Around the big Lake

We took a trip across the state and added a small detour on the way to our destination. I was amazed how many Kestrels we say on the power lines - they were as numerous as the Kingfishers.....that to me was interesting because in my area I can see one or two per day, not the 100x that we saw on Friday.

The Crested Caracara made several appearances too - I love to see them fly and to get a glimpse of them in the fields.

We found out after a while that he was feasting on a rabbit.

The Wood Stork - beautiful in its own way.

A Black Crowned Night Heron was hanging around a small zoo - I almost didn't recognized it because of the grey-er plummage.

A Sanderling in its winter plummage.

Blowing Rocks Preserve - a stretch of beach along the East Coast that reminded me of California. It is said that if the tides are high and the wind is blowing from the east that the water can spray up to 50ft into the air.

More Sanderlings.

A Golden Orb Spider - beautiful, big and colorful. I have to admit that I am not especially attracted to spiders.

A sweet, sweet sighting this morning at Peck Park in Hobe Sound - 2 fall juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers

An Eurasian-collared Dove, he kept us company as we ate lunch in between driving spurts on the way home.

Peck Park

What a precious little gem of a trail. This was mentioned to me on Birdbrain as a suggestion for birding while visiting Hobe Sound - I was glad that I checked it out.

The sign for the trail is away from the main parking lot. It is a small trail and was very quiet - I was there twice and saw no one else.....just nature and me.

First a boardwalk, then a dirt trail.

A Mourning Dove - he had a dreamy yellow color on his belly and most likely caused by the light.

Look who came to sit on the railing while I was approaching - a Black throated blue warbler - I got excited and the quality of my photo shows that.

This little guy was very fast and always hiding - I could never get a positive i.d. on him, however, the folks from the birdbrain listserver have volunteered the information that it is a Black and White Warbler.....and I offer a big thank you for that. Ummm, not too many of my field guides have a view of the warblers from down below - it's no wonder it is such a challenge - but oh what fun!

A green Anole - always a pretty sight.

The perfect ending to a birding expedition.
My E-Bird List and the following day's E-Bird List