Sweetwater Wetlands Park - Gainesville, FL: 5-11-18

Great Blue Herons

Standing in Pickerel Weed

Male Bobolink

Sandhill Crane

Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuaries: 4-13-18

Old and gnarly.  Reminds me of the face I see in the mirror when I dare to look.

 Male Prothonotary Warbler

One of only two warbler species in North America to nest in cavities.

Female Prothonotary Warbler

Male Hooded Warbler

The most common warbler here yesterday but with a southern wind, many have taken advantage of that wind and headed on their migration.

This species is highly territorial on it’s wintering grounds and males and females use different habitats: males in mature forests

and females in scrubbier forests and seasonally flooded areas.

Female Hooded Warbler

Red-eyed Vireos showed up over night.  We saw none until this morning.

White-eyed Vireos were the only vireo we saw on Wednesday and Thursday but they have moved on with the south wind and the Red-eyes have come in.

Great Egret

Bird Island, Coffee Pot Bayou: 3-16-18

Double-crested Cormorant

The corner and interior of the mouth of pre-breeding adults is bright cobalt-blue to dull blue with greenish reflections in good light.

These cormorants are common and widespread, typically found on rocky coasts, beaches, inland lakes as well as rivers.

Breeding adults have double crests  (hence their name) of two tufts curving back from behind the eyes.

Interestingly, these tufts are white on Western birds but black and less conspicuous on our Eastern birds.

 Catfish for breakfast

First year birds are brown above, variably pale below, usually palest on the upper breast and neck.

Beautiful eyes in the breeding season

This should get the police some good PR - NOT!

Bird Island, Coffee Pot Bayou: Easter Sunday

Reddish Egret

The most endangered egret

In breeding plumage with the two-toned bill.

Such an elegant-looking bird

Cattle Egret

It is estimated that these birds are able to gather 50% more food and use only 2/3s as much energy when they feed in association with livestock (following cows, horses, buffalo, tractors, elephants, etc) as opposed to feeding alone.

With nesting material

Great Blue Heron coming in to its nest where the mate awaits