Common Gallinule
The weather finally got better. The wind was fairly calm, and afternoon temperatures climbed into the upper 50s. This also meant that there were a lot more people at the Savannah NWR, especially on the wildlife drive, so I hiked as much as I could on the various trails there. I stopped first at the pair of canals, and saw more of the same species.
Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule
Snowy Egret
I hiked on the levy along the canal looking for rails, but some movement in the reeds caught my eye. I wasn't going to see any rails there that morning.
Bobcat
I hiked another trail past the photo blind, and saw the first of several Soras that I would see at the NWR. An Anhinga flew overhead.
Sora
Sora
Tricolored Heron
Anhinga
Anhinga
Anhinga
As I walked down another trail, I saw a male and a female Northern Harrier.
Northern Harriers
As I continued farther down the same trail, an American Bittern flew from the reeds. I had previously seen and photographed American Bitterns, but they were always in flight. I really wanted to photograph this species with its neck extended as camouflage within the reeds.
American Bittern
American Bittern
American Bittern
American Bittern
American Bittern
A bit farther down the wildlife drive, I stopped to look at another Sora.
Sora
Sora
Sora
Turtle
On my way out, I stopped when I saw a Merlin perched near the top pf a tree off of one of the trails. I parked off the drive, and hiked to the Merlin.
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
I had time for one more trip around the NWR. At the first pair of canals, a large alligator was catching some rays.
Alligator
On this last loop of the day, I saw more avian species, and more alligators.
Glossy Ibises
Alligator
Banded Water Snake