Elaine and I got set to go across a few counties - first stop was in Lee Co, looking for the Whip-poor-will....the only thing I got out of that goal was to learn how to spell it....no show on the bird. Then as we headed to Hendry Co with a few species to see in mind, we saw our first Caracara of the day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgB2yk_hECvHR0OMNVrdx44wIzgd040RvLAImpECF9RSS_Y6oStanMLcSyDiXejd_tCBuaYKmJIuiIFtUnmuuZiUUIzOjgUEfrdLt2onEGVNHHL89MoyOZTsPHYaN5WM-YA69G2HGSKXH/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG) |
I think it's going to be a good day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZBGkyakayq4VoBObai7E4n-BzJ4wcDqQ9ZbSpVamEkdiIHtQZc9mk2E4xa7zVdhNW8yYD2k4I7aMAnw7Ujzmzi1R8odk6P2mNIecdeL9yVb76pdZoDsSYuj5jOTEX1L-UfsSD4ZUJT4Ej/s1600/IMG_1616.JPG) |
As we arrived at Church Road, we heard the Robins and saw them settle in a nearby tree. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLf9wmB-jzWR0WVuXiD0EfqGC_PVCNzddNdNQfr03nfzzFqDQmyTRkmiYVx6a0-n638a_PywhR7CJQRko8mZjZGvfOpbdlDZbDav4Q9_GjHomWBjKuQctAjZVrDADMnSyKP0uaYxiCA1I/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG) |
Savannah Sparrows were greeting the new day. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvf8iwQms8gsOUv7dCzfgBn-OKgElWoRqmLb_2WuoMYT3oZSKrgDygXU5VWTOE1CyaxcZSrfBDVX1tqWeW6dWNbfoJVpOvnqTZG7KvzKTS2_-JhGcGVhEJVJwPe5OWVoMKmepyEzMbhfg/s1600/IMG_1624.JPG) |
So was the Eastern Phoebe. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijw-NFyegwMZZoaQo9DIhDjZIhCR8-toohTlUpN5CGWSFHxsneYrW9kj8bmrNX_XYgngGg24oaPr5rgihnZPr-z20OogBXEJl_QbNMEKvBRJK0FOPRAStcNuWHnCNq-cPDyaIj1MHyu-eU/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG) |
Up till that point the weather seemed to be holding up....but now it was time to seek shelter. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gn6p59jwzEl-5PraA1drQnvTLVEQKuUoZ9RGn6dvk6pi9HDQBvn6YLVQI_Ffcg_DdetWXBqVq6R7GRFRxgI0WHwp4g-0ZQPjVe07GL9oYoyga8THugscSRAM54KrjggCpyCjHKHrlsaX/s1600/IMG_1626.JPG) |
A double rainbow....has the pot of gold been deposited in my car?? No, no such luck. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekPlrwPIZfUK0ndEYZllW3nxdih7Uc0SUuAgpAEkCpN_q3YL37Y7ak8n4gcn8NDGTFszMR9QaP33n55fW15QIYoOptMT3GJh9pYDaLozK-2y7qGh8gb6ACHT2Urk1jXDkqbSgqIf86ut4/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG) |
Soon the weather cleared up and things were looking much brighter....such as this tree....filled with |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2YSutPYBnWbjwlVjd-BcuA7TX-N17jgLtkdnritIsU7zTPiTzx7LvsoBQz6nnPx5lPtI1mRrG4LobTyYMiAX4KK8Csdktx3_y4OKUBNCOk_SgqHS8TLpB7G2t7iDlI-k3_g0yhCAKfMc/s1600/IMG_1644.JPG) |
6 Western Kingbirds, 1 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers and tons of sweet oranges. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNqVtmSFNJ02gd6StVedKKpm7ANsAsi6N0nNfZKkF1iG51ZqDRPoXrxpPNr92yh0d4XICzrCvN-IC2D4-wlQESuLEpbowOqMS2Tbwm965-e2OD0-vqpn_yV6q4h_-XSaUCvB5HG-5VznY/s1600/IMG_1666.JPG) |
The Crested Caracaras were everywhere - we counted 12. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPvH-jr3BT45kgWZkROlS4oK5XIej63FC_u-RDGM_bAOJfz5e9J2mGpse6vZLllO8kLEbNy8o87pocDAl2oFFvl73GUJzIvEhvSN9tPjS6xjRgAMmGB6PchWanPNtV44anBnZMPYPt3Vj/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG) |
Along that fence with the Crested Caracaras was a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipx4pHyaoCzUhKZDLO0h7bj0uuVE0wz9mUs_oMoSTw7YDJqBO6nw4z97mg8sVztfc0vTqTrVHAOnnAuCOdBhG1vDYng7sJAIcsFKuwPgUySrGcbtZWmD1yND1jGRBVXNQyQ2MG14HV4nWn/s1600/IMG_1717.JPG) |
They make a fine pair, don't you think? |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNNJ1uVxi_cLYZUZZwtZfa8mw1RzRJS5nrJHTqMyd75gn_mjCFdyhKgrVjD5Y2fo3-LS8PcYkGJnqI7FBiPWjQQs71XE7sBTdVZyAFapjcRWvMmv_FTsSfXbQYaK4R-Ez4W1LSaihPQ9U/s1600/IMG_1783.JPG) |
