Its spring and it’s still too early to head north. We spend
our summer at six thousand feet in elevation and up high April is still early
spring with snow and cold. So we are dallying down south and that means it time
to head to Grand Isle for family, friends and birds.
On the way to Grand Isle we stopped for a night at New
Iberia so we could stock up on Tabasco sauces. Last year we went to Avery
Island with our friends Jim and Nancy and the sauces we bought didn’t even last
a year. So we stocked up but already I fear we didn’t buy enough.
Arriving at Grand Isle we camped at the State Park and then
waited for our friends Dave and Jane. Dave has always wanted to fish at Grand
isle and so they are camping next to us. WE waited at Connie and Gary’s house
and then drove over to welcome them here.
The next morning was the second day of the bird festival.
Heading to the Multiplex we checked out the information booth before heading
down the birding trail. Several painted buntings had been spotted the day
before and so we all hoped they hadn’t yet continued their migration.
There were quite a few birders, the most we have ever seen,
and perhaps that made the birds more skittish but we still managed to spot and indigo
bunting and a scarlet tanager. We even got two new life birds, an orchard
oriole and a Swainson’s warbler.
We later learned that huge fallout had happened last Tuesday
and the birds were so tired they simply landed and sat. It’s a long flight
across the Gulf of Mexico and the birds had actually fought through a really
strong cold front with forty mile per hour wind gusts.
So while our bird numbers were down, for us, it’s always a
good time birding at the festival. We ended the day by having a picnic on Elmer’s
Island. There is another cold front moving though on Monday and so there might
be another fall out before the spring migration ends. Maybe we will yet spot a
painted bunting?
Clear skies
No comments:
Post a Comment