Sanibel Garden in late June

Today's sighting brought me yet more wonderful experiences. As I progress in my 'birding' journey, I am finding myself stepping back from my competitive nature and instead spending more quality time observing and just BEing. Come along and discover what a June day brings....

My first greetings was from a family of Common Ground Doves.

Followed by a few vocal Red-shouldered Hawk...

I stepped back to see what type of food he had just grabbed on the ground, which made me

realized that he was calling another - which came and grabbed the loot before taking off

It wasn't very big - perhaps a lizard.

A bit around the corner - an Osprey was watching intently....stay tuned....

a Marsh Rabbit was by my feet, distracting me for a bit....until I heard...

some humanoids abusing the English language while

attempting to do some repair at the tower - the tower where the Osprey roost....in any event, my walk was a bit shortened today.

I continued on and watched a Swallow-tailed Kite soaring in long luxurious circles....leading me....

to Island Inn Road where I spotted a family (5) of Gray Kingbirds - wanting to join in was a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

I enjoyed listening and watching them as a group.

A Great Crested Flycatcher was calling too!

A Common Grackle with his pale yellow eyes.

A Mourning Dove gathering nesting material.

Summer time in Florida produces lush greenery with fast growth - check this poison ivy with red leaves, green leaves and white berries!

A male Anhinga with a pink throat.

More lush growth - usually these plants are below the boardwalk.

A Ring-necked Snake.

The only Heron I saw today - a Little Blue.

A Gulf Frittilary sealed the day!

 

Trail time

I can't believe that it's been a week since I last posted a blog and also since I took the trail for birding! Where does the time go?!

It's summer time and I've been really busy with the Sea Turtle Patrol but today I made a point of walking the Bailey Tract - I was due for trail time.

The Green Herons greeted me back - several of them could be seen and heard.

A sleepy female Anhinga was slowly waking up and preening for the day.

A lonely Ground Dove lead the way on the Middle Dike.

Dragonflies are pretty numerous this time of the year.

If I recall correctly - this is the arabesque position.

A White Peacock Butterfly.

A quick side step to the Sanibel Garden Preserve - where a pair of Common Gallinule were spotted.

A beautiful Male Anhinga.

A Red-bellied Woodpecker tending to his home site.

A Red Cardinal singing away.

One of several Red-Shouldered Hawk - keeping their eyes sharply peeled for breakfast opportunities.

Back to the Bailey Tract - I spot a family of Mottled Ducks! Where have I been - to be missing these ducklings while they were growing up? Looks like there are 6 left from the brood.

There behavior was odd - I watched them as they stayed closed together without uttering a peep, slowly making their way into the water.

From a different direction I heard quacking and as if on cue - these guys responded -

And there she landed....

 All's well now. The end. My E-Bird List for today

at the Bailey Tract and my E-Bird List for the Sanibel Garden Preserve.

Monday's munchies.

The tides were high this morning along J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife drive but I decided to drive through anyway. 

As anticipated, it was very quiet but I was blessed with two special sightings.

An immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron feasting on Mangrove Crabs.

A young Green Turtle - older than 1-2 yo but younger than 5 yo. It was observed eating the algae that was on the rocks.

 

Least Tern

I had the opportunity to visit CWA in Ft.Myers Beach this morning with my friend Jewel - while we were there we were entertained by many of the families that are nesting at this time of the year, particularly the Least Tern.

The Least Tern is the smallest of an array of terns that nest on relatively open beaches in colonies.

The nest is a shallow scrape in the sand, to which bits of shell, wood or grass stems are occasionally added after incubation has begun. 2 or 3 beige to light olive brown colored eggs are incubated for 19-25 days.

The male and the female share duties throughout nesting and chick-rearing - small fish is brought to the chick for food.

A young chick.

An older chick with the parent.

A very young chick.

Chicks leave the nest at about age 2 d, well in advance of first flight at about 20 days