Saying goodbye, with some final photos, from the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge
Great Blue Heron
As part of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, the Refuge now hosts the largest colony of White-faced ibis in Northern America. The wet meadows and mudflats on and surrounding the Refuge are excellent feeding habitat and bring the ibis in from April through October, and the deep emergent marshes provide nesting habitat for the colony throughout the summer. (taken from their web-site)
White-faced Ibis
Colors of a Summer Marsh
White-faced Ibis
Great Blue Heron
White-faced Ibis
Except for a few Grebe photos, which I will post later, these are the final grouping of photos from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. I mentioned, in a previous post, the film we watched at the visitor center. This film showed Grebes doing their mating ritual. It was amazing; I will never again gaze upon a Grebe without thinking of their beautiful dance!
We spent two nights, last Sunday and Monday at Willard Bay State Park and a few hours at the refuge. I took over 200 photos of this beautiful area. Hopefully, one day we will visit again.
Moving on:
Tuesday we arrived at Three Island Crossing State Park in Idaho and camped along the Snake River. Photos of this beautiful area coming up next.
We are currently at LaPine State Park to the south of Bend and north of LaPine, Oregon camped along the Deschutes River. Another gorgeous river. We have been camped here since Wednesday. In the morning we head to Bullards Beach State Park near Bandon, Oregon.
High above the marsh as we walk along the boardwalk toward the entrance to the bird refuge, tall reeds wave gently in the breeze below, showing off their summer colors.
I can hear birds singing. As we stop to take in the surrounding beauty, I spot Barn Swallows performing their acrobatics, Dragonflies trying to stay out of their reach and these gorgeous Yellow-headed Blackbirds singing their welcome.
There are several and we are delighted. It has been many years since we have seen the Yellow-headed Blackbird. The brightly colored males are sitting among the swaying reeds, showing off their handsomeness for us.
The lovely female, with her muted patch of gold, is busy catching Dragonflies for her babies. We stand in awe watching these birds. Finally, the female becomes brave, perhaps knowing we are not a threat, and delivers her mouthful of bugs to her babies.
Down she goes into the reeds and out of sight. We can’t see the nest even though we try diligently to get a glimpse; they have done a masterful job of hiding their nursery.
Yellow-headed BlackbirdIts a warm day and the birds are hotLooking for bugsSitting proudlyYellow-headed Blackbird (female)Got a bug!Down she goes to feed her baby.Near the Visitor Center
For all you birders out there, please go to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge web-site and take a look! Better yet, if you are ever in this area stop in for a visit, you won’t be disappointed. It is located just north of Willard, Utah. I know you will enjoy seeing this gorgeous refuge.
“Are you going to come out here and fill this feeder for me? Its cold out here!”
We have had COLD temperatures the last several days; lows at night getting down into the teens, highs during the day hovering around the low fifties. Rain, hail, wind and snow all during the past few days. Spring?
With the temperatures getting down so low at night (19 degrees), I felt it necessary to try my best to make sure the birds were feed well during the day. We setup several feeding stations, even purchasing a couple of new feeders.
I am tired of the Squirrels, Coons, Deer and Bear getting into my bird feeders! The bears are the worse!
It would be nice if the other wildlife wouldn’t destroy the feeders, while trying to eat. We have been taking the feeders in at night, trying to minimize the damage, but that can be a real pain!
I looked out my kitchen window this morning and there was a rabbit, chowing down on the seed I threw out on the ground. So, I should add rabbits to my list above, but they don’t destroy the feeders. I love all the critters, but just don’t want them destroying our bird feeders.
Squirrel Proof? This is one of our new feeders. A deck mount. I sure hope the critters can’t reach this one, because it is a long way down if they fall.
Love this little feeder (not a sharp photo, because the wind was blowing hard)
I found the little feeder above at Wal-Mart. It is perfect for feeding the Orioles Oranges and Grape Jelly. They seem to love it also.
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
Dip, Dip, Dip
This Oriole feeder is one I purchased last year and I fill it with sugar water and a little of the Oriole orange colored mix, which turns the water an orange color. I also fill a Hummer feeder with the same liquid, which the Orioles seem to enjoy.
“Are you still watching me?”
The photos below were taken from inside the house through the glass. I can’t seem to sneak up on these guys!
Western Tanager on a very cold MAY day
Black-headed Grosbeak (male)Sitting in the Sun
During the last couple of days we have had the following birds visit our yard:
We rolled into Beaumont, Texas last Thursday with the expectation of visiting a few birding areas located along the gulf.
