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We saw many fantastic creatures on our quick adventure but riding the combine during the rice harvest turned out to be the favorite highlight of the tour. Photo by participant Judi Manning.

Thank you so much for choosing Field Guides to pursue the elusive Yellow Rail and take in the spectacle of migration and wintering birds in southern Louisiana. Dan and I really enjoyed birding with all of you.

The Cajun culinary treats, the gorgeous weather, the ubiquitous wading birds, good looks at Yellow Rails in flight, most of the world's Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Soras, mesmerizing undulations of Black Skimmer flocks, and the longleaf pine plantation specialist trifecta in less than half an hour...none of that could top the thrill of riding on the deck of a combine harvesting rice. Haha. I can state with complete confidence that this was the first tour I have ever led where a machine was voted the favorite highlight of the adventure!

Day one began with birding the countryside en route to the rice harvesting. We studied blackbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl and passerines in abundance. After sampling alligator bites, étouffée and breading pudding, we linked up with Donna Dittmann, Steve Cardiff and combine operator Dustin in the rice fields outside of the tiny farming community of Thornwell. We can't thank Donna, Steve and Dustin enough for the amazing opportunity they provided us. We took turns riding on the combine as it harvested the rice with incredible efficiency. Many of you probably grew weary of me barking "SORA!" over the roar of the combine. Who knew so many Soras even existed? Virginia Rails were the second most common rail but we did manage to witness seven different flushes of Yellow Rails at close range - flashing their bold white secondaries and tiny size. Two other highlights were a single King Rail and an American Bittern, which the combine put up at least three times.

Saturday morning started with a trek to the west. We exited Interstate 10 at Sulphur and immediately hit a smorgasbord of woodpeckers. The giant Pileated Woodpeckers perched and in flight were thrilling but the Red-headed Woodpecker was certainly the standout. We birded our way toward the Wetland Walkway at Sabine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Merlins and American White Pelicans took turns putting on a show overhead while we discovered more reclusive prizes like King Rail and Sedge Wren. From the Wetland Walkway, we made our way to the Gulf of Mexico at Holly Beach. At the shore we were met with flock after flock of roosting gulls and terns, plus a diversity of foraging shorebirds. Noteworthy species at Holly Beach included: Gull-billed Tern, Franklin's Gull, Snowy and Piping plovers and American Avocet. After a picnic lunch at East Jetty, we tacked on Clapper Rail, Reddish Egret, Mottled Duck, Hooded Warbler and a distant Marbled Godwit to our growing list. The day wrapped up with a cooperative Nelson's Sparrow on Rutherford Beach Road and a chorus of Great Horned Owls hooting well before sunset.

Our final day began early as we headed north to Kisatchie National Forest with three longleaf pine forest specialists in our sights. A Bachman's Sparrow was heard chipping even before we could get the vans turned off and we quickly followed that up with Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch. Since our primary targets were on the checklist in less than an hour, we had time to search for more. Barred Owl, Pine Warbler, Winter Wren and Blue-headed Vireo were noteworthy additions. The most bang for our remaining buck seemed to be down on the coast so we made tracks after lunch for Cameron. Our decision proved fruitful as White-tailed Kite, Seaside Sparrow and Sandhill Crane were tallied by all.

Thanks again for choosing Field Guides. Good luck birding, stay happy and healthy, and hopefully our paths will cross again someday.

Best,

Eric and Dan

KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant

We delighted in seeing a number of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers well during our travels. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Participant Judi Manning did a marvelous job of catching up to this Merlin with her camera.

No doubt this was "The Best" Blue-gray Gnatcatcher of them all -- Haha. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Abundance was a theme throughout this tour. Wading birds were just one of many groups of birds that were ubiquitous. In this image from guide Eric Hynes from the rice harvest you can see Roseate Spoonbills, Great and Snowy egrets, White and White-faced ibis, plus, if you look carefully, a Glossy Ibis.

It wasn't easy identifying the rails as they flushed but the chestnut upperwing coverts were a good giveaway for confirming Virginia Rail in flight compared to the similar-sized Sora. Photo by participant Judi Manning.

It required a second effort but eventually we all scored great looks at Seaside Sparrow. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker are an endangered species but we scored a family group almost immediately. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Bachman's Sparrow was another southern pine forest specialist we spotted quickly in Kisatchie National Forest. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Loggerhead Shrikes are declining in many parts of their range but there was no indication of that in southern Louisiana. Photo by participant Judi Manning.

Watching Northern Harriers buoyantly glide over the fields and marshes was a highlight for many of us. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

Cajun cuisine was a major theme of our adventure and it began with dinner the first night at the Blue Dog Cafe. Here is their famous Crawfish Enchiladas with cumin mornay, chili braised purple hulls, cilantro, & creme fraiche. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

The huge flock of roosting Black Skimmers at East Jetty kept flushing and putting on a show. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

We were all grateful this colorful Nelson's Sparrow held its position long enough for us all to enjoy multiple scope views. Photo by guide Eric Hynes.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Totals for the tour: 144 bird taxa and 7 mammal taxa