Starting at 10 am, the tour's first stop was the East River Pool fishing pier for a shot at the not too reliable flamingo. It was there when we arrived at about 10:30 in its usual distant location at the far north end of East River Pool. After viewing it for a bit, a Bald Eagle was making some rather ominous passes and the apparently nervous flamingo flew back and forth a bit. The eagle decided a Tri-colored Heron was worthy of its attention, and everyone watched an open air chase at least 100' above the flamingo as the eagle chased and the heron dodged. This ended well for the eagle, not so great for the heron, as the heron was finally outmaneuvered, snatched, and carried into the distant pines by the eagle. The flamingo apparently decided this was a good moment to exit the area and it took flight, flew directly toward us, passed close by to the south, and continued flying east across Stony Bayou #1 into the sunlight and out of sight. Vermilion Flycatcher, Sora, Wilson's Snipe, and good numbers of Green-winged Teal (absent elsewhere today) were lagniappe.
We proceeded on to the south edge of the closed area on Mounds #3. Of course, and as usual, people were ignoring the sign that states "closed to all public entry". I whistled them back; the excuse of the day was "I just got a new lens". I don't recall that John Locke included better photo ops as one of the natural rights. Back to birds. About 10 species of ducks were present, including Black Ducks and Canvasbacks. Several Avocets and decent numbers of expected and common shorebirds were also present.
Traveling between the primary viewing areas several other species were added, including two female Com. Goldeneye on HQ Pond and a couple of more duck species elsewhere for a duck total of 14 sps. Had we been able to visit Lighthouse Pond I suspect we could have added Ring-necked, both Scaup, and Ruddy for a respectable 18 sps. The only Gadwall we found were on Picnic Pond.
Also of potential interest, Roseate Spoonbill on back of HQ Pond and Bonaparte's Gulls (2) swimming among the ducks on Mounds #3. Cyndi found the gulls and I am very fond of that species.
Also, it was nearly 80 degrees on December 27.
Matt
banner photo: James "Alex" Alexander