Florida Panhandle to Dauphin Island Alabama

We drove westward from St. Mark's toward Mobile, AL.  The wind was from the north at 30+ mph so we knew we wouldn't be able to take the ferry.  Although disappointing, we made our way to the causeway and bridge to the island.
 

Black-necked Stilts

American Golden Plover

Cattle Egrets with Little Blue Heron 

Warmer weather brings out the flowers and the butterflies.

Giant Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Questionmark Butterfly

Eastern Pondhawk

Blue Dasher - Male

Seaside Dragonlet

Swallow-tailed Kite

Cross Vine 

Early missionaries and explorers cut the stem and found a cross inside.

Palm Warbler

South winds are bringing in the neotropic migrants.

Prairie Warbler

Singing Prothonotary Warbler alerted us to his arrival

Prothonotary is enjoying all the caterpillars 

Carolina Wren

Pileated Woodpecker checks the photoprapher out

Swamp Leather Flower

Alligator Road Block

Gator, what big teeth you have!!

Brown Anole

Banded Water Snake

Warmer days brought out a lot of reptiles to warm in the sun.

Mud Snake

Cottowmouth or Water Moccasin

Ty almost stepped on this guy, both were quite startled.

Cotton Mouth showing white mouth, fangs flat until needed.

Pygmy Rattlesnake, 14 inches long

Another sunning Pygmy

Large (24") gravid female Pygmy

Eastern King Snake

Tasting the air for intruder

It takes two to tangle,  mating King Snakes

Abundant Cotton Rats

Clapper Rail, heard as many as 60 differnt birds in the salt marsh, very few seen.

Tricolored Heron in nuptial plumage, bright blue bill.

Easter Sunrise Service, proclaiming Jesus Christ's resurrection in historic Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island.

All the churches on the island gathered together for this beautiful worship time.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann

Last Days at St. Mark's

 Every day it's a unique sunrise and a new adventure at St Mark's National Wildlife Refuge.

As our visit here draws to a close we leave behind fond memories.  We have also met many birders from all over the country that we have been able to help find the specialties.

Brown Thrasher at Otter Lake

Tulip Shell occupied by Hermit Crab

A very fast Virginia Rail

Northern Harrier rodent hunting

Laughing Gull in breeding plumage finds a snack

Sora Rail tempting fate

Pipevine Swallowtail

Violet Wood Sorrel

Thousands of Fiddler Crabs at low tide cover the beach

Large Fiddler Crab sporting it's one large claw

Willet also combing the beach for the crabs

Yellow Thistle

All of the Florida Yellow Thistles have lavender blossoms

6 inch long Rosy Wolf (Cannibal) Snail eats slugs and small snails

Water Snake crosses the pond

Great Horned Owl still active after sunrise

Wild Field Pansy

Aerial battle ensues between adult and juvenile Bald Eagles

American White Water Lily

Adult female Blue Dasher

Green Tree Frog

Red-bellied Woodpecker, you can actually see the red belly

Yellow-throated Warbler, many singing

God's garbage crew (Turkey Vulture) cleaning up road hit gray squirrel

Tiger Swallowtail

Red-shouldered Hawk

New arrival - Northern Waterthrush

Wild Turkeys, strutting their stuff

Round Leaf Sundew, sticky hairs trap insects

Pileated Woodpecker, heard and seen daily

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Willet males battle for love and territory

Carpenter Bee full of pollen from Yellow Thistle

"Our" Flamingo is flushed by a low flying Bald Eagle

Ty was elated to finally get flight shots

Flamingo flies over Double-crested Cormorant

This beautiful bird circled and quickly returned

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann