TGIRF - Thank God it's Rain Free day!

Really crazy weather we've been having this week - with more rain than usual, it is clearing up and it's time to head to the Bailey Tract.

It's early yet however I hear company across the way, so before I get going I take a peek...oh my..

not enough light to make sharp photos but you'll have to agree that those little peeps are adorable.

They are still sporting downy feathers.

Patiently waiting for the parent to return with some juicy morsels.

The night blooming cactus were still open - they always take my breath away.

It's time to go and head for the trails....

A tricolored Heron was fishing along the Red Mangrove pond.

A Great Egret by the Smith Pond.

Across the way, at the Sanibel Garden Preserve, the dragonflies were plentiful - happily feeding on insects.

A Great Crested Flycatcher was hanging with his family....

while a cardinal watched.

Look how much rain we've had lately - this area is usually filled with Spartina Grass.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker with bill full of insects - which is highly anticipated by his little brood....

from the sound of it, more than one.

Back at the Bailey Tract - a female Anhinga was seen taking a break and drying up her feathers.

Next time you visit - take a look at the map and choose your trail - there's something awaiting at most every corner. My E-Bird List for today.

 

A visit at Bunche Beach

The tides are running low and it's early in the morning - this makes for a perfect combination to visit Bunche Beach....come along...

 As to be expected - the Black Skimmers were present in great numbers.

The birds are hungry and foraging for food - such as this Little Blue Heron.

The Red Knot - look how beautiful they are in their breeding plumage! Soon they will leave and head north.

A Least Sandpiper - the smallest peep of them all.

A Dunlin in the background with its turning black belly.

Red Knots are so much easier to identify with their red belly.

More Dunlins

One of my favorites - the Short-billed Dowitcher - this one too is sporting its bright plumage before heading north.

A Snowy Egret - snow white with yellow slippers matching the yellow lore.

The Little Blue Heron.

A Semipalmated Plover - one of many that were foraging.

A Piping Plover - getting ready to do poop....

As Ed Combs said: "He looks very patriotic with its red/white/blue colors" and I have to agree.

The tide was coming in and slowly the birds started to leave.

 

As I was heading out, I caught sight of a Willet with its fresh catch - Crab! Yum!

 And that, concludes my low tide visit, folks...until the next time. My E-Bird List for today.

Super Sweet Saturday

Today I had the pleasure of being in the company of a good friend who happens to be a birder and a photographer - we enjoyed discovering many birds along the quiet paths of the Sanibel Garden Preserve and the Bailey Tract - even though it is June, it is hot and the majority of the birds have flown north - we were pleasantly surprised with the numbers of birds as well as the nice variety.....see for yourself.

It never cease to amaze me when I come across such a flock of birds - to watch them as they share space while they feed in a frenzy, it makes me smile as I listen to their concert.

Here is a great comparison of a Snowy Egret with its yellow slippers standing next to the Great Egret. See how one has a black beak with yellow feet and one has a yellow beak with black feet.....I thought I would never learn all the differences as it can be a bit overwhelming at first but I can assure you that with diligence and perseverance that it starts to make sense after a while.

Here's a Roseate Spoonbill right smack in the middle of a Great Egret and a Snowy Egret - can you tell who's who without seeing their feet?

Here is a second year White Ibis with an adult Roseate Spoonbill - probably in its 4th year or so...visible by the bright pink and the orange tail.

This Roseate Spoonbill on the other hand happens to be in its first year - look how pale the pink is.

The Snowy may be small but he's not diminutive.

I love all the little details of the fine feathers and the reflection in the pond.

A good catch for this Tricolored Heron

A greater catch for the Great Blue Heron

The Black-necked Stilts were in most of the ponds within the Bailey Tract

and so were the Killdeers

Did you know the inside of its mouth is pink?

Very elegant and delicate bird.

Do you think the Little Blue Heron wants to become a big white bird?

That Little Blue in its immature form is quite striking - by next year it will be totally blue.

Snowy coming for a landing.

Little Blue Heron taking off.

The immature Green Heron bid us farewell for the day

actually, he really didn't pay us much attention as he was quite focus on getting his next meal.

 

 My E-Bird List http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18785951