We put the dog in a kennel and drove south into the state of Mississippi. This was going to be a birding trip around Jackson, Mississippi. The first thing we noticed was the vultures we saw were Black Vultures (Coragyps Atratus) The tips of their wings are white and their heads are darker than those of the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes Aura)
When we turned toward Enid Lake, we noticed swallows darting left and right, up and down, along side a brdge. They were flycatching over the water under the bridge. When we arrived at Enid Dam, we idenified the swallows as a mixture of Northen Rough Winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx Serripennis) and Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica). We ate a picnic lunch at the pavillion near the camping area. At the Enid spillway, there several people fishing. We also saw four large white birds coursing up and down the churning waters of the spillway. These birds flew along the canal, staring down at the water. They were Bonaparte's Gulls (Chroicocephalus Philadelphia) in their breeding plummage.
We were driving down a rural highway where we found large herds of cattle grazing. These beasts were being tended to by medium sized white egrets. We saw their shape and noticed a faint orange tint to their feathers and identified them as Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus Ibis).
We got a room at a Hilton in downtown Jackson. We were tired so Berry took a shower and Robert took a nap. It was time for dinner, so Berry saw the Mayflower Cafe right down the street. Perfect.
Robert started with a cup of "Mike's Seafood Gumbo". This was very authentic with morsels of seafood and veggies in a creole brown sauce served with a splash of rice. We were served a small salad and then a bottle of remoulade dressing was placed on th table. Berry had the "Red Fish Jane" with two filets of broiled red fish, covered in shrimp and oysters. Berry does not eat oysters, so Robert snagged them with a fork, just as the plate hit the table. The Mayflower Cafe is famous for its red fish, so Robert had the "Red Fish Orleans", and this was a treat with the broiled red fish served this time with a large soft shelled crab. The soft shelled crab was even larger than the fish itself. This was very good food. Berry got a piece of Lemon Icebox Pie. These birding trips are delicious.
Robert and Berry
Photos courtesy of wikipedia
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