Florida Birding

Standard procedure some years ago for me was upland game and duck and goose hunting with my Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Then about ten years ago changing health circumstances and new interests brought me to birding with binoculars and my first German Shepard Baron.  Now Lily, another GSD, and I carry on with twice a day hikes and the same trusty binocs.
From our first trips to Fort Myers to see the Minnesota Twins in spring training I realized Florida was a birders paradise.  This year in January I knew the vast flocks of song birds wouldn't have arrived yet on their migrations north but there were plenty of waders, shorebirds and various raptors to be seen.  The plan this year was more laid back than in the past.  That meant some hiking in nearby parks and refuges and also a lot of reading from the screened in porch and the dock with keen eye on the creek across the front yard.  Take a look....

Friend Gary and Mrs. T. keeping a lookout.

Visiting every day and known locally  as the "W.B.s" (the white birds) aka Great White Egrets.

The cottage came equipped with both a canoe and a kayak so Gary and Rosie headed upstream. The following photographs by Gary Anderson.

A rare Wood Stork.

Little Blue Heron

 Black Skimmers

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Rare Migrating Minnesota Lovebirds