I got a call from Gene Knight, who wondered if I had seen the Eared Grebes at the lagoons in Grenada. I had not (seen the Grebes) but did have plans to visit the site for the ducks. I was glad I made the trip and sorry I missed seeing the Grebes.
The waste treatment lagoons of Grenada are situated north of town and west of the Lake. The site is an hour from my house, because of driving around water systems. Effluent water is released into the Yalobusha River which flows across the delta farms to the Mississippi River. Migrating birds follow the river and take breaks at feeding sites like the lagoon in Grenada.
After meeting and speaking with Tyrell (facility manager) I drove out to the largest lagoon. He said he was proud to be a part of the Mississippi birding experience but couldn’t understand why birds were attracted to (in his words) “shitty water”. “They fly in, you guys show up. That’s all I know”, he added. I liked his candid and friendly nature.
There were colorful dots afloat in vast numbers. I grabbed a few shots before the sun rose high enough to identify all the birds I saw. Here are some of those early shots.
When I finally could make out the species, I tried to catch a few of each to show the diversity.
The thing that captivated me most was the feeding habits of the hundreds of Shovelers. There were several “rafts” of the birds swirling around in a ritual of circling and zig-zags. The video below shows those interesting movements.
1 minute video
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In a blink of an eye, a Bald Eagle flew over the lagoon. He looked confident and I expect he had caught breakfast there before. He left without a prize that day but his presence caused quite a stir.
The dippers took to the sky and the divers dove to the depths to avoid becoming a meal. The feathered frenzy was abrupt and loud. The photo below is repeated instantly all over the lagoon.
The eagle departed and the ducks returned to the water. I headed back to the truck satisfied with the morning’s events. A Song Sparrow was flitting around in the reeds and small shrubs. It seems he was late to the feast and curious about the uninvited guests.
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I hope the holidays have treated you well and you receive gifts any time you explore outside.