April 24, 2026
Beautiful morning
Ward Bayou Wildlife Management Area is one of our most frequent and productive nature areas to visit. When both gates are open, there are two distinct routes, the main gravel road has ditches and water ways that often has waders, hawks, migrators, and an occasional owl. The north road leads into more swamp and ends at the Pascagoula River.
This is a great place for Patty to walk with the kids or to ride in her birding chair; while offering me all kinds of nature subjects.
Click any image to view full size and browse the gallery.
Alligator
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Blue Bird
Blue Bird
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
Killdeer
With two chicks
Killdeer
With two chicks, very protective
Killdeer
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
such a beautiful creature
Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
such a beautiful creature
Ibises
Patty counted 39, there are more in the trees and off the road
Ibises
A stand or a Congragation
American White Ibises (Eudocimus albus)
Congregation of Ibises
American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
Two adults and a juvenile
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
caught a crawfish
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
caught a crawfish
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
caught a crawfish
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
Spider Lily (Hymenocallis)
Cottonmouth
It swallowing a fish, you can just see the tail of a small fish sticking out it’s mouth
Cottonmouth
It swallowing a fish, you can just see the tail of a small fish sticking out it’s mouth
Red-eared Slider
Red-eared Slider
Spider Lily (Hymenocallis)
Spring Spiderlily
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on a Stiff dogwood
Grey ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides)
Brazilian vervain
RLH_9465-Edit
Swamp Leatherfolwer
Daisy fleabane
Daisy fleabane
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Albert Einstein