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Monday, September 30, 2013

More Migrants

Another great day at the Lighthouse - it was amazing to look at the sky and to see so many little birds flying overhead - one even ventured to say that they had seen close to 2,000 warblers migrating. This particular warbler is called a Chestnut-sided Warbler, without the chestnut part since he is sporting his fall plumage.

One of two Baltimore Oriole that we saw today.

A beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler, just gorgeous!

A Red-eyed Vireo.

How about this! An egret eating a dragonfly, it was fun watching it as he tried to figure out how to get it down with the wings sticking out - he managed just fine.

A box turtle minding its own business.
My E-Bird List

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Pond Apple

I had been cleaning house and clearing excess vegetation all day and felt the call to go birding. It had been a while since I had visited the Pond Apple Trail and thought to go and check it out. The word was out that the eagle pair had returned and I wanted to check it out - hoping that the trail had dried up by now.

First, I checked the retention pond area and spent some time looking at the herons, anhingas and cormorants. Then I set out for the trail - I found it to be very muddy but decided to keep going forward anyway....until I hit an area that was still way under water and at this point decided to retreat back.

The cormorant felt very comfortable in my presence and he just enjoyed sitting on a post - breathing and staying cool.

Then I spotted the Kingfisher - thinking for sure that as soon as I would lift my binoculars that he would high tail it....but no....he stayed put. I switch to my camera and tried as much as I could to stay steady while taking his photo....knowing very well that I couldn't get near him without him taking off.

The Anhinga - aka the snake bird - was taking a break from fishing and drying his wings off.

Here is a tranquil spot - off the beaten path - very soothing and relaxing. Though....wait.....I think I heard something....let me see

Aha! A little family of gators...from my spot I could count 7 and there were probably more. Knowing how small they were, I figured that mama gator was not too far and that I better not get any closer.

When I got back on the path, I found these feathers - you see I have a collection of feathers and they have a special meaning for me...so, of course, I picked them up and carried them back....thinking....perhaps a hawk or the eagle had a meal of ??...not really sure what kind of bird this was from the feathers and the pattern - I bet one of my birding friend would know. Well, gotta love Google! I found on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife website a Feather Atlas and I was able to identify those feathers as being from a Chuck-Wills-Widow adult male Tail feathers, how about that! I've heard this bird, now have it's feathers - maybe one of these days I'll see one.
 On my way out of the Pond Apple I did see the Eagle perched in a tall tree and he soon was joined by his partner - I'm glad that I came.

Cormorant bid me farewell with a song.....when you wish upon a star - makes no difference who you are....

My E-Bird List

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fabulous Florida Fall

 Early morning at the Lighthouse Point with the sun rising and the birds flying - doesn't get any better than that.
Ovenbird - how very special and precious.....seems to be of a curious nature too.

I love those bursts of color that pops in the tree - making me play the guessing games as I'm learning. This I believe to be a Blackburnian.

What a beautiful surprise! These are the signs of migration taking place. A Blue Grossbeak.


How can a stunning bird like this be called a "Common" yellow throat? 

Here we have a Palm Warbler.

A Magnolia - too fast for me to capture his pretty face.

A Green Heron which kept moving further and further away as the joggers sped by on the boardwalk.

Another Palm Warbler.

A Sparrow! He was a surprise when I put my photos on the computer. I've exchanged a few notes with another birder and it would seem to be a "Clay-colored Sparrow".

Another new sighting for me today and gulp....I'm not positive whether I remember it's rightful name - anyone? A Merlin?

A Yellow-throated Warbler, me thinks.

Here was another surprise for me, at first I dismissed it - thinking that it was just another Red-bellied Woodpecker - but no, it turned out to be a Starling in its new winter plummage - thanks to the "savant" birder who was sharing his extensive knowledge.

My E-Bird List

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Peck Park

What a precious little gem of a trail. This was mentioned to me on Birdbrain as a suggestion for birding while visiting Hobe Sound - I was glad that I checked it out.

The sign for the trail is away from the main parking lot. It is a small trail and was very quiet - I was there twice and saw no one else.....just nature and me.

First a boardwalk, then a dirt trail.

A Mourning Dove - he had a dreamy yellow color on his belly and most likely caused by the light.

Look who came to sit on the railing while I was approaching - a Black throated blue warbler - I got excited and the quality of my photo shows that.

This little guy was very fast and always hiding - I could never get a positive i.d. on him, however, the folks from the birdbrain listserver have volunteered the information that it is a Black and White Warbler.....and I offer a big thank you for that. Ummm, not too many of my field guides have a view of the warblers from down below - it's no wonder it is such a challenge - but oh what fun!

A green Anole - always a pretty sight.

The perfect ending to a birding expedition.
My E-Bird List and the following day's E-Bird List

Monday, September 23, 2013

Butterflies of Florida

A Black Swallowtail


Beautiful Monarch.
A Cloudless Sulphur - Large and conspicuous in flight. Lemon yellow with slight green cast below.

A pair of Julias

Julia - long orange wings and high, lively flight. Fairly common in widely varied habitats in South Florida.

A Gulf Fritillary - common in Florida in varied habitats. Bright orange above with oblong silver patches below.

Gulf Fritillary - its wings are like stained glass, artfully designed to maximize the beauty and light in a garden. 

I first thought that I had a Viceroy but upon closer inspection - I see that the dark line across hindwing is missing....then, I might just have a pair of Queens...though I'm not 100% positive because of the color.

Zebra Heliconian - familiar throughout Florida, identified by yellow stripes on long black wings and by fluttery, hovering flight.

White Peacock - common throughout Florida in wet habitats, including ditches, marsh edges. Flight extends late in day.

A Mangrove Buckeye - a Florida specialty, restricted to Black mangroves along coast. Slightly larger and more orange than the Common.

"Queen" - a Southern cousin of Monarch, rustier orange, with white spots on wings. Feeds on Florida milkweeds. Does not regularly migrate.

Giant Swallowtail photographed at Hobe Sound. This is a tropical species that ranges northward in the U.S. but is most common in Florida.