The Grand Isle Bird Fest of 2023

We arrived in Grand Isle, Louisiana, to find a place that was quite a bit different than normal The ditches and ponds were dry. It had not rained in a months, and we feared that the migrating birds would pass by the island. Added to the drought a strong south wind would allow the birds to reach the mainland.

The weather forecast changed and several days later it rained. Not as much as we had hoped for but at least some of the birds were feeding in the pond. As the annual Bird Festival drew near several strong fronts caused the wind direction to change and with this heavy rain along with coastal flooding filled the ditches. A magnificent frigate bird flew directly overhead but the light was bad, and I only got a poor image of it.

The locals call them rain birds and true to it’s name, it rained that night in windblown sheets. The wind was so strong that the water seeped around the window frames, and we had to place towels on and below the window ledges. It wasn’t as strong as the derecho from three years ago, but it was close as the wind speed was clocked at seventy-ix miles per hour.

Along with the added moisture, which soaked the ground, the strong winds blew down trees, including mulberry trees which were laden with unripe fruit.

The fallout arrived in several waves. Where we had rarely seen any birds, we now spotted numerous indigo buntings, and blue grosbeaks.

Besides these two blue birds, a rose breasted grosbeak, and

scarlet and summer tanagers posed for pictures along with a black and white warbler that fed on insects as it hopped from branch to branch on a dead tree.

The rains also brought on the sudden appearance of resurrection ferns, and overnight, new fern fronds sprouted full grown.

They appear on the large limbs of Southern Live Oak trees, (and almost as quickly retreat)

. We did catch a glimpse of a cerulean warbler, but it did not pose long enough for a picture. An American redstart also teased us as we tried to get its image.

When the birds are in the trees we must use manual focus or else the camera will focus on the leaves and branches. As a result we took over one thousand images to get about thirty good ones, (a great one is when we actually catch the fine plumage and the reflection in the birds eye).

Finally a white eyed vireo gave us a perfect pose,

along with a female summer tanager.

A common tern flew overhead and hooded warblers were everywhere.

We also saw Cape May Warblers and while we were told a Prothonotary warbler had been spotted we never did see it. One of the final images was of an orchard oriole but we couldn't get a clear shot.

It was a great week of birding and we also had quality family time with my sister Connie and her husband Gary and my nephew Blains new wife, Mari. She has a great smile and lights up all with her great attitude. We were blessed to see so many birds, Thanks again Connie and Gary, for the blessings of so many good times! Clear skies