I appreciate having access to wildlife conservation areas in Mississippi. Most of the places I visit are closed to the public or have restricted access. The best decision I made (to expand my birding hobby) was to register as an independent wildlife researcher and photographer. That connection with state and federal authorities has come with great rewards at bargain prices. I collect data and photos from those sites and provide info that is used in official reports; they in turn, let me wander around.
I have recently begun to explore the Graham Wildlife Management Area (4,000+ acres that is part of the Sardis Lake Reservoir complex). The satellite map below shows the boundaries of the site. MS. Highway #7 is the western border, the Little Tallahatchie River is north, Lafayette Co. Road 244 is south (grey line) and a main gas line for Columbia Gulf Transmission is the eastern border.
There is a 1000 foot boundary (along the county road) that consists of mixed hardwood and pine forest. The remaining property is cultivated marsh land connected to a large swamp. Today’s diary concentrates on the man-made ponds in the middle of the image above.
A substantial gate (controlled by the Corps of Engineers) stops all vehicles from entering the area. My arrangement for access to this (and many sites like this one) is minimal impact in all respects. I walk in, collect data (photos and audio recordings), then compile a report of my findings.
I have on rare occasions collected specimens (vegetation, minerals or dead creatures) and delivered them to the Park Ranger’s station. I always bring out trash I find and consider myself a servant of the land. Let me share what I discovered during my recent visit.
***
Most of the United States enjoy a bird that mimics a cat.
Grey Catbird — Dumetella carolinensis
In Mississippi, we go one step further and have a frog that mimics a bird.
Bird-voiced Tree Frog — Hyla avivoca
I took another photo of the tiny frog to give you some perspective of size.
The fence post is 6 inches diameter
I have included a short video that features the high pitched call of this mighty vocalist.
22 second video
.
It rained for a day (after 2 weeks of drought) and brought enough water to moisten the parched land. Fungus lined the gravel path. The aroma of decay and new growth blended heavily.
Blooming fungus clump
I liked the bowl shape and reddish color of this mushroom.
When I flipped it over to look at the gills, I noticed that ants were feasting. These are not the invasive Fire Ants that strip life from most things they encounter.
Butterflies were everywhere I went. Small woodland nymphs and satyrs flitted as I walked through the trees. The open area was alive with the erratic flights of varied species. Here are a few I was able to catch on film.
a “Crescent” Fritillary
A Gulf Fritillary was busily feeding on Ironweed (Vernonia) flowers.
Gulf Fritillary — Agraulis vanillae
There was a Fritillary with unusual markings on the fore-wings. I did not find a sub-species for this “smutty” individual.
indications this is another Gulf Fritillary
As I exited the woods, I saw that the sky was filled with hunters. My first bird photo was of a Kestrel. The overcast sky didn’t allow the sun to enhance the colorful plumage. The “chicken hawk” also didn’t hang around for another photo.
A Red-shouldered Hawk leapt from it’s perch on the bordering pines to cruise the perimeter of the ponds.
What I believed to be a different Kestrel turned out to be a lifer for me. This Merlin (Taiga) zipped in for a moment. I captured the brief pause (and rapid launch) as it hurried toward a new vantage point. These two photos (though not the quality I wanted) are enough to determine the species.
I turned on my phone’s Merlin app to see what might be available (and unseen). Here is a screen shot of my first observations.
I scanned the low brush for the Lincoln’s Sparrow and a Marsh Wren (indicated in a later screen) to no avail. I was able to catch the urgent Flycatcher as it darted from perch to prey. Here are two shots that I felt defined the species.
back view of a Flycatcher in motion
Surprisingly, a Belted Kingfisher sat for much longer before taking off.
A sizable flock of Indigo Buntings swept in to fill the shrubs near me. All the birds were in non-breeding plumage or were juveniles.
female Indigo Bunting
juvenile male Indigo Bunting
A single female Red-winged Blackbird landed, sang out (like a pied piper) and led the Buntings away.
An unconcerned Mallard hen glided by.
I heard high pitched squeals of Wood Ducks and focused on the location. I found an unexpected brown blob (that I thought was a Beaver) half submerged in the channel. I recorded the following video of the interaction.
41 second video
.
I watched the mammals swim leisurely around. They didn’t seem concerned about my presence. Eventually the smaller animal climbed onto a grassy patch to join a larger (I assume a parent) animal. That is when I realized what species I had been watching.
“rat-like” tail and body shape of Nutria — Myocaster coypus
Hunger dictated my next decision. As I headed back to the truck, I encountered two other birds. The first was splashing in a puddle.
Magnolia Warbler
The last tiny bird was skirting a tree and giving shrill peeps as it worked.
White-breasted Nuthatch
My morning had ended and it was a fine beginning in my exploration of the area.
I have been told there are Timber rattlesnakes in the uplands and gators in the swamps. I will hunt those reptiles another time (when I try to find fox and bobcats, also sighted).
|
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream,visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on follow.
|
I hope you will share you own outings with us. Please treat this as an open thread. Thank you for stopping by.
