Barred Owl

I tend to visit the 6 miles Cypress Slough several times during the year and every time that I do - I am always delighted with what I see. It is quite a challenge to take photos in that environment but it doesn't take away from the spiritual experience that I get from being surrounded by those tall Cypress. As always, I invite you to come and visit with me.....

and this, my friend, was the surprise of the day - a Barred Owl

How great is that! Most of the time I don't get to see this owl - once last week, Elaine and I heard it calling so we were thrilled to see it today.

Look how well it blends in with its environment, had I not followed its flight, I would have missed it entirely.

The Carolina Wrens are heard through out the Slough and often times seen too.

A nice migrant was spotted - A Worm-eating Warbler.

It is quite an acrobatic specie.

Quite a charmer, don't you think?

Talking about acrobatics - how about this squirrel hanging down while eating - very amusing and quite entertaining.

 

Circle B Bar Preserve with the Caloosa Bird Club

I've been waiting for this moment for some time now and I'm so glad it's finally here. And it seemed to be very fitting to start the day with an owl considering how the day ended yesterday (you'll just have to scroll down to the previous post to see what I'm talking about). So, come along with me and see what the day brought...

A Barred Owl - what a beauty!

It sets the day and leads us to the trail.

And the trail took us to the next surprise....

A Wood Duck on top of a deal Palm tree.

A family of Sandhill Cranes was not too far.

Limpkins were heard and seen through the entire preserve.

Our group seems dwarfed by the mossy Oak Trees.

A House Wren

A Swamp Sparrow - right out in the open by my feet - I love this place!

A female Common Yellow-throat.

Another Limpkin

One of three Purple Gallinule that I saw.

An Anhinga in his beautiful breeding Plumage.

A Great Blue Heron on its nest.

A Glossy Ibis

An Eastern Phoebe

Can you see the Wilson Snipe?

How about now? Amazing how they blend in, hey?

A beautiful little Sora which wasn't much bigger than the Snipe.

Another Sandhill Crane.

A couple Forster Terns

A Royal Tern

A Green Heron

100+ Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

And that one odd ball in the back is a Fulvous Whistling Duck

The ducks were also perched within the mossy tree limbs.

Another Limpkin - this one is busy making its nest.

A close up of those Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

An American Robin - I never get tired of seeing them.

And the last sighting of the day - two Great Horned Owlets on the way out of Circle B Bar Reserve

One of them could be seen hiding behind the Ressurection Fern

What a perfect way to end a beautiful weekend - I feel blessed and my spirit is filled to the brim.

 

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Monday morning = Caloosa Bird Club gathering and today we met at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. We were blessed with comfortable breezy weather and swell company.

Our first sighting this morning was a bunch of Brown-headed Cowbirds mixed in with the pine cones - spotted....you guessed it.....in the parking lot.

Then we checked out the bird feeders and sure enough the Painted Buntings were around - what a nice burst of color!

Then, the star of the day, a Barred Owl....

I kept hoping that he would belt out his "Who Cooks for You?" but he chose to remain silent.

The Carolina Wren on the other end were quite vocal throughout our journey in the sanctuary.

A young Yellow-crowned Night Heron

And a Black-crowned Night heron - not quite so young and not quite adult yet.

Several Anhingas were seen too and some were sitting on nests.

The teenager Black-crowned Night Heron

Don't you just love this place? It makes you want to follow that path with great anticipation for the surprises that waits for you.

The Great Egret with its breeding colors - check the green lore!

Cedar Waxwings were above us - hard to see but the silhouette is a sure giveaway.

The third Barred Owl - what a special day this is turning out to be.

He's ready for some peace and quiet.

A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

A Red-Shouldered Hawk sitting on his nest.

The cherry on top - an Indigo Bunting

Our fearless leader for the day - Thank you Arthur. A great variety and a fun morning. My E-Bird List for today http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17482664 with 46 species.