Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte with Caloosa Bird Club

A great outing with the Caloosa Bird Club with many stops along the way. Our first stop was on Zemel Road in Punta Gorda - the dump site.....who knew that so many birds could be observed at this location, take a look....

As soon as we stepped out of the car, we noticed this Red-shouldered Hawk who was obviously watching something very intensely....'hawk eye'.

Sandhill Cranes on top of the mound

soon they started their "karooo karooo karooo" sound - which could be heard yards away.

Several Bald Eagles and Laughing Gulls were observed as well as

multiple Cattle Egrets and Wood storks.

Soon after we moved on down to Colony Point Dr in Punta Gorda to observe some ducks....a spotting scope comes really handy when looking for ducks - here were 100s of Lesser Scaup in the distance - hardly noticeable by the naked eye however with my Canon SX50 I was able to bring it much closer which helped us to make the identification.

A few Cormorants were lined up on the bank

This body of water attracts several ducks during the winter, we observed Lesser Scaup, Mottled Ducks, Blue-winged Teals, Hooded Merganser, Pied-billed Grebe and a Canvasback. Soon after we headed to our next stop.....Ponce de Leon City Park in Charlotte County.

Greeting us with a personal grin .... a Wood stork and a Black Vulture.

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron welcomed us and gave us the yellow glove treatment....

as he pointed us into the right direction

"Welcome one and welcome all".

We made our way down by the dock and along the small beach to observe the others, several Ruddy Turnstone in winter plumage were spotted.

Brown Pelicans were lazily floating down the river.

Another Ruddy Turnstone.

A Great Blue Heron focused on his next meal.

A Pelican nap with a water view.

On to our next stop - the Ollie Pond in Charlotte County - where a shady trail takes us around a large lake - what a great way to observe nature such as this Corn Snake above our heads in an Oak tree.....we could hardly make heads or tails about it.

Blue-winged Teals were in great numbers

so were the Coots

and the Hooded Mergansers.

Pale yellow Lilies in the lily pads

and a Tree Frog asleep in the tree.

Colorful Tricolored Heron performed some Reddish Egret moves for us while trying to lure his lunch.

Several Ring-necked Ducks floating and diving around the lilies

they sure are stricking....its name refers to a brownish "ring" on the neck which is barely visible.

Our mascot bird was seen several times today - the Green Heron.

As with most bodies of water in S.W. Florida - a few gators were sighted - this one being oblivious and young to boot - sleeping away while a group of people watched.

After being on the road for 7 hours - respite and lunch by the Peace River was very welcomed.