Yesterday I took a nice guy - Jason from Grayson (GA) - out on a tour. We stopped by Egret Airport because it was high tide. And high tide in the summer is a great time to visit Egret Airport! If you haven't been on one of our nature tours you may wonder where this airport is and why the tide matters...
Well Jason found out as we saw dozens of Roseate Spoonbills (my personal favorite pink birds) as well as wood storks, wood ducks, night herons, and, of course, plenty of egrets. To top it off, a glossy ibis flew in! This was the first time I've seen one there. Ibis are fun to watch birds with long down-curved bills. White Ibis (who are actually brown when younger) frequent the golf courses and marshes of Amelia Island Plantation, and I hope to see more of the glossy (shiny greenish/black feathers) again!
Top photo: Roseate Spoonbill and Great EgretMiddle: White Ibis
Bottom: one White and four Glossy Ibis. All photos were taken at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, a place where some of our birds go during the winter. Top two taken by Amanda Clark, bottom by me.
Check out the August 2009 Amelia Islander magazine for more information on the marsh birds of Amelia Island - www.ameliaislander.com
Thanks again for the tour Jessica and for doing what y'all do...you're a great person and a super-naturalist!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Great blog!