This week's sightings at the Bailey Tract

A few free hours - a beautiful sunny day and the Bailey Tract is calling - I'm a happy gal! Come along and visit with me.....

I think it's a bonus when the moon is still up and the sun is rising, don't you agree?

A dozen of Black Skimmers flew by, the rising sun is giving them a honey glow.

An Anhinga flew by and landed in the mangroves - funny how its head looks so small on that body.

The usual Tricolored Heron in its regular spot.

A beautiful quiet vista - I could hear all the birds - what a soothing symphony!

The Palm Warblers are back in town and we welcome them with great pleasure.

A female Common Yellowthroat playing Peek-a-Boo.

The Common Ground Doves are common all right but seeing 6 on the path was an unusual sight for me.

Being the smallest Dove - they sure are precious.

One of several Ospreys that I saw today.

Another regular - the Little Blue Heron.

The Pied-billed Grebes have arrived for the winter too - this particular one is a Juvenile, soon to be morphing into adult plumage.

"Welcome to the Bailey Tract little fellow - I hope that you'll make this your winter home from now on."

And this concludes my visit today, another winner if you ask me.

Bailey on Sunday

My home away from home is definitely the Bailey Tract - as soon as I set foot on the trail, it just feels right and today was no exception. I had a great time listening to all the songs surrounding me....the chuck-will's-widow for one and the Common Yellow-throat - oh, how I love his spring tune.

I was glad that I had enough light to see him.

The sun is coming up and my favorite color is aglow.

Along the Middle Dike, the Common Gallinule family was awake and ready for the day.

Oh my! What a nice surprise! An American Bittern in the tall reeds - somewhat blending in with its surrounding...

I was far enough away to observe it without disturbing it. I later reported my bird list to e-bird and I was surprised to get a 'rare' box, supposedly this fellow should have left to northern grounds by now.

Not too far away, a Prairie Warbler alerted me to its presence by singing - what a bright sunshine they are!

A skip over to the Sanibel Garden Preserve provided me with great views of the Swallow-tailed Kites.

How lovely to have them sitting still and preening away!

And here's another sweet surprise - a Cape May Warbler in its breeding plumage - most likely on its way north.

And the lovely Killdeer family - sweet!

I was going to delete this photo until I saw the smiley face - do you see it?

I'm smiling as I look at these Sabatia and thinking about my friend Elaine Jacobson, her spirit lives on.

A Dragonfly hanging on and seemingly floating in the golden air.

Peek-a-boo from a Common Buckeye

A lovely Peacock Butterfly stealing the 'star' show.

My last sighting - a Blackpoll along the Bailey Tract - a nice treat that will go on my 'Bailey' list. Another great outing - now I'm ready to face the day.

 

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.