Friday morning we headed toward the little Texas town of Winnie. I had read **(see special note later in this post) that this area offered fabulous birding opportunities. So, with our binoculars and cameras packed in the car, we set out.
High Island or Anahuac, which one to visit first?
We didn’t know which area(s) to visit first; the birding sanctuaries and rookeries around High Island, Texas or the Anahauc National Wildlife Refuge outside of Winnie.
We knew our time was limited and we only had two full days to fit in all in. Silly us, we should have scheduled more days in this location.
We turned off the interstate and headed south toward Winnie and High Island, and as we approached the turn-off to ANWF, we decided to head over to the High Island sanctuaries and rookeries first.
We didn’t know if we could run by these rookeries, see what was there, and then zoom over to ANWF or what.Silly us!
Birders Welcome! Of course they are!
Once we reached the town of High Island and drove around for a few minutes, we realized we needed to ask for information. I guess it was just dumb luck that we were passing a motel and saw a sign stating “Birders Welcome”.
We pulled into the motel and I ran in to ask the question, “where are the rookeries?”. The people were not only extremely friendly, they were also generous. Getting back into the car, with a map in hand, we set out to find the rookery.
After a few wrong turns we managed to find the Smith Oaks birding parking lot. When we pulled into the lot we were stunned, “look at all these cars”. We should have known we were not the only folks that wanted to visit the rookeries at the peak of breeding season.Silly us!
I will remember this event, with pure joy, for the rest of my life.
Okay, we will look around, hop back into the car and head to the next place. Not a chance, I could have stayed right there for days.Silly us!
Other than the rookery at Avery Island, I had never seen such a place. Hundreds of Egrets, Spoonbills and Cormorants flying, fighting, mating, snoozing and nesting. What a sight to behold!
Reluctantly, we finally got back into the car, in total amazement and me with lens envy, and headed over to another birding area called Boy Scout Woods.
Wow, even more cars and people.
Unbeknown to us it turns out the Audubon Society of Houston’s annual spring birding event was in full swing. People from all over the United States and perhaps from outside the US attend this event each year.
We registered with the HAS, met some wonderful people, walked around in the woods and added one new bird to my life list! Number 360 the Louisiana Waterthrush. What a beautiful bird.
Be sure, if interested, to read the High Island history page.
What a wonderful day!
We drove back to our coach in Beaumont tired, but extremely happy for this experience. It would have been nice to go back to High Island, but we knew we had to see Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.
**Gay, a blogger friend from http://www.good-times-rollin.blogspot.com visited Aunahauc National Wildlife Refuge and wrote about the visit on her blog. Go take a look at her beautiful blog.
Judy is a volunteer at the refuge and writes about her experiences on her fabulous blog.
After reading both of these blogs about Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, I knew we needed to stop there. Also, Judy had visited the Smith Oaks Rookery and posted her gorgeous photos on her blog.
The next morning, following our visit to High Island, we pulled into the refuge.
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. Their new Welcome Center
As I entered the brand new Welcome Center, I was met by a person with a friendly face and kind eyes. As I glanced at her name tag, conformation was made, but I already knew that I was about to meet Judy!
Howard and I were lucky that she was there that day; it made our visit to ANWF even more special!
It was a thrill to meet a fellow blogger, birder and nature lover. She showed us the ANWF maps, told us what we might see and gave us a few suggestions on where to go. So off we went to explore!
Other, than the day being cloudy and very windy, hubby and I had a wonderful time! The refuge is beautiful!
Thank you Judy, it was a great pleasure to meet you.
Perhaps, one day down the line we will meet again.
Next year, we know where to stay.
No more Silly Us! Next year we will stay a lot closer and a lot longer in order to experience these areas of Texas.
Until next year!
Here are some of the 37 species of birds we saw at ANWF. I will post, in a separate blog, the photos from High Island.
“Pay attention Sally” I am not sure what these are: American Black Duck or Mottled Duck“Do they have handicap access here at ANWR?” Eastern KingbirdSavannah Sparrow I am not 100% sure of this ID
In full view – Green HeronWhite-tailed Hawk Far away and being chased by a blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird (female)Maybe the White-tailed Hawk is being harassed by the ducks
Greater Yellow Legs I am not sure about this IDLaughing Gull
Wolf Song Blog 