Author: Richard

More Cedar Key Birds

With temperatures in the forties in Vermont, it’s fun to recall the warm days we had just a couple of weeks ago — 1500 miles south.

We’ve got some Great Blue Herons back but not spiffed up like this one – yet.
We certainly don’t have White Ibises cruising overhead.
Brown Pelicans greeting a fishing boat which just arrived.
Most of the American White Pelicans had migrated northward. These are juveniles who are nonbreeding birds who will remain through the summer.

Florida Yard Birds – Part 2

One of the birds we enjoyed watching was this Spotted Sandpiper, who liked to admire his image in the antenna cover next door.

Another we watched for some time was this Tri-colored Heron – hunting a short distance from our deck.

Just a block away, a flock of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks came through one morning.

And out back in the yard, these folks were chowing down. I’m not sure what they are but loved their design and will try to look them up.

Florida Yard Birds – Part 1

The place where we stay in Florida has wonderful birding right out back – a tidal estuary which at times, can tax the ability of a northern birder who hasn’t seen a shorebird in six months. We decide just to enjoy them and not worry about getting everything sorted out – in fact that’s our general approach to birding.

It’s Florida and cool but no snow in sight — perhaps a Snowy Egret.
On the far bank at low tide, hundreds of egrets, herons, ibises, and an occasional Brown Pelican congregate.
On this morning, a few Roseate Spoonbills, one of our favorite birds, joined the party.
But then, you look out again and there’s a gaggle of dowitchers, dunlins, willets …
Some birds, like this Willet, get in closer and next post I’ll share some up close and personal yard birds.

Backyard Surprise

Mid-day, Sally noted an unusual bird out back hassling with the Common Grackles, called me, and we decided that we had our first Brown Thrasher on our list of yard birds. After a brief visit, it came back later when I had the camera available.

It was wary but came back several times during the afternoon.
Pretty bird on the just-cut straw.
It even tried the suet, having seen the grackles and woodpeckers eating it.

It was a treat, and now we are waiting for our first hummer of the year — any day now.

Ospreys – Comeback Kids

Cedar Key has hundreds of Ospreys – nesting on platforms, pine tree snags, rooftops, and even the tower of the local Episcopal church. Like the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, Ospreys have overcome many complex threats—including DDT damage to eggs and habitat loss. We have an Osprey family living next door on a shed roof and another across the street. They are wonderful birds to watch flying, fishing, or just tending the nest.

Every morning, from our back deck, we were greeted by our neighbor Osprey family perched and ready for breakfast.

They had a nest a stone’s throw away and were continually adding materials such as sticks and moss.

Adding a little more moss. It appears that two adults are tending the nest – no evidence of feeding yet.

On every walk we saw Osprey nests.

This gives a nice example of the weaving of sticks and moss, ready to withstand the storms ahead.
In the “catbird seat.”

We have returned to Vermont as spring migration arrives. The car is unpacked, the camera files are next. Happy Spring.

Another Nice Surprise

Yesterday, we combined a grocery trip to Gainesville with a birding visit to a new spot for us: Sweetwater Wetlands Park, a birding mecca of 125 acres of wetlands and ponds right in the city. While we saw dozens of neat birds, the star attraction was this small Sandhill Crane family.

As we approached, we saw several birders watching a Sandhill Crane.
Then we noticed that they had a chick.
There were two chicks.
A family portrait.

Sunday Surprise

I took Ginger on a short walk yesterday around the neighborhood, leaving my binoculars at home but carrying the camera. As we strolled on the quiet back streets, seeing our usual bird suspects, I heard and saw some Great Crested Flycatchers. I lost them and while searching the trees, came across these two lumps which, once I got my camera on them, were a wonderful surprise – a pair of Barred Owls staring back at me.

Most owls I have seen were pointed out to me by others, either in person or by location description — these are one of the few that I saw on my own. What a great treat.

More Florida Birds

While the warmth is nice, the birding with full foliage can be challenging. Here is an example of a mystery bird — answer is at end of post.

What am I?
This Gray Catbird stopped to pose for a moment.
American Oystercatchers are easy to ID and fun to watch.
This one had a White Ibis for company.
This bird popped out for a quick photo op? What’s your id?

The first bird is an Orchard Oriole – I saw it without my camera earlier.

I’m calling the last bird a female Indigo Bunting. Good birding to you.

Florida Birds-2

While the weather holds, we’ve gotten some good walking and birding done. Our cottage is nestled between some clamming operations: here’s a look to the southwest.

Yesterday, we encountered a few Purple Martins trying to hold on to their room reservations.

Did you invite them?
House Sparrows – America’s Guest Birds.

Ginger loves the small black lizards that dart in front of her but missed this critter, who thought he was hidden right by the path.

We missed the April snowstorm in New England but got hammered by thunderstorms last night. I had forgotten how intense these tropical deluges can be. Stay safe.