Babcock-Webb WMA

Saturday June 1st

Last night I order an Annual Management Area Permit on-line, because today I planned on birding Babcock-Webb WMA. This will save on the costs of visiting Babcock. 

Brown--headed Nuthatch

Great Crested Flycatcher

Arrived at sunrise and I first headed up Tucker's Grade to check out the wetlands for rails or purple gallinules. Did hear a Common Yellowthroat, before turning around to stop at the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker colony on Oilwell Grade. Easily found one of the woodpeckers working the trees in the area. No doubt this mate was staying in the nest hole with any eggs or chicks. Other sightings here included Common Nighthawks, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Meadowlarks, Pine Warblers, Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and a calling Sandhill Crane.  Moving on, traveled north on Oilwell Road, then east on Seaboard Grade, then back onto Tuckers Grade.  Made a few stops looking for interesting birds. The number of wading birds had thinned out as the wetlands were drying-up, but some of the birds experienced today included Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebirds, singing Bachman's Sparrows, Northern Flickers, Northern Bobwhites, Limpkin, Cormorants, Anhingas, White Ibis, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Crested Flycatchers, White-eyed Vireos and Red-headed Woodpecker.

A Florida Banded Water Snake and a Gator

Came across a few other sightings including a Stripped Mud Turtle crossing the road, several alligators and a couple of Florida Banded Water Snakes

But in part, as I was practicing on my photography. I am a terrible photographer. And as birding its very slow this time of year, I've tackled on other subjects in nature. Bugs and flowers.

Halloween Pendent

This bug goes by bella moth, 

ornate moth or rattlebox moth

Now as for what Wildflowers were in bloom today, I found the Blue Porterweed, Alligator Flag, Horned Bladderwort, Spanish Needles, Pickerelweed, Meadowbeauty, Marsh Fleabane, Arrowroot, Starrush Whitetop, Blackroot, Yellow eyed Grass, White Lilypad  - PLUS

False Dragonhead

Alligatorlily

Bachelors Buttons

Black-eyed Susan

Coastal Plain St John's Wort

Maybe a species of Blazing Star

Maybe a species of Blazing Star

American Blueheart

Winged Loosestrife

Florida Yellow Flax

American Beautyberry

Beautyberry Blossoms

Low Pinebarren Milkwort

Twin Flower

Morning Glory

Wild Petunia

Spanish Daisy

Leavenworth Tickweed 

Florida's State Wildflower

Largeflower Rosegentian

Rosegentian

Blue Porterweed

Nuttel's Thistle