Best Part of the Day

Friday morning, I drove down to St. Marks NWR and used the Tower Pond Trail to get to the outer levee. I shouldered my scope and started walking North into a stiff wind. Black-crowned Night Herons were barking as they flew overhead towards their Headquarters Pond roost. The stars were fading and the Eastern sky was already a pale blue that shifted to a narrow band of light orange near the purple clouds on the horizon. High-flying ducks passed me as they came in from Apalachee Bay.

I was heading for a raised area on the levee where it passes over a water control culvert. The extra height would give a good view out over Mounds Pool III for the morning flight. It was close to first light by the time I got there and set up my scope. Flocks of Snowy Egrets were coming in from the marshes flying at eye level. A Harrier slowly glided through spooking a flock of Blue-winged Teal. Hundreds of Dunlin flew low over the mudflats, their bellies flashing white as they turned before settling down again.

First light came and Great Egrets started to fly. Small flocks of ducks, mostly Redheads, began to move. Greater Yellowlegs began to chase prey in the shallow water. A Bald Eagle flew the length of the pool. Its progress marked by eruptions of ducks and waders. 

This is the best part of the day.

With the sun risen I started walking back, scoping the North end of the pool as I walked. There were dozens of waders; Little Blue & Tricolored Herons, Snowy Egrets and White Ibis. A flock of dark ibis landed and began feeding. They were mostly White-faced, but there were a few Glossies. A large flock of American Avocets were sweeping the water, walking between Green-winged Teal. There were over a hundred Northern Pintail.

As I got closer to the end of the pool I ran into White Pelicans, immense birds with a nine-foot wingspan. A lone Snow Goose sitting with them looked tiny. Ducks were still flying in, Gadwalls, Redheads, Scaup and Hooded Mergansers. They landed among the ducks already on this end of the pool, mostly Redhead, but including a few Mallards and Black Ducks.

We are nearing the end of Fall migration and the refuge is beginning to settle in to its winter species profile. Populations of Horned Grebes and Common Loons are beginning to increase on Apalachee Bay and all of our regularly occurring winter duck species have been reported. Duck numbers have quadrupled in the last three weeks.

There are still migrants that will be arriving or passing through for a few more weeks. Sandhill Cranes are flying high overhead bound for the peninsula and undulating lines of White Pelicans are passing through the refuge. This is the best time to watch for geese. We mostly get Snow Geese, but Ross’ and Greater White-fronted are possible. 

These are still trying times. Be thankful we have St. Marks as a refuge.