The vast acreage includes indications of the old rice cultivation system from past centuries with many wooden trunks used to control water flow into and out of the numerous impoundments. Informative signage provides visitors with an educational experience.
White Ibis were around in numbers. There's no mistaking this one-of-a-kind wading bird.
The Savannah Refuge, while close to a major highway, extends far enough away from the road to ensure the quiet of nature.
The dark Glossy Ibis mingled with White Ibis in this spot.
This was my first Glossy Ibis sighting- always exciting to "discover" new birds! It was hard to get good close shots amid the sea grass.
I didn't see too many smaller birds on this outing, other than this Northern Mockingbird, which didn't seem to mind posing a few minutes for me.
The Mockingbird seems to be a flexible, adaptable bird, from backyards to vast nature preserves.
By far the American Coots were the most frequent fowl at the Savannah site during this winter visit.
I would definitely like to come back to this refuge and am glad it's close enough for a spring or summer day trip. Here's a link to this national refuge's website: http://www.fws.gov/savannah/