Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area Field Trip - March 2006

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                                                                                                                       Photos by Doug English

MCAS Field Trip to Ward Bayou WMA, Jackson County, MS,
18 March 2006, 0730-1200
Leader:  Don McKee
Weather: Cloudy and nippy in the upper 50's. 
 
We started off the day by hearing a Northern Parula near the boat ramp.  After locating it, we hiked the "Judy Toups" trail.  The new signage at the trail head erected by Charlie Brenke looks great!  The trail has not been fully cleared after the hurricane, but is largely passable.  We had to dodge a few downed (small) trees.  If you go, be sure to follow the orange tape markers.  It is a lovely trail with buckeye, and occasional wild azaleas and dogwood starting to bloom.  Two low spots in the trail have potential to get some feet wet. 
 
The trail produced a small mixed flock of birds containing a Blue-headed Vireo, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Chickadees, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  We heard a Red-bellied Woodpecker several times, and some got outstanding looks at a male Pileated Woodpecker near the ranger station. 
 
We also drove along the primary road through the WMA, parking at each small bridge to listen for bird activity.  Incoming White-eyed Vireos and outgoing Blue-headed Vireo's were also present.   A pair of Downy Woodpeckers chased each other through the branches. 
 
We parked at the last bridge before the road turns sharply to the left.  Flocks of Little Blue Heron and White Ibis flew overhead as we walked along to the end of the road.  Three Turkey Vultures were perched in the trees and another foraging mixed flock of dickie birds checked us out. 
 
The highlight bird of the day was a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring and diving overhead located by Mike K.  Of course, it waited until the field trip was almost concluded to make an appearance.  What a capstone sighting for our local and out-of-state participants.
 
The area was particularly slow that day, with 40 species recorded as seen or heard.
 
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
White Ibis
Wood Duck
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Swallow-tailed Kite
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl (heard)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (heard)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Golden-crowned Kinglet (heard)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren (heard)
Winter Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
American Crow
Fish Crow
White-eyed Vireo (heard)
Blue-headed Vireo
American Goldfinch
Orange-crowned Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler (heard)
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Northern Cardinal