World Wetlands Day

 In honor of the World Wetlands Day, Feb 2nd here a few birds that use the wetlands. But there are so many more species of birds that use wetlands.

Purple Gallinule

Sora

Virginia Rail

Least Bittern

Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail with chicks

American Bittern

Purple Gallinule & Tri-colored Heron

Double-crested Cormorant

Anhinga

Cameron County ~ La Madre Nature Trail

This morning at SPI's Convention Center, I walked the La Madre Nature Trail. I saw a Tri-colored Heron and thought, "it's just another Tricolored" but then, I glanced down to see a Clapper Rail in the reeds next to him. Been a long time since I've seen a Clapper Rail (07/2016 in NJ). Just after that a Green Kingfisher flies in for a few moments before a Bufflehead floated by. All this before I even got out to where the shorebirds and ducks were hanging out.

Tri-colored Heron & Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail

Green Kingfisher

Green Kingfisher

Bufflehead

Happy Mother's Day

American Oystercatcher Mom with her chicks

Least Tern and her chicks

A wee bit older ~ American Oystercatcher chick

Piping Plover chick

Clapper Rail chick

Edwin Forsythe NWR ~ Birds

Barn Swallow

Common Yellow-throat

American Oystercatcher

Clapper Rail

Nummy Island ~ Clapper Rail

Cape Island Creek ~ Kayaking

Great Egret

     One of Jenny's goals for this summer was to kayak with Shamus, her 6 year old grandson.  I wanted to get Philippa into a kayak.  She was very skeptical and quite concerned she would fall out of the kayak regardless of how much I reassured her that this would not happen.  Off we went to kayak along the creek.  What a good time we had except that the creek current and winds were much stronger than Jenny and I are normally see.

Shamus having fun!

Jenny & Shamus

Philippa decides kayaking isn't too bad.

Clapper Rail

Cape Island Creek ~ Kayaking

As always kayaking can be both fun and relaxing. I love being able to glide by to the birds and get close up pictures of them.  The Osprey's were out in force and I was able to also paddle up one of the side creeks to see the Osprey nest a little closer but no chicks as yet.  There were Terrapin turtles sunning along the way.  Plus again I was able to spot a number of Clapper Rails.

Kayaking Cape Island Creek ~ Day 2

It was another nice day out on the creek though I was by myself there were other people also out kayaking. Today there weren't as many birds but I saw 7 different Clapper Rails which is a bird known for it's secretive habits.  Since the Clapper Rail is one of my favorite birds I decided on showing a few of those seen this AM.  Perhaps it was the time I chose to kayak or perhaps some of the birds have now flown north to the Arctic having filled up on food here.

Kayaking - Cape Island Creek

Foster's Tern

Kayaking is great anytime though so far I have seen more birds during spring migration than fall migration which is now underway.  I also see more birds at the lower tides as they feed on the mudflats.  The advantage, though, is that you are able to get close to the birds.  This Clapper Rail was just about 3 ft from me.  I spent a good bit of time just watching it bath and preen.  Awesome!