Just got back from a week's trip to Florida to bird with my best birding friend, Ron. I saw 98 species in a week as compared to the 43 species I'd seen here in Vermont since January! I took this picture of a tricolored heron, as I was looking towards the sun, (something we are always told not to do) but the result was terrific.
One of the highlights of the 40 species we saw here was this beautiful Roseate Spoonbill. A large pink wading bird with a flat, spatulate bill that is swung from side to side when feeding in shallow water.
I added a few "lifers" while in Florida, the black-bellied whistling duck was one. In amongst the reeds are about 8 or so, we saw 22 at this site.
They have bright pink bill, white ring around the eye and are gray and chestnut colored with black bellies.
Moorhens like this one pictured and American coots were common as were blue-winged teal, glossy ibis and great-blue herons.
After our trip here we went back to Fort Lauderdale for a walk on the beach. As I walked barefoot in the surf I felt a pang of guilt knowing that Gerry was back in Vermont shoveling snow.................
Fabulous and very timely for me as i'm intending to go to Ft. Lauderdale next month for the first time to see an old friend. Can you recommend some good birding places? I'm stoked to get some new birds! And, all the ones you've posted here are new for me. I really like the TC heron shot, too.
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ReplyDelete1. Plantation Preserve Linear Trail, 70th NW Ave. & W Broward Blvd., Plantation, FL
2. for burrowing owl go to: Brian Piccolo Park, Sheridan Street near Pine Island Ridge Road, Fort Lauderdale, FL
3.in Palm Beach County there's:
Green Cay Wetlands, Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, Wakodahatchee and Okeeheelee Nature Center for painted bunting and sandhill crane.
Welcome home to ice and snow, JoAnne. You brought back some really terrific photos. I particularly like the first and second shots. Good for you that you went against what everybody know you shouldn't do. Here it really paid off. The rules have changed with digital photography - there is no waste.
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