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Jackson County Waste Management Field Trip

"Seaman Road Lagoons"

21 January 2006

Trip Report

MCAS field trip leaders Millie Page and Sharon Milligan gave outstanding birding tour of the Jackson County Waste Treatment lagoons on 21 Jan 06.   Lew Proudfoot, one of the participants wrote the following:

We had a great trip on Saturday.  The weather cooperated – it rained all night and stopped right around six in the morning.  Lots of variety, although the trip into the cells reminded me of pro rally driving, lots of mud and slip sliding away!  If I can count, we got forty three species this trip, including several by voice alone, Eastern Towhee, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane, and Carolina Wren.  We might have gotten more on the lagoon proper, but it was off limits that day.

Highlight of the trip, well, that’s hard to tell.  How about three American Bitterns?  Or, how about four passes of a Bald Eagle, the last one flying strongly away with what looked like nesting material.  Or, how about Virginia Rails and Soras so close together Claire got them in one frame?

All in all, a great trip, and as always, it’s great to be out with good friends!
 

Birders of varying expertise got outstanding views of normally elusive rails.  A Virginia Rail fed in plain view, undaunted by such an audience.  Ten feet down the path, another Virginia Rail and Sora fed side by side for several minutes, seemingly unaffected by our attentions.  What a treat!

The group got several short views of American Bitterns in flight as they flew from one hiding spot in the cattails to another.  Although not considered "uncommon", Snowy Egrets  have been absent from this location since the storm.  A single specimen was seen by the group, hopefully marking their return.  We also had a very "cooperative" Great Egret that came close enough to see its beautiful yellow-green eyes.

Two extremely light colored Red-tailed Hawks subspecies kriderii were perched in a bare shrub.  Their coloration was so light, that they appeared to be Osprey at first glance.  A darker Red-tailed Hawk was also seen -- an excellent contrast birding opportunity.

At least one Bald Eagle was present -- and gave us a good "show" at various points in the day by flying over majestically, preening on a highline pole, catching a fish, and finally, flying back over the pines with a small branch clutched in talons.

Warblers seen/heard were: Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Orange Crown Warbler.    A couple of Common Moorhen were present amongst all the American Coots.  Millie Page especially remembers those cute Marsh Wrens hopping about with the Swamp Sparrows. 

Here is the consolidated list from the group:  49 total.