Friday, December 27th, was the Christmas bird count for Apalachicola. I was leader for a group of 6 to Little St. George Island. Myself, Linda Allen, Donna Gaudet from Quebec, local resident George Watkins (boat captain), Melissa Forehand and Robin Vroegop. Robin and I used Audubon's 4wd vehicle and birded the east end. The other 4 folks took west end. Cold rain pelted us in the morning but about 10am the sky let more light through. Bayside Robin and I found killifish 12 feet from the water, stranded at low tide and still alive. Very strange. I wonder if they lived until high tide?
The island is ever-changing. Habitats range from sea shore to savannahs to marshland and scrub oaks which grow short and angled. Sea shells liter the beach- so many types.
We counted 64 species on the island. 75 is average but the rains kept birds in hiding. Black scoters and redheads off shore, bald eagles kept them all nervous. The eagles are nesting at this time of year. Once the eggs hatch the eagles will be more active snatching ducks from the water to feed eaglets.
Dolphins were abundant in the clear waters. Mullet are running, I think. I love a barrier island with only 6 people on it.
I just returned from the Apalachicola airport where 5 of us roamed the short grass fields to spook Sprague's pipits. We saw one and this is birdie number 557 for me. We thanked BJ for letting us break the FAR and TSA rules and walk the runways. Another beautiful day.