This rain has helped. The shore birds and ducks are starting to show up. We still don’t have much water in the peripheral pools, and that may make the teal season a bit awkward, but it will happen. There are bunches of teal sitting in the slack water in the fields.

I love to get up early and get the sun at my back to get the best pictures while I drive around the marsh. It is calm and quiet, and everyone is waking up and starting their processes. The deer have been in the fields and are moving back into the trees or the big cat tails in the marsh. The raccoons and possums are going back into cover to sleep the day. The cattle egrets leave the marsh to go to the pastures to feed on the bugs that the cattle stir up. They forage right under the cow’s feet and will sit on their backs if they are lying down. The great blue herons are stalking the shallows, eating crawfish, minnows, small carp, snakes, and anything else they see moving. The great egrets are doing the same thing. The flocks of blackbirds and starlings and grackles start squabbling and feeding. I found out we have common grackles, not the boat-tailed grackles that live in other parts of the country. The young starlings are uncommonly pretty speckled, busy and fun to watch. They love the tops of old trees and watch the world from up there. 

I saw the first Upland Sandpiper of the year two days ago. My friend Dodge Engleman and his wife Lorna are originally from Salina and live in San Antonio. They are world-class birders and go on big trips to unknown places to see and list amazing birds three or four times per year. Dodge told me that the upland sandpiper is his all-time favorite bird. Considering all the thousands of birds they have seen, I find that to be an amazing statement. It always gives me joy to see one and renew my distant friendship with those two wonderful people. 

Other birds connect me to different people. I find that to be a common sentiment in the birding community. It is a true gift to be acquainted with people of passion and purpose. They make me work hard every day to protect our marsh and heritage.

The first Yellowlegs are here this week, and the Avocets are also appearing. The Avocets are pale white and black — their colors change drastically in the spring breeding season to vibrant buff orange — you all know that is my moniker on my license tag, and I think they are much prettier than Upland Sandpipers but I’m not telling that to Dodge. Ha! 

Several of the pips and squeaks are showing up. Identifying all the sandpipers is a bigger job and above my pay scale. Thank goodness for Mike Rader and Curtis Wolf and Rob Penner and Jason and Kim and Gene and Pam. 

Curtis identified a Buff-colored sandpiper the other day; I’d never even heard of that bird. I get pictures of lots of things I can’t identify properly.

It’s only going to get better as the big ducks and geese and Whoopers start arriving. It is so good to be able to have water for them. Don’t ever miss a chance to take a drive and live the dream! Do your best to protect our treasure!

Doc

Doctor Dan Witt is a retired physician and nature enthusiast. He can be reached at danwitt01@gmail.com.