The air is changing - it made me feel as if I was in Kansas and watching the sky for the next development. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxm8jqTrN535f81sWIQ1vARXrc5v4p4OSbEhlSdPrMJ16LZiiSAfSLhA9KTh9NL4Otq0PpDKSWXwr2Vw5jaRkwMwvTfXPGSbLifPhZz0byvCYw17mjwzVFGvR64qtH-uLwLptfbHx1bwC/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG) |
All's well....off we go across Collier County and back into Lee County, a quick stop at Gator Hole. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEb7bGtrU5S36Pqe9SQ0BTl4X55Byo71Is7amK5-qx5s3mV6jURv0jsgpWwuOxtvFp4LdJNEw1XcQtZvbPPKH-TOFxQuWXvnmwjqRopwy-w_bVoQWUED5l0vi_X228wuMqWnI8SI1zEUgP/s1600/IMG_1796.JPG) |
Several Bluebirds greeted us. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbv_VchLqQNEPEgQANM7dQT_r-zRlei0sgdCqhxFlPmLD1RU3yiydixWVV4L4izmvwUrM6ortiqJiFyVt_vGLw5CTdNdVmgnX7drASrV7aSyebjwXS-rSfJM2IS8yStetP2r_LtKtVuju/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG) |
And Downy Woodpeckers entertained us. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPXpw0IVHGB0WFKhnxFhj1ygnvksA2nG-X0OnfpA5pg2YZchjifhcDuxJD_OfPKuRF8TXQ2hImqE8CuTbwj5lgcgt4co8ECgHP3cKSzCFDTZLovd40TaxD4kABBJAWnRDOUkwU9NFBtxT/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG) |
I don't know about you, but to me this looks lovely....I love the outdoors and all that it entails. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkXc_SKWktI_dWwr_hLDc2micbipGhA9UH0_OqqqgcKc_DHvlu9WR-jhY6H107ZDzNZcjR9Ys8-ncN65HUPlqtRHEmC2dNPYVoLi0PKf3Bzh_cslz02lfb1d-xcYtdFhbJpZlCBxfEtiS/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG) |
A mystery bird. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEf_YoOAiBUxjnyVQQxflShCqcA2lkpAuIb4KwHQrU1YJ58JiAW6JPH_Fo9_SE40AmCEJNTx_zaEaxBIxqA-o2BDMexn8nlXgH6rOMbRrvwr8w96ZkCRCxGadq894keNzeo8HU-DIuqerT/s1600/IMG_1856.JPG) |
More trails....YES! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2Cd0GZbIRYNlq1NV_qSBfKid6oFXzOpSt1s6VDR9R-WQ1qWESIXgKo1N301AcTIuv9A5nGmgrl1Jg0t8rU0HkEUfgOT6pKh4_ZE0XPUkbpNJ0jdsRp0anpyALGps7x9s77U5xkBre_8K/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG) |
We reached the end of the trail and high tailed it home....until.....we spotted ducks on the side of the road.... |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNFFG0luNJxBTY4Be0iRIbDubgowIV-KYZn1K8GCyUNoYzcsMGXaL5eJC2N_Itom9ZEdbwBhQki3hSLmIncWy_rcuXUuGsXPhvWN8TV8is6_BF0C9krcpuIAh93S0uTXoj6BpDJn_krxe/s1600/IMG_1862.JPG) |
There was so many of them....I pulled out the scope and we counted....350 Ring-necked Ducks and 8 Coots. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWp5UouYnmzc4uVXe6mESTVokL5iTv3qjWoE8JfFTa7bTvtriutFuPQWEK6Xg91GzfRORlovxPaP6qq8Fn01t2NKH6gMI4i3v0PdP4zul96JxRLpvHol5v2oeaJDCOr9ziTOzH3aMCJaKN/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG) |
And that, my friend, makes for a ducky day! |
Just beautiful. Thank you for sharing a great day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicki, it indeed was a great day!
ReplyDeleteHey France! I had noted long ago in my calendar that you were planning to come to Sarasota and the
ReplyDeleteCelery Fields on the 26th. I ran into the group who know you ( I was the one handing out cookies!).
Glad you had a great day--I hope to get to meet you another time. As always,thank you for the stories and
great photos. I'm a big fan!
Patch Davis
I'm sorry that I didn't get to meet you - especially since you marked it on your calendar...dang. And sorry to have missed your cookies too. I hope that there will be another opportunity down the road and that we'll get to meet. In the meantime....Happy Birding!
Delete