Showing posts with label PB Grebe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PB Grebe. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Clemson Experimental Station

So far February has been cloudy and rainy.  Some days complete wash outs...like buckets of water...so on the sunny breaks I'm ready to get out and go someplace! I took a short ride over to this spot called the Clemson Sandhills Experimental Station.  It's a pretty cool spot to hike, dog walk, and bird! I packed a sack lunch and drove over, its not too far away like 18 miles. There's 2 ponds and a lake.  I hiked the lake trail it's about 2.1 miles, outlined in blue... 




The trail meanders over the dam, over an eagle scout project boardwalk and 


through the woods....



Lots of American Robins up high picking berries I ran into them throughout my hike....maybe 50 in total




They did have some competition the cedar waxwings...saw about 10 darting in and out of this tangle of brier. 




In the woods area I saw 2 pair of Northern Cardinal, and they appeared to be searching for a nest spot...just the way they called to each other and the way they behaved made me think of Amor'e.




Near one of the smaller ponds this Eastern Bluebird was hunting in the Sycamore trees...




In the water I spotted 4 Pied Billed Grebes,  and 8 Double Crested Cormorants...all pretty far from the edge, 


 I found a bench to sit down and eat my sandwich this Carolina Wren started to have a fit...



carolina wren

I enjoyed his antics, and he stirred up a few more birds in the woods.  A Hermit Thrush  in the edge gave me a quick peek and higher up the Red Bellied Woodpecker squealed his displeasure too!  


Hope this one gets put back right before nest building gets  underway
Love the white bark on the tall Sycamore Trees. 


The bark...





After the lunch break I finished the lake hike and stirred up the interest of this Myrtle Yellow Rump Warbler.  





There is a young Pecan Orchard on the grounds and a few Northern Mockingbirds were patrolling the branches... 


There is an open area where they experiment with sod of various kinds, about the time I got over there an Eagle flew over way up high...and down on the fence line another Eastern Bluebird...






a heavy crop to pull this one out of this shot...



I would def go around here again...there is enough hardwood to make some pretty fall color behind the lake, so I must make a mental note! 


PEACE
Every day is a new Adventure.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Winter Road Trip

I've been waiting on the weather window to open so I could take a winter road trip and finally it did! Last weekend we had ice this weekend I hit the road...Still not as sunny as I'd like it to be but hopefully it will change..so where in the world am I you ask? One guess...here I am parked under the cabbage palms the state tree of the State I'm in..




Im only just barely in the state of FL, I'm camped currently at Little Talbot Island SP. east of Jacksonville, FL.  Thanks to my sister for keeping my big dogs and looking out for Mom so I can have some free time to do some winter birding..





palm warbler

I saw a lot of birds today...yesterday was a lot of driving and getting settled for camping for the day and a walk on the beach...so today I concentrated on finding some birds...I wish I had better photos..and the clouds didnt help.

  



American Kestrel a bit far away...






Willet also far away playing in the surf..




Went to get my passport stamped at Kingsley Plantation and there was a tree full of Cedar Wax wings...














A river runs right in front of the plantation house I saw this man and his best friend out for a boat ride...




they made the slave quarters out of what they call Tabby...its oyster shells, sand, and water...





this one is sort of eroded, here is how it probably looked in the days when it was in use...

after visiting this spot the sun was still hiding so I went to the boardwalk on Big Talbot Island and it was full of stuff to see...





Casey waiting for me...











Hooded Mergansers and Shovelers







Pied Billed Grebes





blue winged teal



tri-colored Heron



Gr. Egret



 Redwinged Blackbird Females



Im going with Lesser Scaup it didnt appear that big to me, a new lifer and the female was there too...


later on in the day I head to Ft George just south of my campground and saw flocks of mixed gulls, terns, and skimmers.






black skimmers



little blue heron immature, 







wood stork

And lots of these guys around some already on nests..




Osprey

My campsite at Little Talbot is right on the marsh pretty good spot too..and the fastest Wifi
 I've ever had in my entire life!! At home Im happy to get 2 bars of a 4G signal here Im getting 4 bars!!





I only scratched the surface of all I saw yesterday and today...I hope to have more to share as the week progresses and I continue South!






More coming...


PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.