TGIF (F for fall)

It's a beautiful day in Florida this morning, the air is slightly cooler and a little breeze is present - I think I'll go to the Bailey Tract - what a great way to start the day!

Come with me and see who blessed me with their presence.

The regulars are here - Snowy and Little Blue

The Ovenbird - doing some very unusual things.....such as perching on higher grounds and out in the open.

The Black and White Warbler (female) on the other hand was being more predictable by creeping along the trunk and the branches while doing some upside down acrobatics in search of breakfast.

The Green Heron came out of its hiding spot - sweet!

The Mangrove Head Pond is very quiet - devoid of activities....soon the fowls will arrive, the water level will drop and the wading birds will feast.

The only pair of Mottled Duck at the Bailey Tract lately.

The Tricolored Heron in his usual spot - which is where a Sora has been spotted a few days ago, I searched and searched but no luck today.

Take a look at those two - A juvenile Snowy Egret on the left (yellow lore) and a juvenile Little Blue on the right (blueish lore). The Snowy's legs will darken with age and the yellow feet will be more pronounced, the Little Blue's legs will remain blueish/green in color. It's not very often that two juvenile like this can be compared so easily.

A Yellow-crowned Night Heron - waved me on until the next time.

Ovenbird - check!

This morning, after my turtle patrol, I had the opportunity to meet up with a couple of gals from my birding club - Dotty and Marie. Our mission - find the Ovenbirds at the Bailey Tract.

Mission accomplished.

Several sweet little Ovenbirds were spotted and heard on several occasions this morning.

This Great Crested Flycatcher gave us ample time for photography.

These Mottled Ducks were ruling the ponds this morning - traveling on the dirt path ..... waddle, waddle to get from one to the other.

How sweet is it? Eastern Kingbird traveling in groups of 12 - some stopped to take a breather.

A bit later and after hearing from Dotty that the tides were low at Ding Darling - I decided to take a drive up and see what was happening.....seems like I arrived just in time to see this Roseate after it swallowed a ....? canary?

He did clear his throat after a while, smiling with delight.

Off the Mangrove Overlook - a Horseshoe Crab was seen traveling against the current.

 

Well, friends, another great day of birding - leaving me hungry for more. My E-Bird List for today at the Bailey Tract and Ding Darling Wildlife Drive http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19791969

Migration time - A visit at the Lighthouse

Ahhh.....things really starts to heat up when migration time rolls around - that, combined with cold fronts and wind blowing just in the right direction - makes for some interesting surprises.

And so, this morning, I figured I would pay a visit to the Sanibel Lighthouse - me and quite a few other people had the same idea. Quite a few sweet sightings such as Hooded Warbler and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds....more seen than photographed but that's okay - the memory lives on.

An Indigo Bunting posed for some time.

First I heard the Cedar Waxwings, then I saw them swaying with the wind in a tree top - 11 of them.

This is one of my favorite - there is just something very striking about this specie.

A few Prairie Warblers were seen.

A Great Egret slowly moving to capture its prey until a car came by and couldn't wait to go to the beach....pushing the bird out of the way.

I trust that he was able to find a more peaceful spot to eat.

 

 I'd say this was a great start to my day but most importantly, a great beginning of the Spring Migration Season. 

My E-Bird List  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17662785