The Rez & LeFleur's Bluff

The weekend looked promising after a week of chilly temperatures so on Saturday the hubby and I decided to get out and drive to the Ross Barnett Reservoir and LeFleur's Bluff State Park, both located near Jackson, Mississippi. These two areas are reportedly good birding spots and with spring migration near, I was hoping to see some interesting species.  It was an easy 2 hour drive for us.   

We drove along Spillway Road which borders the southwestern portion of Ross Barnett Reservoir. As we crossed the bridge over the spillway, we saw dozens of people fishing from the rocky banks where the reservoir empties into Pearl River. Charlie said that he's going to start bringing fishing gear on these little trips so he can fish while I'm birding. Sounds like a good idea to me!

We turned left onto the North Shore Parkway and drove into the Lakeshore Park where we spent a few moments walking along the shoreline and watching the nearby ducks and geese. The park is a beautiful, serene area with several parking spaces, plenty of picnic tables and restroom facilities.   

It was unexpectedly cloudy and windy that time of the day and I was having problems with the flash on my camera but I took a few pictures as we went along.  A pair of Mallard ducks were napping at the waters edge.  They became aware of my presence and watched me closely from their resting position but didn't seem too bothered.  A large group of Canadian Geese were busy walking around and pecking in the grass.  Canadian Geese were spotted at several locations around the reservoir.  

On opposite banks of the Lakeshore Park, we saw a large campground and boat docks.  The Timberlake campground is super nice with all the facilities anyone would need.  It also includes a tennis court, swimming pool and rec room.  I'd love to spend a few days here but it's probably wise to reserve a spot way in advance.  

After leaving Lakeshore Park, we traveled along the Natchez Trace Parkway then exited onto Pipeline Road which runs perpendicular to the Pearl River State WMA on the north side of the reservoir.  Pipeline Road is graveled but not nearly as bumpy as other gravel roads I've been on.  The road is considered a birding "hot spot" and I've seen scores of bird photos taken by photographers in the area.

The first two photos below were taken at the entrance of a shooting range.  A couple of miles down that lane, we realized we had made a wrong turn- the sounds of gunfire were deafening. I thought the field of tiny yellow and white wildflowers were pretty and I love old country fences, so I stopped long enough to get a couple of shots. 

Unfortunately, there wasn't much going on, bird wise, on Pipeline Road.  It could've been because of our timing- we arrived around 2:00 p.m.  A large flock of Blue-winged Teal could be seen in the marsh, but even with my long lens I couldn't zoom in close enough for good photos.  There were also a few Green-winged Teal mixed in among them.  Further down the road, I saw a few Pied-billed Grebes but it was difficult to get a clear view of them because of the tall grasses.  I sure could have used a pair of wading boots that day.

LeFleur's Bluff State Park isn't far from the rez and is easily reached from the interstate. There are restroom facilities available and several picnic areas.  There's also a playground area and a small campground in the park.

I heard several familiar bird calls- pileated woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, american robins, blackbirds and others.  These are birds that are common to my backyard so I chose to wait for an unfamiliar bird call  or sighting.  I wanted to see something different.  But, I didn't. Unbeknownst to me then was there was much more to the area than I thought.  The main road, Lakeland Terrace, goes around the campground then on to circle half of Mayes Lake.  So, I missed out on seeing a lot of the park and lake.  

I did take a couple photos of yellow-rumped warblers (the eastern birds are known as myrtle warblers) that were spotted near one of the pavilions.  They will be migrating soon to breeding areas in the northern U.S. and Canada.

I'll be making another trip to the rez and Lefleur's Bluff in the future and the next time I'll know more about the area and will be better prepared.

A Few Friendly Ducks

On our trip through the White Mountains National Park in New Hampshire, we pulled into a pretty roadside park to stretch a little.  While there, we met a few friendly ducks.  My husband really enjoyed feeding them and when his change ran out (for duck food), he fed them his cheese bits (which they loved!). 

Muscovy Ducks

Among the most numerous ducks at Ballard Park in Tupelo are the Muscovy ducks. These large ducks are common in urban parks, lakes, streams, zoos and farms because people often feed them at these sites. Muscovies are large ducks with long, flattened tails and large claws, in comparison to other ducks.  Males, or drakes, often appear brighter and their black feathers reflect a purplish tint, whereas females are more drab in appearance.  The presence of fleshy red caruncles, or warty bumps, on the face are more prominent in the males.  Additionally, the male Muscovies are somewhat larger than the females.  Muscovies sound different than other ducks because, rather than calling with a "quack", the male's call is a loud, dry hiss and the female's is a quiet coo.

Muscovies are native to the tropical climates of Central and South America, Mexico, and extreme southern Texas in the United States, but they can also tolerate colder temperatures.  They were intentionally released in the United States by private individuals, businesses, and governmental organizations as an ornamental species believed to enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban parks and lakes.  

However, Muscovy populations expand rapidly in urban areas, often becoming a nuisance. These large ducks are sometimes aggressive, especially when accustomed to being fed, and may chase or attempt to bite children. The excessive droppings not only decrease the aesthetic value of parks and lakes, but also contaminate water, presenting a significant hazard to the health of humans and their pets.  

Muscovy hens can produce up to three clutches a year.  The mother duck will keep her brood of ducklings together to protect them from predators. The eggs and ducklings are preyed upon by raccoons, large turtles, birds of prey, large fish and snakes. Ducklings can fly within 5 - 8 weeks. Their feathers develop very fast.

This species, like the Mallard, does not form stable pairs. Popular males are often seen with up to four females - potentially the entire female population in the group; while the remaining males "hang out" in bachelor groups. However, the female may also mate with other males.  Males will fight other males for social status and for the right to breed with a female.  They can become very aggressive; they will head bob, raise their crests, bite, and pinch, flog, and literally jump on each other’s backs to attack.

Muscovy ducks will eat insects, roots, stems, leaves, seeds, fishes, reptiles, and small mammals.  They do not swim as much as other ducks because their oil glands are not as well developed.  This results their feathers fraying more.  They are very intelligent and will wag their tails and raise their crests when talked to.

Some breeders and people that keep Muscovies as pets have a different opinion of these ducks.  They report the ducks have wonderful personalities, are most often quiet, are great foragers and insect hunters and the females make excellent mothers.  The Muscovies I observed as I walked through the park were quiet for the most part.  During one instance, I observed a group of them head bobbing at each other...really strange behavior.  Many of them seemed to ignore me and even allowed me to get close enough for some good shots.  If I had known about their potentially aggressive behavior, I may have been more cautious, but then I would have missed some good shots!  

Information gathered from birdinginformation.com, muscovyduckcentral.com, beautyofbirds.com and the University of Florida IFAS Extension.