Dy 25  Wed. April 27, 2016 At Sandy Point campground, NC

Sometimes when we are on birding trips and, we have been on many of them, we often go back to the same area a second day. This is mostly to attempt to find different birds, as there is no way they can all be seen on the same day. It just doesn’t work like that. So today was one of those days. We returned to the two main roads in Mackay NWR and stayed a bit longer in the wooded portions and less in the open marsh areas.

The result of the “second chance” was very good as we finally saw the KING RAIL,  a very elusive and furtive bird, which even the Rail “counters” often don’t see. We were returning from the end of the road , and I saw a bird a long way off in the road. Binoculars brought it into view and the “chicken like” stature of the bird led us to believe it was a Rail. We were able to get closer to  confirm the identification, as it headed toward the edge of the grass and a canal. Then it flew across the canal and disappeared in the reeds. What a thrill that was. Ruth and I gave each other  a “high five” in our excitement.

A great close up of  Double Crested Cormorant.

There are those geese in the Safflower again.

A better photo of the Blue Grosbeak

Brown Thrasher 

Orchard Oriole, (We saw two of them.)

The Bluebird was very drab we thought.

The Wood Duck (male) on the Nesting Box

t was less than 5 minutes later when we spotted a bird on top of a Wood Duck nesting box. (The NWR has more than 200 of them here along many of the marsh edges.) There is a canal at that point, where they can go into the water immediately. We knew that getting too close would spook the bird, so we drove very slow and stopped three or four times. Taking photos even at that distance was minimal. We did get a “representative “ shot and immediately the male flew and was followed by the female who was in the box. Another thrill. Wood ducks are very furtive , but also spook easily when movement is too close. That is why they choose small shallow ponds amid the trees and woods, which are usually away from movement of people, vehicles and other interference.

Ruth and I purchased  many years ago, a National Wildlife refuge stamp book. At each of the centers for the Wildlife Refuges we get it stamped with Refuge’s stamp. Today we did get Mackay NWR stamp. WE have visited more than 100 NWR and have the stamps for most of them.

The story that I promised the people on Face Book, happened last night. It is meant to be as an observation and not “snooping” on folks. It was entertaining and I would easily have talked to the folks about it. (They left today)  Ruth and I were eating supper, but Ruth could not see that family from her vantage point, but I could. I narrated this to her.   A car pulled up a few 100 feet from our site, and a woman (30),  her “mother” and a small child got out and pulled all the equipment out of the trunk of the car. They spread out on the ground,  two big tent like structures. The grandmother sat in a chair and we imagined that she was the “child sitter” . The younger woman proceeded to spread out the tent and look for the rods that hold this modern tent together. It was evident that she had either put this tent up once maybe, or never at all. IT was slow and she walked around it a lot. Ruth commented that “Maybe she should read the directions”.  About then …Yes , she did find the directions in the red bag, and stood to read them. It took a few minutes. She began to find the rods, put them together and began inserting them in the proper sleeves.. The grandmother came by to check everyone in a while.  She did not assist.We wondered if there was no man involved here? The young woman persisted and not long after that she had some tent above the ground. I commented , that I wondered if they were waiting for a male member of the family to arrive? Soon I told Ruth that the tent was taking shape and in a few more minutes it was all up and she had competed the assembly of the tent. Then the other tent was assembled (smaller) in a few minutes. That one had been put up before I am sure. A few minutes after that was competed, the husband showed up and walked around to check everything out.  Just like a man. (Of course he was probably at work, or delayed just enough for her to complete the job.) I was sorry they just stayed one night as I did want to congratulate her.  (End of story)

One of the short trails we took today.
It is around a small lake. I am sure there are
Cottonmouth snakes there.

The road that leads into the marsh. Good birding along these woods.

Our lunch spot for the past two days. A Common Yellowthroat
makes its nest here and sang all during lunchtime.

One of the many historical markers seen in NC.

Our evening meal was here at this establishment.
It was noisy, and smoky but had very good food.
Be thankful for smokless restaurants.

Tomorrow we head for Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island. Camping on the former and visiting the latter.  They are only a few hours from here. Maybe you have read the book “Misty of Chincoteague”? It is about a girl and the horses there.