Birding Alva with the Caloosa Bird Club

On this chilly morning, we met up with the group by the Franklin's Lock and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise - filled with promises of a great day - and it was.

A Limpkin came and greeted us - I believe it might just be the same Limpkin as last year and I bet this is his regular spot.

Some houses were set up for the Purple Martins - always a joy to see them.

A Loggerhead Shrike seeking his next morsel.

Those Oak Trees are mighty tall and gave us a good neck warm-up. Soon after we left to gather at the White's feeders.

Mr & Mrs White have been members of the Caloosa Club for many years and have graciously opened their house/yard to share the multitude of birds that come to their feeders....here an Indigo Bunting is waiting for a spot by the bird feeder.

In their neighborhood - a singing Carolina Wren was spotted.

An American Goldfinch was soon joined by

the Painted Bunting - wow - I never tire of looking at this bird and it was hard to say good bye...but alas we need to move on.

We drove for a bit along N.River Rd and then reached Parkinson Road where we saw this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker as well as the Red-headed Woodpecker.

Also, a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites were seen perched in a tree before wooing us with their acrobatic flight.

Several Cattle Egrets were resting and cleaning while we walked by - soon after we saw the Wood Ducks.... in flight....they quickly retreated to the back, giving us a brief flight/silhouette view.

A quick pit stop at Franklin Lock Campground provided us views of a Limpkin, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Killdeers, an Eagle and several Purple Martins.

Soon after we headed to North River Road - a family of Sandhill Cranes was observed...

the pond has just about dried up and there isn't much left there - we did see a Greater Yellowleg and heard the Meadowlark....

our group enjoyed the view through the barb wire

and watched as the two colts walked far away from their parents - having fun and enjoying the fleeting freedom.

My E-Bird List for Alva.

Migration continues to be lovely.

Since I am a relatively new birder on the block - I don't have other preconceived idea as to how much I'm supposed to be seeing and when - either way, I am delighted to learn as I go along the way.

This Blackpoll Warbler is probably one of the fastest guy on the block - I'm just glad that I was able to see it, let alone take a photo or two.

The Indigos are still present - 1.5 weeks and still going.

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak never cease to surprise me - I would look up and there he'd be.

For a minute there I thought I was seeing a new specie - Judy Davis happened to be walking toward me when I showed her my finding - good thing too, otherwise I might still be looking for it's ID. This Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a pretty good looking female if I must say so myself.

The Northern Parula - a male - telltale signs is the dark 'necklace' below his neck.

The Prothonotary continues to take by breath away with it's simplistic beauty.

The Parula and the Prothonotary were hanging in the same tree....there's plenty of fruit to go around.

Not too far away was the juvenile Osprey - who had just jumped over from its nest - he/she will soon take its first flight.

The Black-billed Cuckoo is still in the area - what a treat to see it two days in a row.

The European Starling - often overlooked - is filled with an interesting pattern in its plumage and the yellow bill is indication of breeding.

A Prairie Warbler

Till the next time.....I live in Paradise and I am grateful.

 

 My E-Bird List for today http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17994747

Fort De Soto - here we go

This day was a day much anticipated - as I had heard about Fort De Soto being one of the best spot for birding, especially during migration. This day also happens to be the last birding trip of the season with the Caloosa Bird Club - this part makes me want to sail through the summer as soon as I can - so, a big sigh as I remind myself to BE in the journey....this too shall pass.

Okay, onward - let me show you what I feasted my eyes and soul on yesterday.

You are probably wondering what we're looking at....well, often times that is how I felt - the birds looked as if they were on steroids, loaded with sugar with a side of adhd.....because as soon as you spotted something - it was moving - fassssst.

My first -ever- sighting of a Scarlet Tanager, so, even a bad photo is a good photo at this moment in time.

A Cedar Waxwing was heard before being spotted - there were many others too but they couldn't be sighted.

A Red Cardinal - sitting on its nest ..... spring is in the air.

A Gray Kingbird.

Too funny that they would choose a parking lot of all places - but then again, they are "laughing" gulls.

A Yellow-throated Warbler, this one granted us many views throughout the park.

Nanday - also known as a Black-hooded Parakeet.

Some of the vistas - so much land, so much to see, so many places and so little time to do it all.

Another view of the Nanday - this one shows the blue in his feathers and the red on the legs.

The beach side provided much to look at from many directions

This Reddish Egret's bright breeding plumage could be spotted from far away.

Wouldn't you want to be there?

Near the Ranger's house, the Murlberry Trees are loaded with fruits and the birds are loving it. Here is an Indigo Bunting getting his fix.

Very sweet! A Baltimore Oriole and my camera is focusing on it - yeah!

I see that there is also a female Orchard Oriole to his right - how cool is that!

"Yum, I love these fruits....I'm gonna get me more of that".

Another Indigo Bunting - feasting away.

Summer Tanager always seem to take my breath away.

Other than this Summer Tanager that took my breath away - were beautiful species that I couldn't get photos of - such as a Red-breasted Grosbeak and a Black-whiskered Vireo.

A lonely Cowbird

A beautiful Cape May Warbler caught the attention of many.

After seeing this Cape May and the Black-whiskered Vireo, we made our way to the picnic tables and fueled our bellies while we exchanged notes about the 80 species that we had seen. The Black-whiskered Vireo was voted the bird of the day....I so wish that I would have been able to show you - I guess you'll have to open your bird id book for that one if you've never seen it.

After saying our goodbyes to the Caloosa members, my friend Gail and I stepped back to the Murlberry Tree to catch sight of whomever we could see. A nice fellow identified this immature male Orchard Oriole for us and I'm thankful for that.

And this, my friend, concludes my visit to Fort De Soto. Another great day spent birding...now that I've rested, I'm ready to catch sight of the migrants coming through the Lighthouse of Sanibel.

My E-Bird List for today  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17894877