Pintails and Avocets!

My friend Libby is visiting from Tennessee and it seemed to be a good idea to go and revisit the Estero Preserve State Park with Elaine. It felt like an early summer morning with the warmth and humidity - not to mention all the mosquitoes that came alive when we entered the preserve....but....we were prepared with bug spay and head net - so off we go.....

Our first stop for observation was at the "Wigeon Pond" - where we found multiple Pintail Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teals and some Wigeon too.

A different version of Bottom's Up!

A Tri-colored Heron looked thin and long standing between two straight trunks.

We circumvent the Wigeon Pond to get to this little pond - this time around only a few species were observed....

the Avocet stole the show.

After a bit we headed toward the bay - some water, some mud - and birds on the horizon...

more Avocets!

They are so much fun to watch as they feed they all go on the same direction as if they are dancing.

Here they picked up the tempo as they started chasing some food unseen by our human eyes.

Several Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were dispersed around, they didn't go unnoticed by us.

As you can see the Avocets captured our attention.

There were a few shorebirds - such as this Dowitcher however the visibility was diminished and the terrain difficult to navigate at some points.

It was also quite muggy and downright how for December.

Funny too how the sun would peek through the haze and then disappeared again.

This Cardinal perched on these dead twigs and made me think of a winter's day up north - from years ago.

A Flicker played hard to find.

Alas it is time to return....

back through the foot trail among the mosquitoes, good thing we know where we're going. Over all a fun morning spent with the Avocets in the company of good friends. My E-Bird list for today.