2008-03-12
Did You Know It's Still Dark at 6:15am
Another reason for stopping in the Fulton area was to take a birding trip on the Skimmer with Captain Tommy. The alarm was set for 5:20am but true to schedule I woke up at 4:46am --- well before the alarm and unable to go back to sleep. After I was showered and dressed I woke Ed and Zaph up --- Ed to get ready, and Zaph to go for a walk. Outside it still looked like the middle of the night, dark and a sky full of stars. By 6:30 we were on the road and arrived at the Skimmer dock at 6:45 a good 20 minutes early --- oh well, Ed didn't want to be late.
By 7:30 the boat was on it's way. The beginning of the trip was interesting as we were driving in the dark in the fog --- luckily Captain Tommy knew where he was going and had both GPS and radar. About 15 minutes into the trip the sun rose --- very pretty indeed.
The trip was very successful as we saw a lot of Whooping Cranes. It helps that the Whooping Cranes are territorial and return to the same territory each year. First we saw a family of four which was unusual. Whooping Cranes lay two eggs but the stronger baby usually kills the other one to ensure sufficient food. Then we saw three other family groupings (three cranes) before stopping to watch a young pair of adults. On the return trip to shore we saw a group of young birds that left their families but not yet found their mate. Oh, we did see lots of other birds on the trip as well.
Whooping Crane
The summer and winter rains have ensured a good crop of Blue Crabs this year which makes the Whooping Cranes very happy .... it's one of their favourite foods. Adult Whooping Crane in the foreground, juvenile in background.
Probably a Long-billed Curlew
A flock of migrating Ibis.
Four Roseate Spoonbills and a Tri-coloured Heron
A pair of adult whooping cranes.
This photographer had the boat to himself.
Unfortunately, for the above photographer, the cranes took to the air a few minutes after he had arrived --- fortunate for us as we got to see them fly by.
Cormorants on a natural gas rig
Late in the afternoon we decided to drive the mile or so from the park and see the "big tree". The Goose Island Oak Tree is more than 1,000 years old, has a circumference of more than 35 feel, an average trunk diameter of more than 11 feet and a crown spread of 89 feet.
When we arrived at the "Big Tree" parking lot, we were surprised to see a number of vehicles --- apparently a wedding was about to begin. It was a very casual wedding --- none of the guys wore jackets, the bridesmaids wore pants and the flower girl and ring bearer went barefoot.
By 7:30 the boat was on it's way. The beginning of the trip was interesting as we were driving in the dark in the fog --- luckily Captain Tommy knew where he was going and had both GPS and radar. About 15 minutes into the trip the sun rose --- very pretty indeed.
The trip was very successful as we saw a lot of Whooping Cranes. It helps that the Whooping Cranes are territorial and return to the same territory each year. First we saw a family of four which was unusual. Whooping Cranes lay two eggs but the stronger baby usually kills the other one to ensure sufficient food. Then we saw three other family groupings (three cranes) before stopping to watch a young pair of adults. On the return trip to shore we saw a group of young birds that left their families but not yet found their mate. Oh, we did see lots of other birds on the trip as well.
Whooping Crane
The summer and winter rains have ensured a good crop of Blue Crabs this year which makes the Whooping Cranes very happy .... it's one of their favourite foods. Adult Whooping Crane in the foreground, juvenile in background.
Probably a Long-billed Curlew
A flock of migrating Ibis.
Four Roseate Spoonbills and a Tri-coloured Heron
A pair of adult whooping cranes.
This photographer had the boat to himself.
Unfortunately, for the above photographer, the cranes took to the air a few minutes after he had arrived --- fortunate for us as we got to see them fly by.
Cormorants on a natural gas rig
Late in the afternoon we decided to drive the mile or so from the park and see the "big tree". The Goose Island Oak Tree is more than 1,000 years old, has a circumference of more than 35 feel, an average trunk diameter of more than 11 feet and a crown spread of 89 feet.
When we arrived at the "Big Tree" parking lot, we were surprised to see a number of vehicles --- apparently a wedding was about to begin. It was a very casual wedding --- none of the guys wore jackets, the bridesmaids wore pants and the flower girl and ring bearer went barefoot.
# posted by The Agnew Family @ 11:12 PM 
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