Welcome back! After driving past the Peach Orchard I arrive at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge...Im fortunate to have this awesome place close by...We have rambled it's roads for years.
A Bachman's Sparrow was seen here a few days ago...I have no hopes of seeing it as this is a huge place 45,000+ acres! I strain my neck backwards and find the singer...a House Finch!
or two...
Everybody is pairing up time to replenish the supply of birds!
Eastern Bluebird
I walked around the area listening and looking and found White-throated Sparrows, and Chipping Sparrow, but no Bachman's showed. An American Kestrel soared over, heard and saw a Red bellied Woodpecker and then a not so familiar woodpecker chip chirp and rattle...
The Female Red Cockaded Woodpecker! And..in a tree nearby the male,
First time I've ever gotten a photo of one of these and first time seeing one in many years...
note the big white cheek patch this is the main diagnostic to look for...
This male has a band on his left leg...I can't read it, I can make out it's like aluminum....I only reported 2 birds but I'm almost 99.9% sure there was 3 birds...as they left I swear I saw 3 swooping shapes. I stood still and was no bother to them they took their time, I took a bunch of photos...these are the best from the distance I stood away. The Male was on a big tree on the right and the female on a small tall tree on the left so I saw them both pretty good, the 3rd bird came into view as they moved off...he was probably behind me.
I was thrilled! Not just for me for these BIRDS!!
This is an endangered species,,,,it's only alive due to being protected and provided for in places like Carolina Sandhills! There is hope. Of course we have to get Trump out of the White House or all our endangered species will lose their protection!
This is an endangered species,,,,it's only alive due to being protected and provided for in places like Carolina Sandhills! There is hope. Of course we have to get Trump out of the White House or all our endangered species will lose their protection!
rice n beans with cilantro and cold coffee
After eating my sack lunch I drove over to the Oxpen Lakes...on the other side of the refuge road. They have recently burned this area...I saw one Canada Goose, and one Pied Billed Grebe in the South Pond, 2 mallards flew off the North Pond when I drove up....
More Song Sparrows hopped around in the brambles...
A tree line of American Robins formed...
Then I realized my Sunny day had turned sour...
Clouds rolled in the wind picked up and it began to drip rain...A Yellow Rumped Warbler peered down from a budding Maple tree...
And that was the final bird of the day...it was such a primo day even the rain didn't seem to matter, it was a fitting end...and a gentle reminder that home was waiting.
PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.
