We've been birding in Florida since our first visit to Fort Myers in March 2010 for the Minnesota Twins spring training. March seemed the best month since the locals were complemented by the songbirds heading north from Central American. Our vacation this year encompassing the local waders, shorebirds, raptors and other random locals in late Jan. and early Feb was still great though songbirds like warblers were rare. Take a look....
The snakebird (Anhinga) swims along with only its head showing above the water.
Not the Turkey Vultures we see in Minnesota in the summer, these Black Vultures are very common in Florida circling everywhere.
And you thought Pinocchio had a big nose... Mr. Brown Pelican. Who can? Peli Can!
Cattle (Egrets) grazing on a local golf course. Mooo!
Lots of red shouldered hawks were seen, a rare summer sight in Minnesota.
Huge and gangly wood storks are slowly coming back from endangerment.
A small falcon - The beautiful Kestrel
The tri-colored heron stalks his prey in shallow water
Some of the birds seemed very tame like this Sandhill Crane standing right along the highway.
A flock of these White Ibis landed on a front lawn as we were driving into town for groceries in Homosassa.
One thing for sure, all these big birds like the White Pelican are sure a lot easier to photograph with my little point and shoot than the tiny songbirds we see at home in the spring.
Glossy Ibis
A long distance traveler who winters in southern Argentina and breeds along the Artic coast in Canada.
The first time I saw a Reddish Egret hunting I thought he was drunk. Staggering and lurching about in shallow water to stir up food is accepted "technique" with this large wader...:)
A strange looking but beautiful wader The Roseate Spoonbill
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a great variety you get to see there! :)
ReplyDeleteWow -that must have been so neat to see such a variety.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Pelicans---love those goofy heads!
A water birding paradise. Loved the wood stork!
ReplyDeleteNicely done. You've done some good birding this winter.
ReplyDeleteWow!!!!! Great birding, thanks for sharing.Francine.
ReplyDeleteFun, I love pelicans. They are so fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of raptors,so I love your photos of the hawk and kestrel.
I bet you just loved this field trip. You got some great photos.
ReplyDeleteWow that was a pretty Hawk! You did great with those photos and a Rosate Spoonbilll I have heard many people look for them and never see them. Nice bunch of bird photos! :)
ReplyDeleteYou had a huge variety (in more ways than one) to shoot!!!
ReplyDeleteSome lovely birds and your comments were good, too. If I saw a Crane on our highway I would be in my element. I'm all excited after seeing a gull in the garden!!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a white Pelican! My favorite are the Sandhill Cranes and nothing beats your first glimpse of the Reddish Egret. Quite the technique! Glad you were able to get away.
ReplyDeleteAmazing finds, I like all the water fowl. A friend just sent white pelicans pics near her home in Cedar Key.
ReplyDeleteWow! Now those are some fine birds to photograph and share. When I visited my sister last year, I saw some of these birds but certainly not all of them. I'm a fan of pelicans ever since I saw the movie "Pelican Dreams." :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection.
ReplyDeletewonderful photos and a nice change from the snow and frozen scenery around northern Illinois.
ReplyDeleteYou were able to capture a lot of different kinds of birds. The Sandhill Cranes fly through our neighboring state Nebraska both fall and winter. I guess Florida would make a great place to go to keep warm. I like the pelican on the post.
ReplyDeleteNow you are making me miss Florida though I am sure right now, you are too. I just love those Sandhill Cranes. Hopefully someday you will get to see a baby. They are orange balls of fluff that stroll along with the parents.
ReplyDeleteLove the birds. Best part of being in FL. Well, except to get away from the winter cold and enjoy some sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to go on a Florida birding trip!!
ReplyDeleteQuite a variety here! Love that first pelican!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this visit "for the birds." And I appreciated that you identified each one. Good job! Seemed like a good vacation!
ReplyDeleteenjoyed this as is usual with your blogs. I am envious, haven't been down to
ReplyDeleteFL for about 6 years now, and really miss the birds and the monkey (fox)
squirrels. I'm not sure that's a glossy ibis, the beak happens to fall in a shadow
in the water that makes it appear to be longer than it really is. correct me if I'm
wrong, but it looks like a like a little blue heron to me. keep up the fine work
you do. Hap in New Hope, MN
One of Minnesota's top all time birders Hap Huber! Thanks Hap...:)
ReplyDeleteI finally got to see South Forida from Everglades City to Miami, in April. I enjoyed seeing all the birds. Yes, I was surprised at how many Turkey Vultures were there. Must be some excellent pickings in the swamp and prairie there. Saw egrets and many a flock of pelicans, too. What a lovely area for birding.
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