Piping Plover Surveys at Fort Pickens

Today was a much better day for bird surveys, though it was still a little chilly.



The birds like to point that out as they hide behind whatever windbreak there is on the mudflats. The birds, like this snowy plover (SNPL) have the right idea!



There was one banded piping plover (PIPL) near the asphalt pile,



who seemed to be quite thirsty!



Another was fighting with a sanderling (SAND). Just look at those bright orange legs.



A young eagle (BAEA) hid in the woods,



Brown pelicans (BRPE) floated on the updrafts,



and a sandwich tern (SATE) kept flying away from me. We can't officially count a bird in our survey until we pass it or it flies in the opposite direction. I followed this little guy for nearly two miles as I tried to complete my survey. I keep telling myself it's good for them to fly on cold days - it warms up their chilly muscles!



By the time I headed back east on the south shore of the island, I was running with the wind behind me and the sun was high in the sky. It was a beautiful day indeed!

PIPLs, SNPLs, WIPLs, et al.

Yes, it was another bird survey day. We have a lot of those in the winter, and yes, for a sea turtle girl, this is officially winter. Once that thermometer hits 80 degrees, it's time for a parka (if you don't believe me, just ask my co-workers...)

A lot of these will seem redundant, but it's time for 'peep' lessons. For today, it's just the following:



SAND (sanderlings)



WIPL (Wilson's plover)



PIPL (piping plover)



SNPL (snowy plover)



with some WILL (willets)



BRPE (brown pelicans)



and GBHE (great blue herons), thrown in for good measure....

Now let's try that again...



Can you tell what's in here? There are just two species...



Here, we have three... It helps to click to see them better, and pay close attention to leg color and their beaks!

I'll try to photograph a north shore survey soon so we can add some to the cast of characters in the park :)

Opal Beach Birds -- There's More than Just a Flamingo!

The day dawned bright, clear and chilly for the biologists of Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was time for a bird survey on the south shore of the Santa Rosa area today.



There were the usual suspects -- sanderlings, willets, laughing gulls, and brown pelicans.



I had to peek at the north shore as well, to see how morning was going on the marsh.



The little blue herons and reddish egrets were together in one large flock,



though they did separate out.



Check out this feeding posture!

There were lots of piping plovers as well, hanging out about a mile east of Opal Beach. Yes, the flamingo was still there as well.



This is winter habitat for them, and the marshes are a great food source.



Sometimes, I think they come with just a little too much jewelry though.



That yellow flag has to hurt!

Piping Plover Surveys

Today was a Piping Plover survey day at Gulf Islands National Seashore. We're been trying to get them completed for days, but between hatchling sea turtles and stranded adults, it's been a bit busy!



The same banded PIPL that's been hanging out at Little Sabine for the last month was hanging out still... Guess the mudflats there have some great treats!



Of course, there was also the infamous Flamingo at Opal Beach, hanging out with a Great Blue Heron that may, or may not, be a close relative. Flamingos may just be in a bird branch all of their own, though they look a lot like storks to me!



The peeps were out in great numbers, fighting amongst themselves,



and hiding from me...



I just love watching the antics of Reddish Egrets...



With their spooky yellow eyes and comical behavior, I don't understand why no one has used them as cartoon characters yet!