Retired Nomads: Jekyll Island, GA

Thursday the 19th we set off for Jekyll Island for some birding. I called yesterday to reserve a Bird Ramble with a local bird expert, but she said they didn’t start for another week. So, we will wing it using the birding hotspots we found.

The island is a State Park and parking for the day is $6.00. Interesting island in that you can drive to it and people do live on the island. Lots of hotels and restaurants as well. Not sure of the exact figure, but something like 65% has to stay as nature intended and is managed as a State Park. The other percent is allocated for building. So, it’s as built-up as it can be. If they want to build something new, something else has to come down. As you drive in it has a Country Club kind of feel to it, but the Park areas are quite nice.

Sidney Lanier Bridge

Glynn Marshes

This is the island that Miss Lucy of Cumberland Island wanted to be a member of, but she was rejected. It definitely was the millionaire's club. It was a playground for the rich in the gilded age. Hunting was a big draw and animals were brought in to make sure there was variety and plentiful game. There was golf and other sports as well. Most of the homes didn't have kitchens since they were required to eat (and buy) all meals at the club house.

Armed with our maps we set off to tour the small island. We started at the visitor's center and grabbed another map.

Visitor's Center

Palm Warblers in their parking lot

We stopped at the Soccer Field which was supposed to have beach access and some birding inland. Not much action there and the beach access was closed.

soccer field

So, se set off for our next stop. I know we aren’t in prime migration season yet, but there has been quite a lack of shore birds and ducks in our last few spots. Pretty much the same here.

St. Andrews Picnic area

Royal Tern

viewing platform

At first we were just seeing more Eastern Phoebes. We walked around 1 area that didn’t have much action either until we decided to walk along the road for a while and we spotted 2 or 3 Painted Buntings. All were females so they are kind of a lime green with a light yellow on the breast.

female Painted Bunting

The males are beautiful and we hope to see at least one in this area before we leave in a week. The one and only time I have ever seen one was in our backyard in Florida. This beautiful bird was at the bird feeder and I thought someone’s caged bird must have gotten loose. I grabbed Greg’s camera and tried to get a photo of it. (I had never used his camera before) It hung around for 3 or 4 days. (unless it moved on and another took its’ place) This was the first time we had seen females.

male Painted Bunting in our backyard

We walked on a short nature walk and saw a lot of Catbirds and some more Painted Bunting females.

North Atlantic Right Whale statue

Pelicans

Snowy Egret

Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk - flew overhead while on the trail

marsh area

Red-bellied Woodpecker was throwing things out of the hole

another one came to the other side of the tree

female Painted Buntings

Eastern Phoebe

Catbird

We went to lunch at Love Shack BBQ, Yardbird & Shrimp. Greg got the rotisserie chicken which was very tasty and I got the Fried Wild Georgia Shrimp both of got the sweet potato fries. Wow, seriously good food. We may eat there again tomorrow.

rotisserie chicken & sweet potato fries

Wild Georgia Shrimp & sweet potato fries

After lunch we drove to the other side of the island to Driftwood Beach. Very interesting and pretty beach. We found a great spot and walked along the nature trail. We heard some Clapper Rails (which are usually buried and hard to spot.) Greg played a female mating call and the rails went crazy. They ran back and forth and one came out right by me before running across the road. Then, 2 other males got in a fight in front of us. Another called (they are LOUD) in the distance. Calls don’t always work with the birds, but these guys were in the mood I guess.