Afternoon stroll at Couturie

Around 5 pm, I found myself near City Park with a few minutes to spare.  I spent twenty minutes in Couturie, mostly along the western bayou.

A five foot alligator was out in the water, lying still.

Red-shouldered Hawks were calling across the water; later, another flew over from the east.

At the large log that has been made into a waterside bench (north of the viewing deck), a brief bit of screech-owl imitating to bring in songbirds got a response- from a Screech Owl.  It only called once, its mellow monotone.  This occasionally happens in the early morning, and especially in late summer/early fall, but to have it happen in full afternoon sunlight in spring was odd.

Along the trail back in the scrub (not far from the hide), an immature Broad-winged Hawk spooked but gave nice looks on a nearby perch.  Possibly a migrant, but two have been spending the winter in the area.

Lots of Laughing Gulls and Purple Martins wheeling overhead.

On the bayou edge, a Great Blue and a Black-crowned Night-Heron sat patiently.  One Anhinga did the same, while a Double-crested Cormorant swam fishing.  A hen Wood Duck squealed past, but otherwise the wintering waterfowl appear to have split.

Not a lot of passerines- a few Yellowrumps, a House Wren, an Orange-crowned Warbler.  Red-winged Blackbird singing across the water.  The usual cardinals and jays.  But it was late afternoon.

Good birding,

Peter

For a copy of Birding Made Easy-New Orleans, email me at birding.made.easy.new.orleans@gmail.com, or look for it at area book stores.  It is now available at
Uptown:  Garden District Book Shop, Maple Street Book Shop, Octavia Books
French Quarter and Marigny:  Peach Records, Fauborg Marigny Art Books Music, Librairie Book Shop, Beckham's Bookshop, Arcadian Books and Prints, the Crabnet
Mid City:  City Park Botanical Garden, Community Book Center

Metairie:  Double M Feed on W. Esplanade

Harahan:  Double M Feed on Jefferson Hwy
North Shore:  Mandeville Chiropractic