Babies, Coyote, Oh My!

We've been under a deluge these past couple of weeks and the landscape has changed quite a bit due to the excess water - causing some of the birds to change their hangouts. I ventured out this morning and I was lucky to stay dry however for the time being I had to rename the Bailey Tract to MosquitoeVille....if you go be prepared. Come along and see what was on my path today.....

Now that is interesting - I've never seen the Black-necked Stilts on the grass before

The chicks are really growing up fast, one of them even attempted to fly

I kept watching and I couldn't believe my own eyes that they were venturing down the street!

I hope they stay safe and are able to make their journey back south safely.

Not too far from there I caught sight of a family of Killdeer.

On my way back I spotted a Coyote in the distance, I think it spotted me at the same time too.

It did not let me get very close before sprinting out of sight and into the field - the field is flooded and I could hear two of them running away from me.

After getting back to my car for more mosquito spray - I decided to take a quick drive to the Indigo Trail at Ding Darling.

A family of Yellow-crowned Night Heron seems to be doing well.

Those chicks are growing up fast too.

Not too far was another Yellow-crowned Night Heron pair.

A pair of Green Heron that recently fledged their nest.

Back for another look of those Yellow-crowned Night Heron - it's hard to stay away from watching those two.

They have such cute expressions that begs captions.

A Great-Blue Heron made a quick appearance.

And this concludes my visit for today - stay tuned for my next adventure.

 

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.

 

From Moon to Sun to Duck and Gators - oh my!

It's a brand new day and I have free time - the full "Pink Moon" is also calling me - so off I go....

I made my way to my neighborhood beach and arrived on time to see the full moon in all its glory only to be blessed with....

a brand new spectacular sunrise on the horizon - I ask you: "Is there a better way to start the day?" and I say: "I think not".

Of course it also happens to be Easter week and look at the amount of people out on the beach at 7:00 in the morning! I'll leave it to your imagination as to how busy it gets come 10-11 o'clock.....if you didn't get a parking spot by then - you're out of luck.

Okay, enough about people - especially since I came over to observe nature and the beautiful world as it wakes up - This Black-bellied Plover is getting quite colorful as the season approaches.

And the regular Snowy Plovers were busy chasing bugs and staying out of people's way. Shortly after I left to investigate a recent sighting at the Sanibel Garden preserve....

I was quite delighted to see that it was still here - a male Northern Shoveler in the company of Black-necked Stilt.

Flying above my head I spotted an Osprey carrying more nesting material.

Back to this breathtaking Shoveler - my photos does not do it justice - my position and the sun was not conducive for optimal colorful photo and I wasn't about to get in that water where the gators live - no thank you.

How often do you see those two together?

This pair of Black-necked Stilts made this day even more special.

A pair of Killdeer tends to hang out there too and I suspect they might have started the family ritual.

Up on the tower - this Black Vulture kept its eyes on anything that moved - probably waiting for something to stop moving - if you catch my drift.

A young Gator was savoring something while sporting an evil looking grin.

In the meantime I'm thinking and hoping that this Black-necked Stilt pair will be successful this year.

Well, time is rushing away from me once again and the 'errands' are calling - on my way out I counted the young gators - all 12 of them....given the law of averages, they should prosper to a long life.