Harn's Marsh in Lehigh Acres

It had been a few weeks since my last visit to Harn's Marsh and I've been reading reports of everyone's sighting making me want to revisit sooner than later - so plans were made and off we go....

We searched for a Solitary Sandpiper but found a Lesser Yellowleg instead - I'll take it :)

The Limpkins on the other hand were numerous and easily located.

The lovely Coots with their bright red eye and lobed toes.

The tricolored heron are getting more colorful as the spring progresses.

A group of Green-winged Teals was spotted in the distance and a Dowitcher impromptu flight was caught in the act.

A group of young Wood Storks.

A Red-shouldered Hawk squacking led us to its progressing nest.

A large Bumble Bee feasting on pollen and blowing in the wind - it was working hard.

And this concludes this outing - it was rewarding as always, this Swallow-tailed Kite sealed the day....my first sighting this year!

A visit to Green Cay and Wakodahatchee

Once per year the Caloosa Bird Club takes a bus trip to go to the East Coast of Florida to visit Green Cay and Wakodahatchee - it is a trip that I really look forward to and this Sunday was the day! Come along and visit with me.....

Along the entrance to Green Cay - which was shielded from the 30+mph wind gusts - a few butterflies caught my attention, this Atala stole the show.

This bird feeder is quite the attractor for the Painted Buntings.

This following segment takes place at Wakodahatchee - here is a Gray-cheeked Swamphen, notice the red face and bill which matches the legs and feet.

Further down a Common Gallinule family captured my interest...

The Pied-billed Grebe might be pondering the fact that it will be in breeding mode soon.

A first time sighting for me was this Juvenile Purple Gallinule.

It was pretty amazing that it was able to stay put while eating the flowers while the wind kept on gusting.

Not too far away....perhaps the parent to the above juvenile....notice the candy cane bill is just like the Common Gallinule bill....one difference being that the Purple Gallinule, beside being purple has a blue patch between the eyes.

And let's not forget about the Wood Storks! This year is seemingly a successful season for nesting and that's a very good thing.

Check those chicks out!

Good thing the parents know what they're doing - with all those legs in such a small nesting area I'd be afraid to step on my babies.

A couple Great Blue Heron chicks waiting for the parents to return with more food.

Another Wood Stork family.

A soon to fledge Cormorant (left) with parent on right.

More Gray-cheeked Moorhen.

A Cattle Egret in full breeding attire.

And, as with all my adventure, this too comes to an end.....I hope that you enjoyed this visit.

Happy New Year!

I wish all of you a very Happy New Year and may you see all the birds that your heart desires and that goes for me too!

My first birding day this year came on January 2nd with the Caloosa Bird Club and it took place at Bunche Beach....come along and see....

Now, is there a better way to start the day - I think not.

And what a nice surprise to have the Brant so close and what joy to have it still around.

A King's Crown drew my attention - notice the colorful bands and the live mollusk sporting a black and white pattern.

And how interesting to see those egg cases attached - live mollusk lead an interesting life.

This Bald Eagle likes to hang around the platform in the parking lot of the Bailey-Matthew National Shell Museum.

This moment begged for a quote....the crow jumped over the moon.

This Otter and the rest of the photos were taken today at the Bailey Tract - I started early in the very dense fog....it made for a quiet and peaceful morning as I observed wildlife all around me welcoming the new day.

This Wilson Snipe did not escape my eyes even though it was quiet as a mouse.

An adult Wood Stork landed in the shallow water while....

a much younger one perched in a tree and watched from above.

A lovely Roseate Spoonbill joined in and soon...

the White Ibis kept it company too.

This wraps up another beautiful morning - I feel blessed when I'm surrounded by nature and this morning provided me with all that I needed.

 

CBC for San-Cap Audubon group in Sanibel

I felt very excited to have been granted a new section for the Christmas Bird Count with the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon group - knowing the area and having two great birding friends to do it with made it even more delicious. Come along.....

The air was a bit crispy this morning however it made for a clear blue sky - and a Bald Eagle in it made it even more special. And off we entered the Pond Apple Trail - this particular trail turned out to be rather quiet this morning, that changed when we made our way around the retention ponds.

We enjoyed watching this Wood Stork working hard at getting ready to swallow its fresh catch.

Not too far away we marveled at the fact that there was a Ring-necked Duck occupying one of the ponds.

A Wren captured our attention for the longest time because it kept away from sight and at times providing small glimpse of parts of its body....

until it stayed long enough for us to study it and to finally be able to call it: Marsh Wren.

Another great sighting was 3 Black-crowned Night Heron with one staying out in the open while looking for some fish to eat.

One of many Green Herons.

An Osprey which seemed to have a lot more white on its head and body than we are used to seeing - Elaine had just attended a lecture the night before and she stated that we might have a Ridgeway Osprey - a sub-specie.

After documenting 4 hours of bird sighting for the Pond Apple Trail and the Shipley Trail, we made our way out and took a bit of time admiring this Great Pondhawk...

its head and thorax are bright green, its wings on the other hand are transparent....what's not to love! Overall I think we had a great morning, here is my E-Bird list that I turned in to the San-Cap Audubon for the Christmas Bird Count. I hope you get to go out and do your part.