Red Knot, 56/150

I continue to have a little bit of a difficult time identifying the Dowitcher, Dunlin, Willet,  and Red Knot.  I posted this one on my FB page, and an expert identified it as a Red Knot.  I took this image a cold, windy, late afternoon in January.  I do love all the shore birds I get to photograph in Florida :-)

Interesting facts:
On nonbreeding plumage, note barred flanks. Salmon and gray breeding plumage distinctive (which I will probably never see)

Semipalmated Plover, 55/150

This is the same Plover, same day, same beach, Fort De Soto in January.

Interesting Facts: Common and most numerous small plover. Most slender and darkest small plover. Note dark brown upperside, dark cheek and orange legs.

Lesser Black-backed Gull, 54/150

I spotted this Lesser Black-backed gull in January on my way back from Bear Cut Preserve in Miami.  I wanted to drive through the parking lot before I jumped on the Rickenbacker to scout out a good sunset spot, when I saw this big boy.  So, naturally, I pulled over, jumped out and took a few quick images before he took off.

Interesting facts:

Uncommon and rare visitor from Europe, small numbers found with other large gulls.

Spotted Sandpiper, #42/50

I found this Spotted Sandpiper @ Bunch Beach, Fort Meyers.

Its teetering and bobbing walk is very distinctive.  Forages alone, or in pairs, along margins of both fresh and salt waterbodies. 

This common bird has bright white underparts with black spots, there is a smudge on the side of the neck and the base of the bill is yellow, becoming orange during breeding season. 

Anhinga, #23/50

Here we have the Anhinga, the only bird listed in the  Category, "Anhingidae - Anhingas & Darters". The top image is a male, and the female has the brown neck, or "is wearing a brown turtle neck sweater" as I like to say. The second image shows breeding colors. The Anhinga is almost always around, whether I am visiting Green Cay, Wakodohatchee, Wellington, National Everglades, this species can be found. The breeding colors are especially beautiful~

Interesting Facts:

Like cormorants, to which it is closely related, it must dry its wings intermittently in the sun after fishing forays. It often swims below the surface with only the neck and head exposed, hence another of its names, "snake-bird".

Wood Stork, # 22/50

I am almost half way into my project, to identify 50 birds in 60 days. The majority of the images were all taken in the past twelve months, this is an effort on my part to identify them, and my blog keeps me focused on the project.  I have also started a flickr group, Wings Over Florida, which is growing and will be a resource guide of amazing images of Florida Birds, for those that need help with identification and those that just would like to enjoy viewing.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1946322@N22/

The top image was taken @ the Wild Bird Center in the Florida Keys, the middle image was taken @ Wakodohatchee Wetlands, and the bottom, at my favorite pull off on Alligator Alley.

Interesting Facts:

The large size, naked all-dark head, long, slightly decurved bill and white plumage, make this species easily identifiable.

Black Vulture, #19/50

This image was taken last weekend at Dinner Island Ranch. We were on the look out for Caracara's, but instead . . . . . this fellow got his picture taken.  I am working on my Level I Wings Over Florida Certificate, and this is Bird ID # 19 of my first 50.

Dinner Island Ranch is over 21,000 acres, and we went during hunting season, maybe that's why we saw basically NO other wildlife on our 2 hour drive around . . . . I don't know if I will ever return to this spot for bird photography.

Interesting Facts:

Common in Florida. Smaller than the Turkey Vulture. The head is black. Usually seen soaring in tight circles.

American Avocet, # 15/50

These images were taken @ Merritt Island NWR, January 2012. These Avocets flew in, ate quickly, and only stayed for a very short while.

Interesting Facts:

A largely white and black shorebird with a sharply upturned bill. Feeds by sweeping the bill from side to side.  A common winter visitor to southern Florida, although some also remain throughout summer.

Little Blue Heron # 10/50

These images were taken @ Bunche Beach, Ft. Meyers FL. At one   short point in time, there were several different types of birds in this area, a Reddish Egret, a Tricolored Heron, and White Ibis. I was trying diligently to focus only on the Little Blue 

:-), and I will admit I was continually distracted by the Reddish Egret, who was stealing the show.

Interesting facts:

The adult is easily identified by its dark gray coloration, but the white immatures are possible to mistake for a number of other species, including the white morph of an immature reddish egret.  It is important to study medium-sized white herons very carefully, as they could be mistaken for a Snowy or even a Cattle Egret. Young Little Blue Herons have no head plumes and the legs are overall greenish.  

Yellow-crowned Night Heron #6/50 Checklist

While enjoying the variety of shore birds one early morning at Bunche Beach in Ft. Meyers, I spotted this way way (way) across the water, and he shortly disappeared into the thicket.

Interesting facts:

 He is a medium-sized heron, and a rather chunky gray bird. Solitary and nocturnal, it prefers saltwater areas. Common throughout Florida.

Tricolored Heron #5/50

These images of a Tricolored heron were taken at Green Cay Wetlands, Delray Beach.  In the 2nd small image we can see his breeding colors in the bill (blue). In the bottom image, he had just shook off his wet feathers and was in the process of putting himself back together when I caught this (when a little bird jumped in my frame). The top small image is a "teenager" tricolored heron, image taken at Alligator Farm, St. Augustine FL.

Interesting facts:
During breeding season the Tri-color gets even more colorful. The base of its bill turns bright blue, and it develops a white pony tail plume on the back of its head. Soft tan plumes grow from its back. Its legs turn bright red.

Black-crowned Night Heron #4/50

I captured these beauties at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Indian Shores, FL. It is a pretty remarkable place if you are ever in the area. It is a non-profit, founded in 1971 by zoologist Ralph T. Heath, Jr. and is home to over 600 resident and recuperating wild birds.  The sanctuary specializes in the treatment of injured seabirds, but also cares for land birds and birds of prey.

I placed the juvenile as the first post, I couldn't resist.

www.suncoastseabirdsanctuary.com

~snowy egret~ #2/50 Checklist of Florida's Birds

The top two images were taken at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, and I think the concrete backgrounds help the bird stand out and show off the beautiful plumage.  Taken in January 2012. The bottom image was taken at Merritt Island NWR in early morning light.

Interesting facts:
A very dainty beautiful species, its nuptial plumage is brilliant white, making it highly conspicuous.  Legs are black, the feet bright yellow, or even red in the high-breeding season. The bill is black and appears almost pencil thin, before tapering to a point. The species was almost extirpated in North America, but has made a comeback.

Project Nature, #1/50 Checklist of Florida's Birds

I have always loved birds! I have decided to practice and improve my photography skills, and have embarked on a new project: The Wings Over Florida program awards certificates at five achievement levels to bird watchers who report their life lists to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission's Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.  The above image, Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens, is the beginning.  I hope to learn about nature & birds, while enjoying the Florida weather and take my photography skills up a level. This is IMAGE #1.

Interesting facts:
Intermediate in size between the larger Great Egret and medium sized herons.  There are two distinct color phases, a dark phase, which is grayish overall, with the head and neck reddish-brown, and a wholly white morph.  The best field marks are its larger size and the black tipped bill, pinkish at the base.  It generally appears to have a ruffled appearance; its habit of dancing or prancing through shallow water in search of prey is immediately recognizable.  It is an uncommon year-round resident of the coastal mudflats of southern Florida.