Sunday at the Bailey Tract

I love this time of the year - and at the present we are having beautiful balmy and sunny weather - what's not to love. It started with a bit of fog and it warmed up in no time at all - the trail is void of folks and the birds are waking up, " Let's go!"

The Yellow-rumped Warblers were in great numbers this morning and filled with hyper energy as they zipped by.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were also eager to fill their belly.

There was over two dozen Blue-winged Teals and they were chatting away - they sure were entertaining.

After being seemingly out of sight for a few weeks, the Common Ground Doves have returned and they are feeding along the trails.

The Red Cardinals have become quite melodious and are entertaining to listen and watch.

Several Palm Warblers were observed too - they were feeding heartily - soon they will go back to their breeding grounds.

At least the Mottled Ducks will stay and have their families.

This Tricolored Heron begs for a quirky quote.

Here's a great example of how important it is to learn the bird by shape (Grey Catbird) - especially when it is in a dark recessed corner.

There's something to be said about sunny days and how the colors perk me up.

A young Little Blue Heron was quite focused on getting something else to eat.

A skip over to the Sanibel Garden Preserve provided me with great views of a Kestrel and

an Eastern Phoebe, what a great way to end the day!

The Bailey Tract - continue

TGIF and it's a free day to do what I like to do....and off to the Bailey Tract I go!

A Green Heron turned out to be my first photographed subject today.

And lucky for me - it came really close to where I was standing. It's interesting how there are so many during the summer but come winter time and we really have to look hard to find one.

A Red Cardinal should be called a Christmas Bird with its brilliant red coat.

Talking about 'red', this Brazilian Pepper bush is looking healthy and striving through the native vegetation.

A peek-a-boo play by the Common Gallinule.

And look who I bumped into today - Jim, the president of the San-Cap Audubon group with Phillis and his daughter-in-law Debbie.

An Osprey was just around the corner vocalizing with another - it will soon be mating season.

And as predicted I found the bright male Anhinga in its usual spot.....birds are creature of habits just like we are.

A singing Phoebe redirected my attention as I..

was on my way out, further down the lane the Great Blue Heron bid me farewell.

It was an enjoyable morning even though I failed to locate the Smooth-billed Ani.....maybe one of these days in the very near future.

 

Pintails and Avocets!

My friend Libby is visiting from Tennessee and it seemed to be a good idea to go and revisit the Estero Preserve State Park with Elaine. It felt like an early summer morning with the warmth and humidity - not to mention all the mosquitoes that came alive when we entered the preserve....but....we were prepared with bug spay and head net - so off we go.....

Our first stop for observation was at the "Wigeon Pond" - where we found multiple Pintail Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teals and some Wigeon too.

A different version of Bottom's Up!

A Tri-colored Heron looked thin and long standing between two straight trunks.

We circumvent the Wigeon Pond to get to this little pond - this time around only a few species were observed....

the Avocet stole the show.

After a bit we headed toward the bay - some water, some mud - and birds on the horizon...

more Avocets!

They are so much fun to watch as they feed they all go on the same direction as if they are dancing.

Here they picked up the tempo as they started chasing some food unseen by our human eyes.

Several Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs were dispersed around, they didn't go unnoticed by us.

As you can see the Avocets captured our attention.

There were a few shorebirds - such as this Dowitcher however the visibility was diminished and the terrain difficult to navigate at some points.

It was also quite muggy and downright how for December.

Funny too how the sun would peek through the haze and then disappeared again.

This Cardinal perched on these dead twigs and made me think of a winter's day up north - from years ago.

A Flicker played hard to find.

Alas it is time to return....

back through the foot trail among the mosquitoes, good thing we know where we're going. Over all a fun morning spent with the Avocets in the company of good friends. My E-Bird list for today.