While we have been home a while, I still have some photos of neat birds we saw. This is the last group – time to focus on Vermont birds.
Category Archives: Florida
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.
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.
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.
They had a nest a stone’s throw away and were continually adding materials such as sticks and moss.
On every walk we saw Osprey nests.
We have returned to Vermont as spring migration arrives. The car is unpacked, the camera files are next. Happy Spring.
Florida Gators
One of the reasons we keep Ginger on a leash is Florida’s State Reptile, the American Alligator. We saw several during our trip to Sweetwater Wetlands Park.
We saw one today at a local park.
But this guy was all business.
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.
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.
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.
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.