A few of my favorite things

Some photos that I took this week while observing the wildlife around me - come along and see....

This Short-billed Dowitcher was observed on Tuesday near Turner Beach.

A visit to Rotary Park on Wednesday brought good sighting of this tailless Prairie Warbler.

A Loggerhead Shrike - I'm so glad they are back in town.

In the woods we found a Chuck-will's-Widow, quite a nice surprise to see it - usually I hear it and it's pitch black outside.

Some colorful Golden-silk Spiders can be found in the woods too and if you're not careful you might just walk into their wide webs.

Paper Wasps - check the tiny waist! It is said to sting but are not aggressive.

And OH MY! What a nice surprise - a Mangrove Cuckoo hanging - where else - in the mangroves!

Another Golden Silk -pretty but I'll still keep my distance, thank you.

Yesterday I took my husband out to lunch along  the Causeway - great homemade Chicken salad sandwich with a fantastic water view with a bonus: A Great Egret.

This morning I was biking across the island and entered the Pond Apple Trail which was mostly under water - ahead of me was a Northern Waterthrush bobbing along while eating its fill in the puddles.

After reaching several very deep puddles I decided to turn around - on my way back, these Egrets had taken this spot for some rest.

I just love to watch the wildlife and it always makes me wonder what they are thinking about - feel free to fill in the blanks on this scene.

 

 

Lakes Park

Our Warbler hot spot is closed for boardwalk repairs - so we opted to visit Lakes Park, it had been a while since we did so and we were blessed with quiet trails, a nice breeze and a lovely variety of wildlife and nature - come along and see....

A lovely Red-shouldered Hawk gave us time to ponder its identity - what is it with hawks and their confusing looks!

This young Tricolored Heron was catching the early morning sun rays just right.

What's not to love about the brilliant Red Cardinal!

A Great Blue Heron beautifully framed.

Not too far away we witnessed a pair of Bald Eagles getting their nest in shipshape condition for the upcoming season.

Another Red-shouldered Hawk - more pondering...

It figured it'd better lean and rest while we did so, as it might take us a while.

This very young Marsh Rabbit was too cute to pass up...

with a very debonair white mustache under its nose.

The Loggerhead Shrike are back in sight!

A walk through the Fragrance Garden gave us opportunity to enjoy and admire this Monarch Caterpillar, had I been quick enough we would also have a Monarch Butterfly photo to go with this.

An eye candy of a bloom from the....

Also, the Dwarf Royal Poinciana....check the bloom out....

 just breathtaking!

Fort Myers Beach - Caloosa Bird Club

It's Caloosa Bird Club day, Elaine and I set out for Fort Myers Beach.

First a quick stop at Bowditch Point before meeting up with the gang.

We caught this Loggerhead Shrike singing - it seemed to agree that it was going to be a great day!

We spotted A Common Ground Dove before leaving, it seemed to feel comfortable with very little distance between us. My E-Bird List for Bowditch Point.

We met up with the group - I counted 24 happily birding folks.

A Semi-palmated Plover eyed us down or should I say "up" - either way he kept his distance.

Others were just chillin - a Willet with a Snowy Egret.

A beautiful adult Brown Pelican

A pair of Florida chickens - they are lovingly named this way because there are so many of them - seriously though, these are White Ibis.

A beautiful beach with lots of room to spread out.

A bunch of resting Willets.

A very busy Belted Kingfisher - dashing here, dashing there while belting out his clattering rattle.

A Wilson Plover - check that bill out.....

in comparison to the Piping Plover.

A nice group of Ruddy Turnstone sporting their adult nonbreeding plumage.

A Great Blue Heron - what a statement he makes.

A Wood Stork waved us on as we headed to our lunch location. My E-Bird List for this beach.

After we finished our lunches while enjoying the shade by the Mound House, our leader - Vince McGraph - started the bird list and had us all standing up when he pointed out the Great Horned Owl that was snoozing above our heads while we ate.

We all Hooted for joy at the beautiful sight.

This bird won the award for "Bird of the day". My E-Bird List for the Mound House.

Oh - BTW - a few of us ended up extending the trip to Bonita with the hopes of finding a Franklin Gull that had been reported earlier this morning. Ummm....looks like quite a few birds to go through while looking for our goto bird.

In the meantime - we were glad to see a 5 month old Herring Gull.

The Marbled Godwits always brings a smile.

A nice group of Dunlins with a Willet.

A Black Skimmer coming in for a landing...

easy does it....

save for the photo bomb.

Well, we gave it a good try but no Franklin were to be found this trip - better luck next time. My E-Bird List for Bonita Beach.