Gulfport, MS Trip - Saturday, November 9, 2019

We started our morning today long before the sun arose with plans to spend the day exploring Mississippi on our way to our hotel in Gulfport. 

Our first stop was the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. 

There Mississippi Sandhill Crane is an endangered species numbering only 129.  It differs genetically from the "Greater" Sandhill Crane which we are more familiar with.  They are a little smaller and do not migrate.  Most of those found in the wild were either born in captivity or are the children or grandchildren of cranes born in captivity.  The rangers at this refuge have been working hard to reintroduce native plants and recreate the crane's native habitat of the savannah.  Two cranes who were clearly not phased by people at all were right outside the visitor's center.

Right near the visitor's center, is a really nice hiking trail called the C. L. Dees Trail.  We saw some neat wildflowers and a number of birds.

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Pine Warbler

Eastern Phoebe

The staff at Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR suggested a stop at the Gulf Islands National Seashore where we might find alligators, among other wildlife and so that is where we headed next and it did not disappoint.  We spotted our first wildlife on the drive into the park.

We started at the William M. Colmer Visitor Center where a ranger was extremely helpful in pointing out the best spots to find wildlife.  So after a picnic lunch, we headed to the trails in search of birds and reptiles.

Red-shouldered Hawk, I believe

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

This great egret was really active and so much fun to watch.  

We almost walked right by this great blue heron perched in a tree as he blended in so nicely.

Red-winged Blackbirds

We still hadn't seen an alligator until we came upon this pond.

Yes, that is a turtle hanging out with the alligator!

 

brown anole

After leaving the national seashore, we decided to stop at the World's Largest Rocking Chair on the way to the hotel.

After checking into our hotel and relaxing a little, we walked across the street to watch the sunset on the beach and then had an amazing dinner at Shaggy's.  The sunset wasn't anything to write home about but the huge flocks of birds were fun to watch.