5.15.16 - Magnolia Plantation and Gardens

BirdWalkNewsletter5.15.2016
MagnoliaPlantation
andGardens
WalksbyPerryNugent
WrittenByJayneMatney
PhotobyRichardHernandez
“Behold,myfriends,thespringiscome;theearthhas
gladlyreceivedtheembracesofthesun,andweshallsoon
seetheresultsoftheirlove!”SittingBull
3bottomphotosbyJoFrkovich
Thereissomuchactivityaroundwhenyouwalkthe
groundsofMagnoliaPlantationandGardensthese
days.Hawksguardingnestlocations,GreatBlueHeron
spearingfishformeals,babyLil’Bluescallingforfood,
andbabyAnhingapracticingtheirwingsforfuture
flightareamongtheseactivities.Thisisaplaceof
harmonioussights,sounds,smellsandadashof
mystery.Soitisnowonderthatourvisitorsarerepeat
customersandourSundaymorning“bird-walking
enthusiasts”findthistobeasanctuary,notonlyfor
thebirds,butforthemselvesaswell!Especiallywhen
welookatthegorgeousweatherwearehaving!This
Sunday,itwasbetween63-70degreesandabit
breezy.Eightparticipantssetouttodiscover49
speciesofbirdsalongwithalltheotherdelightful
animalsandflowers.Thehighlightsofthemorning
walkwere:AtRavenswood,WoodDuck,Anhinga,
GreatBlueHeron,andfinallytheBlack-crownedNight
Heronbabieswereseensothebreedingseasonhas
beensuccessfulforthemOuroneKilldeerpairnow
havebabiestoo!2Yellow-billedCuckoo,2RubythroatedHummingbirds,2PileatedWoodpeckers,1
White-breastedNuthatch,1SolitarySandpiperand1
SpottedSandpiper,25Blue-grayGnatcatcher,15
NorthernParula,and1BlueGrosbeaktoppedthe
highlightlist!Highnumberswenttothe100Laughing
Gulls,the80Red-wingedBlackbirds,andthe25
CarolinaChickadee.Ofcourse,wehaveourregulars
whichincludeNorthernCardinals,Common
Yellowthroat,Grackles,ProthonotaryWarbler,Tufted
Titmouse,CarolinaWren,MourningDove,Red-bellied
andDownyWoodpecker,BlueJay,Crow,Barn
Swallow,Vulture,GreatEgret,SnowyEgret,Green
Heron,andWoodStork.Thosebirdsthatarealwaysa
bonusforthebirders:Osprey,MississippiKite,Bald
Eagle,andRed-shoulderedHawkallshowed
themselvestothosethatwouldwatch!
TopphotobyEdieCountryman,MiddlephotosbyRobert
Wallace,BottomphotobyJoFrkovich.
**Note-IamleavingtodaytogotoHawaiiincelebrationofmydaughter’scollegegraduation.Iplantowritean
article(s)whilethereinHawaiionMaui.WhenIgetback,IwillcontinuePerry’swalksbycapsulingwhatI
missedwhilegone.***