Migration time!

Now that it's migration time I tend to spend a bit more time at the Lighthouse Point and the Pond Apple Trail since it seems to be rather productive with sightings of Warblers passing through - come along and see what I've come across for the past week or so....

All right, I know that this male Pileated Woodpecker is not migrating but I couldn't pass him up as he sat on top of this wooden pole.

A Cape May Warbler took me by surprise - at first it was being called a "Prairie" by others but the more I looked at it the more I was questioning the call - I was delighted when I got home and started to study my photos and I was able to come to the conclusion that it was a Cape May.

A Northern Waterthrush has also been seen along the Pond Apple Trail - picking along the small ponds here and there along the trail.

While it happens to be migration - it also coincides with our local birds going into their breeding season - evident here with this Cattle Egret and....

the Tricolored Heron.

A day later - I found myself at the Lighthouse for the first hour only to move to the Pond Apple Trail and for good reasons......

A Yellow-billed Cuckoo made a swell appearance.

and so did the Summer Tanager.

I don't know about you but every time I see a Yellow-billed Cuckoo I am delighted - what's not to love!

The Vireos were in good numbers too - I was able to photograph this White-Eyed Vireo and

this Blue-Headed Vireo.

The Red-eyed Vireo as well as the Yellow-throated Vireo were seen but not photographed.

Another sweet appearance from the Summer Tanager.

I couldn't pass this young Little Blue Heron - they have a special appeal when the blue starts to color its plumage.

Today I found myself at the Lighthouse once more and was delighted to see several Northern Parulas,

and Yellow-throated Warblers

and another Cape May Warbler - this is great! We should have another week of migration and hopefully we'll get more sightings along the way....stay tuned.

My old stomping ground - new sighting!! Fork-tailed Flycatcher

It felt really good to get up and get ready to go to my old stomping grounds this morning. The Swallow-tailed Kites have been reported by the Post Office, so this is my first pit stop....

it did not disappoint - there they are still waking up and getting ready for the day....

one of the nearby nest had the parent sitting in, I believe the chick is still sleeping.

I made my way to the Sanibel Garden Preserve from there and I could still see that group of Swallow-tailed Kites. I then headed to the pond by the tower where I noticed a bird that had some familiarity and yet provided clues that were not at all familiar.

I instinctively knew that I needed to take as many photos as I could while I had a visual on this bird - photos are always helpful to identify the ones that I'm not sure about.

I was looking at the head which reminded me of an Eastern Kingbird but the tail is sooo long!

Once the bird flew away I started looking at my bird apps coming up empty - so I sent my photo to my friend Libby Wolff who identified it: a Fork-tailed Flycatcher! Oh My! At that point I looked forward to arriving home and to study what I just stumbled upon.

Audubon states: This spectacular wanderer from the tropics occurs virtually every year in North America. Although it is impossible to predict just where it will appear, the majority of records are along the Atlantic Coast, and there are more records in fall than in other seasons. Most Fork-tailed Flycatchers reaching our area probably come from southern South America: long-distance migrants that have made major errors in navigation. (perhaps the tropical storm is responsible) In any event, I am grateful for this rare sighting.

As soon as it departed, a flock of Cattle Egrets flew by.

With a joyful heart I walked away until I saw this young Red-bellied Woodpecker - doing quite well.....

fending for itself.

The Red-shouldered Hawk seemed quite focused.

Then, stepping into the Bailey Tract to see who's around - a young Little Blue among many others caught my attention.

A young Marsh Rabbit - innocent and trusting.

A bright female Red-bellied Woodpecker was communicating loudly with her beau.

Then I spotted an American Lady Butterfly (thanks again to Libby for this info).

Many young Green Herons are popping up everywhere.

This Northern Cardinal quickly vanished from my gaze....looks like he's been using those feathers a lot.

And the Magnificent Frigatebird waved me farewell until the next time, as always I leave the area with a huge smile on my face....every day birding makes for a great day!

Harn's Marsh

I was happy to have the opportunity to revisit Harns Marsh, it had been a couple of months since my last visit - it's a lot quieter today but still quite an enjoyable place to be.

How fun to discover a couple fuzzy Least Bittern!

Several Limpkins were seen and some were feeding their little ones - apple snail are their Wheaties!

A Cattle Egret in breeding plumage - very lovely.

A Gray-headed Swamphen is photographed here, we later saw another adult with a young one.

The Marsh - such a vast expanse and always lovely to see - in that lone tree was a....

Snail Kite.

One family of Sandhill Crane.

A Tricolored Heron on a mission.

These eggs are the future Apple Snail which is food for the Limpkin and Snail Kite.

After leaving the Marsh, we were fortunate to come upon this pair of Bobwhite - I think they are the coolest quails!

 They didn't serenade us but the view was spectacular!