Mixed bag…

After a chilly 27* first outs for Emma, I headed over to headquarters to see if there was something for me to do today.  There wasn’t.  I’d have to say that this is not the most organized refuge I’ve ever volunteered at.  The protocols have not been written yet for the bird survey work I’ll be doing, so I’m on hold at the moment.  So, after chatting for a while, I headed back to the rig.

I’ve had two bird feeders up since the day I arrived, and finally, an American goldfinch has stopped by for a bite to eat.  I was beginning to wonder if any birds were going to find the feeders.

 

In the afternoon, I decided to hike the trail over by the visitor’s center once again.

There are several large live oak trees across from the VC.  These oak trees grow to huge proportions down here in the south.

In addition to the Spanish moss that hangs from these trees, I noticed a fern type of growth in the crotches of the trunk.  Turns out this is a Resurrection fern.  In dry weather, the fern shrivels up like the one on the left is beginning to do.  Then, when it rains, the fern resurrects itself like the fern on the right.  Cool adaptation!

Remember that artsy fartsy pic I posted a week or so ago?  Well, this is the same pine tree branch on a cloudless sunny day.  I think I like the cloudy day one better.  :)

As Emma and I continued down the Dees Trail, we came to my favorite spot along this trail.  There is a nice bench at this point so you can sit down and enjoy the view with the bayou in the background.

The other day, as I was sitting here, I got to thinking how nice it would be to kayak or canoe this bayou and it’s tributaries.  As spring arrives, I think a paddle down/up this bayou could result in a peaceful wildlife filled little journey.

It turns out, there is a rustic boat launch onto a side shoot of this bayou about 50 yards from my RV.

These are the views, both directions, from that launch site.   Before I hit the road fulltime, I purchased an inflatable canoe that I hauled with me the first year.  It turned out that I never used it, so I have stored it at my daughter’s house for the last several years.  Now, I’m  thinking that I’d better have her pack it up and send it to me so I can ply these quiet waters.  What do you think?  I’m leaning toward biting the bullet on the shipping, to enjoy a couple of months exploring this waterway.

 

Well, tonight’s post kind of jumps all over the place, but some days are like that.  Tomorrow it looks like I’ll go along on the refuge tour and then work the Visitor’s Center at Big Bay NWR for the afternoon.  We’ll see…

 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy