Purple Gallinule

The Purple Gallinule is a colorful, but secretive bird of the southern marshes. I remember once staring for long minutes in the hopes of seeing one crawling about the reeds.

Purple Gallinule

The treat of Wakodahatchee and Green Cay is that they provide more than just glimpses of birds, such as the Purple Gallinule. There are also that opportunities to watch as an elusive bird teeters along branch stems and forages for its version of delectable treats.

Good Birding ! !

Wood Stork

In the wetlands of Wakodahatchee and Green Cay (and to a lesser extent in the Everglades) Wood Storks were almost common, in spite of their endangered status.

























For me, the Wood Stork represents birding in Florida, though on my few trips I have not always had the good observational opportunities which I had late last month.

The Wood Stork feeds by touch. Slowly walking forward, it sweeps its bill back and forth. When it touches its prey, the bill snaps shut with a 25 millisecond reflex, the fastest reflex known for vertebrae species.

One more of this prehistoric looking bird in flight  ...

... well, okay, two more. It looks awkward coming in to land, but manages quite adeptly.

Good Birding!

Florida - First Posting

Just less than a week ago, I returned from a week in Florida - a welcome respite from the harsh winter "enjoyed" by the Northeast. It has taken a while to process the photos.

There were several days with good birding, and good bird photography opportunities. This post will get things started. It seems appropriate to start with Florida's state bird, the Northern Mockingbird. These birds were singing their joyful mocking songs everywhere we went ...

Northern Mockingbird

First - Wakodahatchee & Green Cay, in the Boynton Beach-West Palm Beach area. Both are the final stage of water treatment facilities. Wetlands with extended boardwalks provide pond and marsh habitat for wetland birds and some of the best viewing opportunities to be found anywhere. Much more will follow from these sites. For now, three residents: Great Egret, Glossy Ibis, Pied-billed Grebe.

Great Egret

Glossy Ibis (non-breeding plumage)

Pied-billed Grebe

From Everglades Nat'l Park, two year-round residents (although maybe these particular individuals will be moving northward for breeding), Black-necked Stilt and Eastern Meadowlark ...

Black-necked Stilt

Eastern Meadowlark

From the Keys, and everyplace else along the coast, Brown Pelican ...

Brown Pelican (adult non -breeding)

And from Dry Tortugas Nat'l Park, a year-round resident - Royal Tern - and a winter resident - Ruddy Turnstone.

Royal Tern (non-breeding)

Ruddy Turnstone (non-breeding)

The "up-close and personal" wetland birds (and some non-wetland birds) will follow in subsequent posts.

It was a week of warm weather and Good Birding!

Waders 1 - Tricolored Heron

First of a series of wading birds photographed February 25-27, Green Cay and Wakodahatchee wetlands, Palm Beach County, Florida

Tricolored Heron ...

Good birding!