like it was going to pour any minute. However, the tides were suitable for lots of shorebirds. I just had to go. It was worth it. Shorebirds, gulls, terns, and skimmers were up and down the south end from the 4-h center to Jekyll Point.

We were the only ones who noticed this gathering. This Bald Eagle came in for a “look see.” Just about the same time, a Merlin flew in from the northwest. The Merlin did not stick around when the eagle landed. It flew off north. About the same time, a male Northern Harrier seemed to drop in and fly low over the dunes. We watched as it flew southwest over the beach over the water and out of sight. Hawks and shorebirds a great way to spend a morning. By the way, it didn't rain either.

Stormy Evening in the Golden Isles

Last night, we had rain. October was a dry month here. Rain is very welcomed. Plus rain clouds fascinates me. Here is the approaching storm. It was so beautiful especially from the top of the Jekyll Creek Bridge. I drive over this bridge all the time. I often want to stop. Last night was the evening I did. I park the van and walked to the top. Wow! look at this image. No wonder they named this the Golden Isles.

Digiscoping attempt

My old camera gave up working back in April. I brought a cheap digital camera. It does not take the pictures I see but no camera has ever done that for me, that is why I am an artist. Any way I have been playing around with digiscoping. It not great but I do love shorebirds.
Here are some red knots at the south end. Here is a ruddy turnstone with a red knot at the southend of Jekyll.

Monarch time

Today I took a little walk and found the groundsel blooming. With blooming of the groundsel, the monarchs will be coming. Beautiful!