A Mother's love

A mother's love - that's what I thought about when I was walking through the Bailey Tract this morning - come along and see what I mean...

In the Ani Pond - which is almost void of water - a family of Black-necked Stilt is busy growing up, one of the chick is seen here.

As I was watching, the parent came over and started to crouch down and soon after....

the chicks headed for the warmth and safety that the parent provides.

Shortly after the third chick came while the fourth stayed away.

A Killdeer was across the way.

Another pair of Black-necked Stilt is getting ready for its family along the Red mangrove pond.

Across the way I spotted a pair of Black Skimmers - they tend to visit the Bailey Tract during the late spring and into the summer time - always a nice sighting.

What's not to love with a family of ducklings - I'm glad to see that little group even if half of them are missing.

Another family in the making....

The Common Gallinule is sitting on the nest inside the reeds while the mate brings nourishment....the Green Heron just watched though it didn't seem to be very interested.

The Green Herons tends to be more visible around the time of their nesting season, I spotted 8 today - they are such 'still' creatures that at times they are hard to locate which creates a pleasure when detected....all in all this day gave me fuzzy feelings all over.

 

A visit to Green Cay and Wakodahatchee

Once per year the Caloosa Bird Club takes a bus trip to go to the East Coast of Florida to visit Green Cay and Wakodahatchee - it is a trip that I really look forward to and this Sunday was the day! Come along and visit with me.....

Along the entrance to Green Cay - which was shielded from the 30+mph wind gusts - a few butterflies caught my attention, this Atala stole the show.

This bird feeder is quite the attractor for the Painted Buntings.

This following segment takes place at Wakodahatchee - here is a Gray-cheeked Swamphen, notice the red face and bill which matches the legs and feet.

Further down a Common Gallinule family captured my interest...

The Pied-billed Grebe might be pondering the fact that it will be in breeding mode soon.

A first time sighting for me was this Juvenile Purple Gallinule.

It was pretty amazing that it was able to stay put while eating the flowers while the wind kept on gusting.

Not too far away....perhaps the parent to the above juvenile....notice the candy cane bill is just like the Common Gallinule bill....one difference being that the Purple Gallinule, beside being purple has a blue patch between the eyes.

And let's not forget about the Wood Storks! This year is seemingly a successful season for nesting and that's a very good thing.

Check those chicks out!

Good thing the parents know what they're doing - with all those legs in such a small nesting area I'd be afraid to step on my babies.

A couple Great Blue Heron chicks waiting for the parents to return with more food.

Another Wood Stork family.

A soon to fledge Cormorant (left) with parent on right.

More Gray-cheeked Moorhen.

A Cattle Egret in full breeding attire.

And, as with all my adventure, this too comes to an end.....I hope that you enjoyed this visit.

The Bailey Tract - continue

TGIF and it's a free day to do what I like to do....and off to the Bailey Tract I go!

A Green Heron turned out to be my first photographed subject today.

And lucky for me - it came really close to where I was standing. It's interesting how there are so many during the summer but come winter time and we really have to look hard to find one.

A Red Cardinal should be called a Christmas Bird with its brilliant red coat.

Talking about 'red', this Brazilian Pepper bush is looking healthy and striving through the native vegetation.

A peek-a-boo play by the Common Gallinule.

And look who I bumped into today - Jim, the president of the San-Cap Audubon group with Phillis and his daughter-in-law Debbie.

An Osprey was just around the corner vocalizing with another - it will soon be mating season.

And as predicted I found the bright male Anhinga in its usual spot.....birds are creature of habits just like we are.

A singing Phoebe redirected my attention as I..

was on my way out, further down the lane the Great Blue Heron bid me farewell.

It was an enjoyable morning even though I failed to locate the Smooth-billed Ani.....maybe one of these days in the very near future.

 

Bailey Tract visit - From Green Heron to Orchard Oriole

I was due for an early visit to the Bailey Tract and this time of the year can be really peaceful there, what's not to love! Come and visit with me.....

Oh Look! We have a greeter today.....

a Green Heron - "Good Morning to you!".

A young Little Blue was slowly waking up.

A silent Great-crested Flycatcher was observing me.

One of the greeter's relative was nearby too.

Oh!, Look how much the Common Gallinule have grown.

And what do we have here?

If you guessed an immature Black-crowned Night Heron, then you win the early bird prize.

The sun is slowly rising and the true colors are coming up - a Red-shouldered Hawk drying up from his morning bath.

A young Red-bellied Woodpecker exploring all that his world has to offer.

The Tricolored Heron is always one to admire.

A Brown Anole that lost its tail to a predator,

this one sports his entire tail.

This little turtle was quite far away - I don't have enough clue to properly identify - If you know, do pipe in.

A Kingbird - with a white tail tip it would indicate an Eastern Kingbird.

And what a nice surprise! An Orchard Oriole - welcome back!