February at St. Marks

It’s February at St. Marks NWR. One morning earlier this week, I walked East from the Lighthouse as far as I could go and stood on the beach. It was overcast and windy, just before dawn. At first there were no birds, Then, I heard the barking call of a Black Skimmer and two flew by ten feet offshore. From out on the Gulf, I heard the long call of a loon. At first light the morning flight began; a flock of White Ibis coming across the marsh, pelicans –both brown and white — headed East across the water, Ring-billed Gulls headed out for a day of fishing and scavenging. Light from the rising sun snuck through a break on the horizon, reflecting off the water’s surface and painting the clouds above me a shifting mix of purple, pink and gold.

Down here along the Gulf coast, February is a mix of deep winter and early Spring. The seasons shift and change. One day’s high temperature can be the low temperature in a week. Red Maples at the Double Bridges are stark and leafless, but if you look closer, their branchlets are tipped with small flowers that will soon turn into bright red winged seeds. Our winter ducks are still here, but Green-winged Teal, Hooded Mergansers and Mallards are beginning to leave on their Northward journey and it’s time to watch for the first Spring migrants, Purple Martin and Parula Warbler.

There is still time for winter birding, but February is the last month that you can expect to see all of our wintering ducks, sparrows and songbirds. Come down to the refuge this month if you want to see Vermilion Flycatcher, White-faced Ibis or Black Duck. By the end of the month, some wintering species will be gone and others will be scarce.

February at St Marks also means Great Horned Owlets and Bald Eaglets.  It means blooming White Water Lilies, St. John’s-wort and Lyre-leaved Sage. It’s the month when otters mate and when butterflies and dragonflies appear. By the end of the month, all of our resident birds will be singing. A lot is about to happen.

St. Marks’ long-running American Flamingo is still here. It first appeared after Hurricane Michael in 2018. It left for short periods during its first two Summers, but it has been here for sixteen straight months. It has now established residency and is qualified to vote in Wakulla County. Look for it on Mounds Pool III.

 There are plenty of reasons for you to come down to St. Marks; sunrises, winter birds or your monthly flamingo fix to name a few. Take your pick, grab your binoculars and drive down to the refuge.