Bits and pieces.

I had the opportunity to stop at the Bailey Tract in between days of working with the Sea Turtles and with the Shell Museum - I was rewarded with the sighting of.....

a beautiful Summer Tanager who was feasting on the berries of the Fig Tree.

Within that cluster of Fig Trees was a mini warbler frenzy - I could hardly keep up with them and trying to i.d. them as they flitted by quickly.

In the distance I spotted this Mockingbird which I thought odd because of its brown color but a good source assured me that it was a youngster - I learn something new every day!

A beautiful male Osprey watched us as we went by.

Look at this Anole and how it is color-morphing, just AWEmazing.

A pair of Gulf Frittilary flew by and landed long enough for good views and photos too.

Great views of the outer and inner coloring.

Our last sighting was this Marsh Rabbit that had this huge growth under its chin, he hopped and grazed in a normal manner though - so that was good. You just never know what you'll come across when out in the natural world.

 

Happy Father's Day!

I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there - I hope that you get around to take time for yourself and enjoy the day.

I went out with the crack of dawn for some reflection and just to enjoy the beautiful gifts that a nature walks provide.

And it all began with a beautiful sunrise.

A Southern Leopard Frog leaped by my feet - oh how captivating!

The Swallow-tailed Kites are always a pleasure to catch a glimpse of.

This lady Pileated Woodpecker was rather frazzled about something as can be seen by her crest.

I never get tired of seeing those - do you?

A Zebra Longwing - I love how they seemingly float in the air and how they bring instant peace when I see them.

A Brown Anole aka Cuban Anole

A Great Blue Heron - I find it interesting how skittish they are especially for their size, it was quite a distance away yet reacted to my movements.

Down the trail I discovered some turtle eggs that had been dug up - most likely eaten by the local Coyotes.

One of three generations of Common Gallinule - I watched them this morning and marveled how the younger Gallinules were helping to take care of the brand new chicks along with the parents.

A walk through the Bailey Tract would not be the same without those lacy Dragonflies.

A Green Anole blending in on a new green shoot.

A Green Heron - I see a lot of them this time of the year....young and old ones.

This Osprey was relishing his fresh catch of the day - which reminds me that I'd better get home and fix a nice breakfast for my hubby - it's the least that I can do to thank him for being a great dad to our children for so many years.....Tony, you rock!

 

Bits and pieces

Sea Turtle Season is once again upon us and I've been busy with meetings and getting things ready - something that I love to do and I've had to rearrange my schedule and my birding time has changed some. Don't get me wrong, I can't stay away from birding but I also can't be spending as much time as I am accustomed to. In as much - I've gathered up the little bits of pieces of this past week - so come along and see what came down my neck of the woods.....

A visit along the Indigo Trail at Ding Darling brought me to observe this Yellow-crowned Night Heron which has been trying to nest - the first nest was destroyed by an Anhinga and now the YCNH is rebuilding.

The Green Herons were plentiful - check the breeding colors on these legs!

One Green Heron nest being tended to.

 

This weekend I found myself around Island Inn Rd area in Sanibel - a Red-shouldered Hawk was really glowing in the early morning light.

A Marsh Rabbit - did you know that rabbit can swim! Marsh Rabbit are especially good at it.

It also blends very well in this particular spot.

A young family of Killdeer was really sweet to discover - I wish I could spend more time with them but they were quite distraught for the short few minutes that I was there.

I knew too that all that raucous would alert some predators - so I quickly retreated.

and so did one of the little ones....

"now you see me.....

now you don't."

A Swallow-tailed Kite was seen gathering some nesting material.

And who do you think is deep within this cavity?

If you guessed Common Grackle, then you were right on.

More Swallow-tailed Kites seen in that area.

A beautiful Cape May Warbler in the tree top - talk about eye candy!

A Gopher Tortoise was checking things out by the Lighthouse.

Check the dewlap on this Anole!

A Native Green Anole - we don't see those very often.

An Eastern Kingbird by the Lighthouse - check the white band at the end of the tail, always a good clue for i.d.

 

Along the Shell Mound Trail - a young White Ibis is holding down the fort - king of the sticks.

A pair of Screech Owl was well hidden from prying eyes, can you find them? I hope you are getting out there and finding some treasures of your own - life is short - go outside!

Peck Park

What a precious little gem of a trail. This was mentioned to me on Birdbrain as a suggestion for birding while visiting Hobe Sound - I was glad that I checked it out.

The sign for the trail is away from the main parking lot. It is a small trail and was very quiet - I was there twice and saw no one else.....just nature and me.

First a boardwalk, then a dirt trail.

A Mourning Dove - he had a dreamy yellow color on his belly and most likely caused by the light.

Look who came to sit on the railing while I was approaching - a Black throated blue warbler - I got excited and the quality of my photo shows that.

This little guy was very fast and always hiding - I could never get a positive i.d. on him, however, the folks from the birdbrain listserver have volunteered the information that it is a Black and White Warbler.....and I offer a big thank you for that. Ummm, not too many of my field guides have a view of the warblers from down below - it's no wonder it is such a challenge - but oh what fun!

A green Anole - always a pretty sight.

The perfect ending to a birding expedition.
My E-Bird List and the following day's E-Bird List