March, mating, migration mmm

I visited a friend this week and had the opportunity to catch glimpse of:

A Brown Thrasher singing,

An Indigo Bunting eating some seeds and

a Swallow-tailed Kite gathering some nesting material.

 

Monday at Bailey's Tract

I'm feeling it - Fall is in the air - well perhaps not while I look at the thermometer but looking at the fauna and the clarity in the atmosphere.....it was most evident when I came home and started to look at my photos - you be the judge.

The Brown Thrasher - most likely the same one that I encountered last week on the very same trail....this time I spent a bit more time observing how he moved about and threw sand and vegetation every which way while looking for a tasty morsel.

Ha! Look who has returned! The Common Gallinule....when I got closer 4 more scattered about and quickly swam to the other side of the pond.

Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher - definitely sporting his name today.

Palm Warbler - one of many on my trail today....always a few steps ahead of me, leading the way.

Another Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher.

At first I thought I was looking at another Palm....but no.....sure looks like a Prairie Warbler to me. (If I am mistaken - I hope you won't be shy about sharing what else it might be)

Palm Warbler - perhaps digesting his meal - there was plenty to fill the belly this morning.

The Bailey Tract year around resident....the Mockingbird.

The little Grebe - it is so nice to see them back - they are just so adorable and they remind me of my grandson with his big eyes and his cuddly appearance.
Well, that was most of the highlight of my morning walk for today - Other than these guys and my E-Bird List (27 species today) I saw 3 rabbits and heard a gator calling my name.

Bailey Tract re-opens.

Awww....finally.....the Bailey Tract has re-opened after being shut down by the government for 16 days....16 very long days. I made my way there bright and early....well maybe not so bright but early enough so that I could see where I was going. I love the peace and quiet that surrounds me and as a result feel spiritually connected. The birds were singing all around me.

And this Brown Thrasher was singing too....he seemed to have quite a repertoire of different songs too. I enjoyed watching him hopping across the dirt road, onto the trees and back down again.

The little burst of sunshine popped into view - I never tire to see the Common Yellow-throat .... if only they would sit still long enough for me to capture a clear shot of them....just give me T I M E.

The pied-billed Grebes were back - I saw several in all the ponds throughout the Bailey Tract - they sure are fun to watch.

What's not to love about the Bailey Tract?

The Belted Kingfisher was visiting with me this morning because I saw him dashing across all of the ponds, singing his heart out as he did so. By the time I caught up to him, it was by the Airplane Canal, I watched him as he preened his beautiful feathers before he took off again.

See! Don't you just love my blue jeans and spiky hairdo?

My last capture of the day - An Eastern Phoebe - just beautiful.
My E-Bird list