A Week of Walton Birding

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation.

Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work. Psalms 111:2

Tuesday afternoon, the young Great Blue Heron was fishing on the banks of the main retention pond outside my back door. Great Blue Heron, Walton County, GA

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Tuesday, October 9, 2018 

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 81. 
Sunrise Today:7:33 am; Sunset Today: 7:07 pm
Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 33 minutes (-2m 3s)
Near New Moon (Waxing Crescent)

This young Great Blue Heron is quite tolerant of my presence and frequently allows a close approach.

A portrait face shot of a Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, showing third eyelid, or nictitating eyelid. A nictitating membrane is a third eyelid that is translucent or clear. It is used as an extra level of safety for the eye and allows the creature that has it to still see while affording its eyes an additional amount of protection. Photographed in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Hurricane Michael is coming ashore on the gulf coast of Florida. 
Today: showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. 
Sunrise Today:7:34 am; Sunset Today: 7:05 pm
Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 31 minutes (-2m 3s)
Moon: 3.5% Waxing Crescent

Not having seen a Great Egret in over a week, I had assumed it was gone. But there was one back on the upper pond during my lunchtime birding break. Walton County, GA.

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Thursday, October 11, 2018
Hurricane Michael hit Florida yesterday afternoon and then passed through Georgia last night as a tropical storm. I was awoken several times during the night with hard rains beating against the windows driven by strong winds. Strong wind gusts this morning making waves across the retention pond. The overflow from the main and upper retention ponds is gushing strong and rejuvenating the lower duckweed bog and beaver swamp.

Today: Showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers between 1pm and 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 81. Northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. 
Sunrise Today:7:35 am; Sunset Today: 7:04 pm
Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 28 minutes (-2m 3s)
Moon: 6.9% Waxing Crescent

Chipping Sparrow; Walton County, GA.

Small flocks of House Sparrows have been appearing throughout the day eating the spilled cat food in the shelter's parking lot. Walton County, GA.

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Friday, October 12, 2018
The cold front that was promised has come on the heels of Hurricane Michael. It is a truly beautiful, 50-degree fall morning with a clear blue sky. This is the first morning I've needed a light fleece jacket. The birds were feeling it too as there was quite a bit of avian activity! 

Today: sunny, with a high near 74. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Sunrise Today: 7:36 am
Sunset Today:7:03 pm
Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 26 minutes (-2m 3s)
Moon: 14.4% Waxing Crescent

Several agitated Titmice were flitting about the duckweed bog in the cool fall morning air. Walton County, GA.

Several agitated Titmice were flitting about the duckweed bog in the cool fall morning air. Walton County, GA.

My first spotting of a fall Yellow-rumped Warbler for this season. Friday afternoon. Walton County, GA.

My first spotting of a fall Yellow-rumped Warbler for this season. Friday afternoon. Walton County, GA.