Birds and Gnats

A warm, overcast day this morning on the south Mississippi Gulf Coast led to a drive to Gulf Islands National Seashore Davis Bayou Park. Miss Gator, the resident matriarch alligator, was resting in her pond. With her today and throughout the park was a large host of gnats. How they can locate their victims within seconds must be one of the true marvels of nature. These gnats do bite, adding to the frustration of the visiting humans! Yet, as aggravating as they were, they could not take away from the joy of spotting so many species of birds. Present today were large groups of male and female hooded mergansers. The males can be identified even from a great distance. They are such handsome birds with feathers spiked and swept back on their heads - hence the term hooded - and with a large spot of white on either side of the head surrounded by black. Male and female mergansers were diving near the boat ramp; snowy egrets, great white egrets and a Louisiana heron were fishing in the bayou at low tide.

Even the land birds were abundant and busy feeding. Flashes of blue around the trees led us to spot the gorgeous male and female Eastern Bluebirds. They were keeping company with many sparrows.

On the road back out of the park, we rode with the windows down, primarily to try to blow the gnats back outside, lest they eat us alive on the trip back home. As we drove, birds could be heard all along the way - a fussing mockingbird, cardinals and Carolina chickadees were in full voice.

As we reached the entrance of the park, a quick stop at a pond gave us a view of the big bull! If we are fortunate, from time to time there is a large male alligator who resides there. More often than not, he is out of view - but not today. He rested in the water, perhaps feeling generous and deciding that he would allow a few lucky travellers to get a look at such a magnificent creature.

Indeed, Gulf Islands Seashore Park is teeming with life today!