Changes

I went down to St. Marks NWR early on Monday to get in some recreational birding time. I started out at the Double Bridges.  The light from a thin crescent moon shining through the bare branches of the trees in the East River floodplain was strong enough to cast faint shadows. Somewhere out in the night there may have been Barred Owls silently watching me, but I heard nothing. As I began to drive away, an Eastern Screech Owl flew across the road lit up in the beams of the car’s headlights.

I moved down and was walking along Lighthouse Road near the Double Dikes listening for rails.  The Eastern horizon was beginning to brighten, but the sky overhead was still spattered with stars. I looked up to see the dark outline of an eagle as it flew out to ambush breakfast. I could hear the flapping of its wings in the windless dark.

An American Bittern flew by me, barely above head-level. It’s hump-backed and sharp-pointed silhouette was instantly recognizable. This happens often in winter. Solitary bitterns leave their overnight roost before first light, but they quickly drop into the marshes after a short flight to begin a day of hunting. I watched the bittern as it began to gain altitude, a dark flapping bird visible against the contrasting lighter colors of the dawn. It was about a half mile out and maybe a hundred feet up when it turned and flew North. I watched it until it disappeared over the horizon. I’ve seen this behavior once before in late winter. It may be some pre-migratory movement.

February is a transitional month along the Gulf coast, a mix of late winter and earliest Spring. We still have most of our winter duck species, but their population levels have begun to drop. American Black Ducks are no longer being reported from St. Marks. They are usually the first species to disappear as ducks begin to stage Northward on their annual return to their breeding grounds. Wintering sparrows are still being seen in good numbers, but the earliest signs of Spring are already appearing. If you look closely you can see the miniscule flowers of Red Maple and American Elm at the Double Bridges and hear Tufted Titmice whistling their territorial “peter-peter-peter” call.

Increasingly, the allure of birding at the refuge will be the experience of Spring migration. It has already started with sighting of returning Purple Martins. Swallow-tailed Kites have been reported in the state and Northern Parulas will soon be heard. However, just before you give in to the excitement of migrants in brilliant breeding plumage, there is still time for some late winter birding. 

There are birds that characterize the winter season at St. Marks. The migratory ducks, masses of shorebirds on Tower Pond, Northern Harriers, seasonal sparrows, Soras and an assemblage of wintering birds that includes everything from Phoebes and Hermit Thrushes to Ruby-crowned Kinglets. 

They’ll be leaving soon. Come down to St. Marks and see them off.