Love making in the spring

My friend Lisa is visiting from Michigan and we planned a birding outing today - our original venue was Bunche Beach but because of the weather threatening to storm, we decided to stay close and bird Ding Darling.....but first....a small stop along Casa Y bel to check on the Swallow-tailed Kites.

While listening to a Chuck-wills-widow we observed 12 Swallow-tailed Kites gliding in the sky and 5 landed in snags nearby - 1 pair mated while we were watching.

Then, a walk along the Indigo Trail at Ding Darling took us to the education boardwalk/platform and boy, did we get an education.

We watched 3 Green Heron flying/hopping back and forth - 2 of them in breeding plumage, check those bright legs!

A pair of Anhinga was mating in front of us.

A pair of Yellow-crowned Night Heron was nearby.

A young Yellow-crowned Night Heron was feeling quite comfortable in our presence - getting closer and closer.

Mrs Anhinga settling nicely in her nest.

"Are you my Mommy?" - At least that's what I thought when I saw its expression.

Ooops! - Well, at least we are on the scat boardwalk.

This YCNH was quite playful - he was fixated on this empty shell which he kept dropping on the ground only to pick it up again - over and over.

My friend Lisa.

In our viewfinder we could see an Osprey's nest - these particular photos are showing the male with a small fish in his talons, the female overseeing things and two chicks waiting for their meal.

Back to that pair of Yellow-crowned Night Heron - they seemed to be more active all of a sudden.

And sure enough, they got down to business in no time at all.

We then drove to the Tower along the Wildlife Drive and had the opportunity for some nice conversation with the San-Cap Audubon group who were having their bird walk this morning. While we were there a Great Blue Heron landed - not a bad way to end the day.