Everglades Sampler

I am finally to the Everglades, a uniquely beautiful gem among our National Park system. Many of the birds introduced earlier in this extended blog series were also present in the Everglades. Here I give a sampling of birds not seen - or not photographed - previously in our south Florida travels.

A surprise sighting (and one noted by a naturalist in the Visitor's Center) was this Western Kingbird ...

Western Kingbird

Briefly we watched as 3 Swallow-tailed Kites soared and swooped overhead, a study of winged gracefulness, and one which I wish I could have seen more of ...

Swallow-tailed Kite

Alas, during our Florida travels we had only one encounter with a Roseate Spoonbill, but it was a treat ...

Roseate Spoonbill

The birds of prey were well into their nesting season. We saw Red-shouldered young not long out of the nest. In Flamingo, there were several Osprey nests which were active in incubating or feeding young ...

Osprey

... and on two occasions, nestling Barred Owls tipped off their presence by hooting for food. ...

Barred Owl (nestling)

Not feathered, but still fauna, were these deer ...

White-tailed Deer

And finally, while driving the keys, we stopped at The Laura Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary, a funky and fascinating rehab center. High in a tree, a Great Horned Owl kept watch over the visitors ...

Great Horned Owl