First Time to Spot Roseate Spoonbills at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge & Other Delightful Birds

In the world of birding, it is a very big deal for me to see 2 Roseate

Spoonbills at Pickney Island this morning! New bird for the life list.  First,

they are not on the to-be-seen list published by Savannah Coastal Refuges

Complex.  They have been spotted at other of the refuges in the Georgia area and

in Hardeeville, SC.  Around 10 am I made it to the Shell Pond and saw about 40

White Ibis standing in the low grass with a little bit of water left in the

pond. 2 weeks ago the pond was very low and looked very pastoral, like farm land

of wavy light green grass.  The Ibis were eating and vigorously bathing.  Saw a

Moorhen, a Great Egret (yellow beak), and one juvenile Great Blue Heron.  At the

far end of the pond I saw the color PINK!!!! I thought OMIGOD it's the Roseates!

 I had already been bird watching since 8:30am and was bit up by the aggressive

mosquitos.  I trucked through the tall grass on the left side of the pond, my

view completely blocked by tall shrubs and pine trees. I get to the end and see

a Black Crowned Night Heron, a Great Egret, and lots of little ducklings.  Using

the binoculars I verify the Spoonbills.  I try to sneak through the ridiculously

high vegetation (4 foot in some areas) but ended up scaring the birds, so no

Proof Photo!  Head back to the beginning of the pond to get my picture, which

with the throw away means nothing but 2 tiny spots.  The birds were pale pink on

the outer wings, but much darker pink underneath.  Their heads/beak are not as

attractive as they have a very odd beak shape and very few feathers on top of

the head.  However, their white necks pink bodies are gorgeous.  They preened

themselves on the wings and chest, then each lifted one leg up and promptly went

to sleep! I also saw about 8 Wood Storks that jumped out of the trees when I was

stomping thru the vegetation.  Entering the refuge early I immediately saw a

Painted Bunting, which I promptly identified by the silhouette.  The bird's

chest was reddish orange, olive wings, and a blue head.  The sun shone on him

brightly.  Next I spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker on a tree.  He flew to a tree

stripped of branches and full of holes.  He leaned way back away from the tree

in a daring angle.  His head looked like red velvet, his black wings led into a

splotch of white, stomach and underparts also white. I could see his eye!

Spotted a few tiny birds flitting around, then a male Brown-headed Cowbird with

its 2-toned grey mate. It was surprisingly quiet, and no White Ibis in the 1st

stretch of salt pan marsh.  Finally I see a few Ibis flying above, then 16

easing thru the tall grass with a little water.  I had seen a Red-bellied

Woodpecker back near the entrance, playing around the dry palm fronds. 

Got to Ibis Pond and it looked like a jungle with 6 foot high cattail leaves.

 Heard an Owl, then a Moorhen honking in the reeds.  2 immature White Ibis poked

their beaks into the green pond.  Sneak down a dirt path to view a popular White

Ibis nesting area in the Rookery.  My 1st White Ibis chicks frantically begged

for food.  They had 2-toned beaks, not curved yet like the adults.  Birds were

flying in and out and above my head.  Pond was smelling very marsh-like in the

already 85 degree sunshine.  The Ibis chicks had dark feathers on top, but soft

white chests.  Down a bit I heard a heavy plop in the water, then a tremendous

splash!  I ran to see the 5 foot alligator swimming in a zig-zag pattern from

beneath the trees where many birds were nesting. One must have lost its

footing...I saw a Snowy Egret (black beak) with 2 very young chicks with yellow

beaks sound asleep. 4 Tri-Color Heron chicks with yellow legs stood lightly on

the tree branches.  There was an amazing group of male White Ibis with ruby red

beaks and just as bright red legs.  Some had a thick waddle under their chin.

The females are had pale pink beaks and legs, most of them sitting on stick

nests high in the trees, or standing nearby just staring into the distance.  A

Red-Winged Blackbird, one of my favorite birds, flew by me with his beautiful

red "chevrons" showing on his shoulders.  He landed in a low shrub and was

immediately camouflaged.  He then flew just above my head and banked around a

corner.  Boat-tailed Grackles flew around the area.  Several Pied-billed Grebes

swam thru the pond with their chicks, 5 tiny chicks, and 5 large chicks.  I

surprised a young Great Blue Heron and captured him in flight with my camera. 

Rounding the pond to the other side were 20 male Ibis, and 13 females sitting on

nests.  I saw a beautiful Black-Crowned Night Heron with its almost full-grown

chick.  The female flew to a tree, then back to the nest.  The chick open its

beak in anticipation, but the female nuzzled the chick on the wing and pressed

her beak into the young bird's feathers in a loving gesture.  Their nest was

wildly thrown-together...a simple criss-crossed mix of plain branches, sticking

out at odd angles. 46 more Ibis were in the trees, a trio of Tri-Colored Herons

bounced on the branches, and 10 baby Snowy Egrets sat quietly together.  It is

amazing to watch these birds growing into mini-adult birds.  What a fantastic

day of birding!