My Second Trip to LLELA

Well today was a very unexpected day for me. I got to see all sorts of neat birds today some of them old lifers that I have not seen in a long while. A couple of these birds are new to the life list and one was a very special find. When we first arrived at the LLELA we saw two big Bald Eagles on top of the dam sitting up. They stayed around for a good while until it was time to go on a hunt. I was able to snap several photos of the magnificent birds they made up the very first photos that I would get of the Eagle. At the same time we happened upon my first newest lifer to the list; the North American Osprey was the bird we encountered during the Eagle viewing. The Osprey left my camera view as it flew off but my mother was able to get the shot. We decided to head off to the Bittern Trail where I went when my grandmother was in the hospital after her surgery. The first time I was out with @sambiology @brentano @mchlfx @briang and the rest of our field investigation trip members. I was hoping we would find some Green Tree Frogs and some American Rubyspot Damselflies. We arrived at the Bitter trail and we walked down and saw some of the damselflies. It was still kind of chilly and to be honest there were not as many of them as there were the first time I went out there. I was able to get a few of the little guys coming and going from the trail. I was able to get a few of other things like some kind of Black and Yellow fly that I am unsure of to give an ID. We saw a few Kingfishers but none were wanting their photo taken and were far off. We also heard some mallards off in the distance. Most of the birds were either exposed water birds, birds of prey, or secluded tree birds. I didn't get a photo of every bird I saw because they were hidden in the brush and the bushes. On the Bittern Trail Boardwalk we looked for a few Tree frogs but couldn't find any at the time. We looked for a while coming and going but still they were not out. Many of the reeds and grasses they were stuck on the first time I went out there were all blown over and very distraught looking. We went back and we to the parking lot after a while and then we went back to the car and drove off to the river trail and the homestead trail area. The first trail we went down was the Homestead trail. There we saw many Variegated Meadowhawks and a few other things. It was coming back from the homestead site we stopped by a pond and saw a few Green Tree Frogs. We finally found what we were looking for; It took a little doing but on some of the dead grasses we found them clinging to them as tight as possible. They are by far one of my favorite animals out there. I have to admit I did like the Osprey and the Bald Eagles too. It was time to head back and go on the river trail. We walked to the water's edge and saw a Neotropical Cormorant. It was my second time recording this bird. Normally I see Double- Crested Cormorants but today nature decided to switch it up for me. I have never seen a Neotropical Cormorant up this far; the very first one I saw was spotted in 2015 at the Pintail Trail down in Louisiana during our Winter Migration trek which was loads of fun. It was really cool to see the differences in the good light. I now realize that the Neotropical cormorant has less orange on its beak in the winter and is a much darker color in terms of the plumage. Well it was nearly time to head back and we made one more stop near the visitors center. The visitors center was closed but we saw a Red-Tail Hawk and a Little Kestrel hanging out on the power lines. The Kestrel was the second lifer I would make today. It was very fun I got to see a few Great Blue Herons and a few Great Egrets and stuff. It was soon time to get lunch and after lunch we stopped by Bob Jones Nature Center only seeing a few things like a Rough Green Snake and a few insects. All in all it was a great day and I hope that I do return to the LLELA very soon; who knows what else we might find out there. This is your pal Zachary Chapman signing off for now and I will see you on the trail.

Julkaistu marraskuu 25, 2017 06:40 AP. käyttäjältä galactic_bug_man