Mississippi Gulf Coast: Ken Combs Pier

A beautiful, sunny day at the beach has temporarily cured me of the "birding blues". Last Friday, I drove along coastal Highway 90 in Harrison County and stopped at a few of the piers and marinas, where I received a good dose of bird therapy...

First stop- Ken Combs Pier 

  

Unfortunately, the pier remains closed due to severe storm damage, but sources report that it should soon be repaired.  However, it's a great spot to view coastal birds- they hang out along the shoreline, low sand dunes and rock jetties around the pier.

File photo from March 2014

Clapper Rail

Taking an early morning bath

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeons in a passionate moment

Love, sweet love :)

A curious (or jealous) onlooker?

Several Laughing Gulls splashed around near shore

A few Ruddy Turnstones made an appearance

Numerous Black Skimmers basked in the sun along the shoreline

They took flight as I approached...

While some descended upon a sand hill offshore,

Many of the skimmers made a wide loop and returned

As I started to leave, my attention turned to a vast flock of migrating birds descending upon treetops and a hotel roof across the highway.  Hundreds of them made several circles around the building then momentarily roosted in a tall tree.  I tried to zoom in close enough to see if I could identify them, but they were too far away.  

I took way too many photos of my day trip to publish in one post, so there's more to come.  Thank you for stopping by!