A Caloosa Caravan to Bartow

This is the time of the year that the Caloosa Bird Club meet up at Bartow for Sunday night and bird the Circle B Bar Preserve in Lakeland on Monday. This time around a few of us met up early Sunday and birded along the way. First stop: The Celery Fields

Oh boy! It's been a while since I had the opportunity to see a Meadowlark up front and personal and what a beauty it is!

I love their song too.

The Purple Martins have arrived - a male is seen here perched on one of the houses.

A male Mallard was a nice surprise too.

More Purple Martins are coming in.

After a bit we headed to Sarasota, near the airport where many Redheads had been reported.

They were in great numbers - mixed in with Lesser Scaup, Grebes and Mergansers.

 After this quick stop we headed to Emerson Point Preserve

 We marveled at the amount of Mergansers and Loons seen in the distance.

 And the Skyline Bridge.

 Then we were off to the Lost River Trail

 It was nice to find White Pelicans in large numbers...

 working together as a team while gathering up the fish for a meal.

 Around the corner we took a walk up the hill..

and took in the view across the bay

Now - to our last stop - at a friend's house in the center of town - a lovely private home with a beautiful front yard meant literally for the birds.

 We saw several Goldfinches feasting on seeds.

 A Rufous Hummingbird has been a regular visitor - it showed up but kept hiding/feeding behind this feeder - the best capture I got was the tip of his tail.

 A very bright Pine Warbler came in for seeds too.

 I got luckier with this Ruby-throated Hummingbird when he granted me a few seconds of stillness....

 before resuming his feeding frenzy....a busy bird for sure.

 More Goldfinches.

 A few Bluebirds.

 At last we had to tear ourselves away from this little haven - and back on the road we go.

Near Bartow - while driving at 60 mph - I noticed what appeared to be a Great Horned owl on this post which I radioed in to the rest of the caravan, the trip leader opted to make a U-turn to go back and see...well....egg on my face when we drove up to it to realize that it was two plastic owls up there. We all had a good laugh about it and I bet that story will stick with me for a long time.

Happy New Year to all!

Wow, can you believe it....another year has arrived...where does the time go?? I know personally that since I started birding that time seems to fly as I'm enthralled with each day as well as the promises of new adventures.

And...since I keep reporting my sighting to e-bird, it also means that the year list start anew....the race is on, here we go!

I hooked up with my friend Elaine and we started the day at the Shipley Trail - it was bright and early, humid and very warm. We spent some time observing this young Woodstork and also had the good fortune of seeing two Bald Eagle mating - I'd say that was a great way to start the New Year.

My E-Bird List for the Shipley Trail and My E-Bird List for the Bailey Tract. I saw a lot more birds than I took pictures this time around - in any event it was a great way to start the day.

 

 Then, or course, another day comes along and more birds to be seen - I returned to the Bailey Tract bright and early with double duties this time, other than keeping my eyes open for the birds I am also looking for Coyote scats. You see, we have a growing Coyote population on our island and the University of Georgia has enlisted the help of local volunteers to collect scat from different locations with the aim of studying the DNA and figuring out how many families we are dealing with. Those Coyotes have been feasting on Sea Turtle eggs during the summer and have eliminated our Least Tern nesting population. In any event - I found no scat this morning and few bird sightings - but oh - look at the promises of this brand new day!

On my way out of the Bailey Tract, this female Common Yellowthroat bid me farewell. My 29 species E-Bird List for the Bailey Tract. Then I'm off to the Wildlife Drive in Ding Darling.

Awww....you gotta love those pink Roseate Spoonbills and how they brighten up the day.

A young Raccoon along the drive was poking his nose in the dirt - probably looking for some small insects. This Raccoon did not look well and was moving rather slowly.

I arrived at the Tower - the tide had been coming in for at least 3 hours according to the tide chart - but there was still enough low areas for several shorebirds to rest/eat/preen. The Reddish Egret "Ding" always draws plenty of attention.

The White Pelicans always take my breath away with their size and majestic look.

As I'm watching I see in the corner of my eye something come for a landing - I look and I look again - sure enough it's a.....

Redhead! How about that sighting!

This is not a common duck at Ding Darling - this is a treat and it will go nicely on my new list.

The sun is bright and the view is just fabulous.

Try these on for size - White Pelican versus Brown Pelican.

The Redhead found the Blue-winged Teals and stayed close by.

A preened Pelican is a beautiful Pelican....

well technically their lives depend on it - those feathers are their lively hood - without them they can't be flying or dive for food so it's important to keep those feathers in tiptop shape.

More White Pelicans coming in....

"Oh look guys, Thelma and Louise have arrived".

One big happy family.

The triple notes that I had heard previously had made me think of the Greater Yellowlegs....and sure enough...

here they are - two of them among the Willets...

Look at the size difference between the Yellowleg and the Willet - amazing!

Well, folks, I'd say this was a great start into the New Year - more to come....so many places....so many birds and so little time....I'm already looking forward to tomorrow....stay tuned!       My E-Bird List for Ding Darling Wildlife Drive.