Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Whiskey Island-Terrebone Parish

Whiskey Island-Terrebone Parish

Reddish Egrets are common on the island.
Whiskey Island is an island off the coast of southeast Louisiana owned by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.  While it isn't open to the public it is a good representation of the habitat and thus birds in the area.  It's comprised mostly of salt water marsh, open beach and mangroves. 

A pair of American Oystercatchers.
We visited the island on 4/1 to conduct point counts in the marsh.  The amount of NELSON'S SPARROWS was impressive with 15+ being recorded.  We also counted 8+ MARSH WRENS and several SEDGE WRENS.  Other birds using the marsh included MOTTLED DUCK, CLAPPER RAILS, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, LITTLE BLUE HERON, TRICOLORED HERON, and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON.  Raptors included NORTHERN HARRIERS, OSPREY, PEREGRINE FALCON, and MERLIN. 

Clapper Rails are common on Whiskey Island.  25+ were counted on this day.
We also saw many species on our walk along the beach.  The rocky area held a couple AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS and many terns and gulls.  The open flats of the beach were being used by many WILSON'S PLOVERS.  Many other shorebird species were seen as well including BLACK-BELLIED and SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, WHIMBREL, RUDDY TURNSTONE, and RED KNOT.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Lake Martin-St. Martin Parish

Lake Martin-St. Martin Parish 

One of a few Yellow-crowned Night-Herons present at the rookery.
Lake Martin provides a fantastic birding location close to the city of Lafayette, Louisiana.  This approximately 800 acre impoundment provides a great nesting location for many herons and egrets in addition to many species of woodland and waterbirds.  The rookery, on the south side of the lake, along Rookery Road, had greatly increased in activity since my last visit in early March.  Hundreds of GREAT EGRETS along with lesser numbers of SNOWY EGRETS, LITTLE BLUE HERON, YELLOW-CROWNED and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, and ROSEATE SPOONBILLS were present.   

One of the over 20 Northern Parulas present on this mid-March day.
Lake Martin also has some great habitat for a variety of breeding songbirds.  The first PROTHONOTARY and YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS, and many NORTHERN PARULAS, are back on territories.  Some wintering species were also still present, such as RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS.  An early arrival BLUE GROSBEAK (the typical arrival date is early April) was the highlight. 

Lake Martin is a great place to see Barred Owls during the day.

Whiskey Island-Terrebone Parish

Whiskey Island-Terrebone Parish Reddish Egrets are common on the island. Whiskey Island is an island off the coast of southeast ...