The Little Nuthatch — great blue heron
Lido Beach
great blue heron lido key beach willet
Hello old blog! My last post was Thanksgiving and yesterday was Christmas Day! I've been gone a while, busy with holiday orders and craft shows, in addition to making some little Christmas gifts and enjoying the season. One lovely weekend I had a craft show in Sarasota on the gulf coast of Florida and got to spend some time enjoying Lido Beach. These are from a morning walk at sunrise... And over the bay at sunset...
Lake Woodruff NWR.
great blue heron lake woodruff nwr
I recently explored the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge for the first time. The trails are mostly wetlands, with one trail through pine flatwoods leading up to the St. Johns river. Very beautiful place! I visited it on a cool, slightly overcast day which was perfect for a place that could potentially be very hot and sunny. There were TONS of birds there. I was very excited to see my first Virginia Rail among them. (Of course it quickly ducked into the reeds so I couldn't get a photo.)
A dreary but beautiful morning.
black-necked stilt flowers great blue heron green heron insects merritt island nwr prairie warbler roseate spoonbill
Knowing I was getting out of work early today, all I could think about was finally getting in some bird watching time! So despite the dreary clouds looming overhead I got in my car and was off to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, picked up breakfast at Sunrise Bread Co. and was on the beach by 10:30. Found this beautiful Prairie Warbler on the dune. Unfortunately, also discovered the return of mosquitoes. BIG TIME. Rushed back to car! Green Heron Great Blue Heron Eventually it did start to rain... Black-necked Stilt. Love their legs. Roseate Spoonbills in the...
Oh, the plumage.
american avocet american white pelican cattle egret eastern kingbird great blue heron merritt island nwr mushrooms roseate spoonbill snowy egret white ibis
From Merritt Island last weekend... Snowy Egret Cattle Egret White Ibis Roseate Spoonbill American White Pelicans American Avocets Great White Heron Great Blue Heron Sora Eastern Kingbird
Wading birds.
great blue heron merritt island nwr snowy egret tri-colored heron white ibis
The birds are beautiful out in their breeding plumage. From Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Friday... White Morph Great Blue Heron (Great Egret has black legs.) Snowy Egret Great Blue Heron...bad hair day? Juvenile White Ibis Tri-colored Heron