Baby it's cold outside!

Brrr...it is 40 degrees in S.W. Florida this morning with a wind chill making it feel like 33, so what's a girl to do but bundle up and go for a drive....it's tru the Wildlife Drive of Ding Darling we go....

Apparently I wasn't the only one feeling chilly this morning.....this Great Egret felt it too

and it wasn't long before it retreated under the mangroves and away from that gusty wind.

The Reddish Egret seemed to be the boldest one of them all - right out there in the open....hunger wins.

Several Night Herons were seeking shelters just like this Black-crowned was. After exiting the Wildlife Drive I opted to go to Captiva Island....

Same scenario here - the Willets sought shelter behind the breakers

They were most likely as cold as I was except that I decided to move to warm up.....and warm up I did as I walked the Captiva beach and exercised my "Sanibel Stoop" - a common term around here which refers to people's position while looking for seashells. On my way out with my prized possessions I noticed that the Willets were still in their little crook and crannies...."stay warm little fellows".

And, folks, these are now part of my new 2017 shell collection.

Shark eyes, Common Nutmeg, Lightning Whelk, Cone, Jewel Box, Scallop,

Banded Tulips,

Turbans,

Shark eye, Moon Shell and my prize pieces.....

Junonia and Lion's Paw - I will treasure these as they are extremely difficult to find in one piece - perhaps this year will be the lucky one.

 

Visiting the Pond Apple/Shipley Trail

There is something to be said about having an entire trail to yourself with the company of nature - it was pretty peaceful out there with only the faint hum of commuters heading to work in the background, making me realize how sweet it is to have a day off and how much I appreciate it.

It was also really nice to come across the Eagle pair - aka - Dairy Queen Eagles, they were hanging around the nest that has been in that Australian Pine for years now.

Though they didn't stick around and flew off shortly after I spotted them.

Not too far away I found a sign that I had not noticed along the path before - "The Littoral Zone" is a new term for me too.

I made it rather quickly to the retention ponds and I got excited to see those 3 Roseate Spoonbills - hey, let's face it - there isn't that many pink birds out there that are that striking in appearance.

The Great Egret came for a landing shortly after,

and so did the Great Blue Heron.

As I surveyed the area I notice that there was only one Wood Stork but I bet that will change very soon and soon we'll see the regular bunch hanging out before we know it.

An adult Pied-billed Grebe owned one of the retention pond.

It's so nice to have our Palm Warblers back - they like to stay ahead of me when I see them.

Oh good! The coast is clear - no gator laying across the path.

The Eastern Phoebes were chirping this morning unlike their usual "FeeBee" sound.

So far so good, let's enter the Shipley Trail.

Several Wrens greeted me along the way - this House Wren even peeked long enough for a photo.

I see a bird - do you?

Ha! The Red-Shouldered Hawk, keeping a close eye on things.

A Papaya Tree - looking mighty fine too.

The filled in lake is looking real good and I did find several birds around it.

Well, it is time to head back

paying attention to some of the Anoles - isn't it fascinating how the look like their surrounding in no time at all?

A Pileated Woodpecker was working hard for his breakfast - tilting his head and listening closely for the insects within the wood.

A White Ibis - you just never know where you're going to find them - this time around it's tippy top.

And just prior to reaching the parking lot - I found this Red-shouldered Hawk

Looking this way and that way

even though this pole was meant to hold the little tree as it grew, it turned out to be a perfect post for the Hawk - never mind the tree.

Fluffing up its feathers - it sure looked much bigger....

and I knew it was time for it to go - I bid farewell with gratitude for the opportunity to witness this beautiful bird and thankful for the free time on the trail.

 

A few of my favorite things

Some photos that I took this week while observing the wildlife around me - come along and see....

This Short-billed Dowitcher was observed on Tuesday near Turner Beach.

A visit to Rotary Park on Wednesday brought good sighting of this tailless Prairie Warbler.

A Loggerhead Shrike - I'm so glad they are back in town.

In the woods we found a Chuck-will's-Widow, quite a nice surprise to see it - usually I hear it and it's pitch black outside.

Some colorful Golden-silk Spiders can be found in the woods too and if you're not careful you might just walk into their wide webs.

Paper Wasps - check the tiny waist! It is said to sting but are not aggressive.

And OH MY! What a nice surprise - a Mangrove Cuckoo hanging - where else - in the mangroves!

Another Golden Silk -pretty but I'll still keep my distance, thank you.

Yesterday I took my husband out to lunch along  the Causeway - great homemade Chicken salad sandwich with a fantastic water view with a bonus: A Great Egret.

This morning I was biking across the island and entered the Pond Apple Trail which was mostly under water - ahead of me was a Northern Waterthrush bobbing along while eating its fill in the puddles.

After reaching several very deep puddles I decided to turn around - on my way back, these Egrets had taken this spot for some rest.

I just love to watch the wildlife and it always makes me wonder what they are thinking about - feel free to fill in the blanks on this scene.