BIRDWALK NEWSLETTER 11.19.2017

Walk Conducted by Perry Nugent Newsletter Written by Jayne J. Matney Cover Photo by Guenter Weber “Ode to Fall Leaves”

“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” John Howard Bryant (Indian Summer)

These days, celebrate the fierceness of fall! The leaves are blazing, the air is crisp, and the birds are migrating. Magnolia Plantation is a treasure trough of all things autumn. This Thanksgiving, the newsletter will be a “Feast for the Eyes”. Being thankful for the beauty, which nature presents to us, is the right thing to do. In fall, it is an easy thing to do. Enjoy Magnolia in its fall glory…..

Photo by Richard Hernandez

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” Nathaniel Hawthorne, The American Notebooks, 1842. Photo by Jo Frkovich “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.” Jim Bishop Photo by Guenter Weber

Photo by Jo Frkovich

“Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn—that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness—that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.” Jane Austen, Persuasion

Photos by Jo Frkovich

“Cascade of Leaves” Photo by Paula Collins

“It was a beautiful bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it.” Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

Photo above by Jo Frkovich Photo right by Jo Frkovich

“GATHERING LEAVES Photo by Angie Bridges Spades take up leaves No better than spoons, And bags full of leaves Are as light as balloons. I make a great noise Of rustling all day Like rabbit and deer Running away. But the mountains I raise Elude my embrace, Flowing over my arms And into my face. I may load and unload Again and again Till I fill the whole shed, And what have I then? Next to nothing for color. Next to nothing for use. But a crop is a crop, And who’s to say where The harvest shall stop?” Photo by Paula Collins Robert Frost

“Grebe in Fall Waters” Photo by Norma Armstrong

“Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love- that makes life and nature harmonize. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” George Eliot, Letter to Miss Lewis

No one could ask for a more beautiful day than today as the birdwatchers trekked through the woods and along the dikes while visiting Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The date: November 19th, 2017. Five participants enjoyed tallying 43 species of birds in just a few hour’s walk. Our “trusty trio” of Pied-billed Grebe were once again seen this week in Ravenswood. There was also a conservative estimate of 75 Gadwall this Sunday in the same pond! In addition, Ravenswood revealed Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, and Green-winged Teal (increasing numbers of each since last week). Anhinga, immature Little Blue Heron, Common Moorhen, and a lone Eastern Bluebird also showed up there. A Pileated Woodpecker was identified across the waterway. In the Audubon Swamp, Downy Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk were added to the list. Near the cabins, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warblers, and White-throated Sparrow were spotted in the brush and wooded areas. A bit unusual, 3 White-eyed Vireo were still holding off from migrating. As the walkers crossed over to the pavilion and field, Chipping Sparrow were seen in the brush and low lying areas, and an American Robin flew past them. A Black-

and-white Warbler also gave the birdwatchers a visual account of his presence while perched near the pavilion roofline. A highlight of the tour was seeing a Sharp-shinned Hawk at the pavilion lawn. Once the birdwatchers crossed over to the other side and started walking down the Oak Grove pathway, Mourning Dove and Northern Flicker made the list. Blue-headed Vireo were great surprises to the group this week. Scattered throughout the property were Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby crowned Kinglet, Gray Catbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Northern Cardinal.

Eastern Phoebe Photo by Guenter Weber

Another highlight of this week’s walk was viewing a pair of Golden-crowned Kinglet in the gardens. Ray Swagerty, the leader of the walk this week, stated that they were being very vocal and therefore they were able to get a good look at them through the binoculars. One of the Bald Eagles was viewed at the top of their favorite lookout tree. Other birds located this week were both Black

and Turkey Vultures, Ring-billed Gull, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Northern Mockingbird. Top Photo Yellow-rumped Warbler By Cathy Padgett Bottom Photo Immature Little Blue Heron By Guenter Weber