Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area

 Wednesday January 29th

Scott's Oriole feeding on some jelly

https://ebird.org/checklist/S211139040

I was unfamiliar with the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area near Lake Linsey in Hernando County. But a rare to Florida avian visitor is wintering here. It's a Scott's Oriole. A western species and is way outside of the species normal range and a Lifer for me.

Chipping Sparrow

 This conservation area is managed by Florida Fish and Wildlife and has an outstanding bird feeding station at the nature center featuring water features and several feeding offerings including a feeder offering jelly.  Orioles and other species enjoy fruits and jellies and that is where anyone wanting to experience this rarity must wait. The Scott's Oriole was making very short visits to the feeder and my not return for as long as an hour. 

A Pine Siskin bathing with a House Finch

While waiting a nice variety birds came in and offered some nice photography opportunities

Carolina Chickadee

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow Palm Warbler

American Goldfinches

Pine Warbler

Red-bellied Woodpecker

House Wren

House Finch

Red-winged Blackbird

Pine Warbler

Grey Catbird

Sandhill Crane

Tufted Titmouse

Northern Cardinal

Babcock-Webb

 Thursday March 24th

Red-cockaded Woodpecker seen on nest tree near to the nest hole,
 were, presumably, the female is seen

Arrived a bit too late to find a calling chucks-will-widow, as the sun was brightening up the day already. But did find two different active Red-cockaded Woodpecker nest sites. Took a little longer but singing Backman's Sparrows were heard.  And calling Bobwhites, Meadowlarks and Eastern Towhees as well.

Purple Thistle with a sweet bee

Limewater Brookweed

Carolina Ruellia

Netted Pawpaw

Purple Thistle, Leavenworth's Tickseed, Netted Pawpaw and Limewater Brookweed are in bloom. I like to check out the thistle for opportunities to photograph any butterflies feeding on the blossoms.

Corn Snake

Best observation for the day was a coyote.  I haven't seen them here in quite a while. This guy looked pretty healthy and had a blackish tail. It won't let me get close enough for a photo. Lots of deer today too.  Including dawns. The alligators were sunning themselves and a corn snake and a garter snake were spotted catching some sun too as they stretched out on the road.

Eastern Garter Snake

American White Pelicans

At the eastern end of Tuckers Grade, the impoundments are drying up. Here was a concentration of shorebirds including numerous Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitchers, plus a pair of Wilson's Snipes. What got your attention was the forty American White Pelicans resting at the site.

Greater Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs

Great Blue Heron

Pine Warbler

Purple Gallinule

Boat-tailed Grackle

Some Recently Seen Birds

 Wednesday November 24th

Some of the birds spotted around Lee County this month.

Loggerhead Shrike
Seen at Harns Marsh - Lehigh Acres, Florida

Florida Scrub Jay
Lehigh Acres, Florida

Tufted Titmouse
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Blue-headed Vireo
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Black-and-White Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Pine Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Downy Woodpecker
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Pine Warbler
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Tufted Titmouse
Six-Mile Cyress Slough Preserve

Painted Buntings

Wednesday January 30th

Several Painted Buntings seen at the feeders toady Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The staff at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary confirmand that resent rains have elevated the standing water and that birding numbers were down today.  I was still pleased with my visit were there were still lots of birds.

Had great views of Painted Buntings, starting with the feeders at Blair House. Along with the bunting were several female Brown-headed Cowbirds, Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinal and Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Close by at the start of the boardwalk were a pair of Brown-headed Nuthatches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, an Eastern Phoebe, an Indigo Bunting and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Such a nice start.

Down the boardwalk was the Bunting House were several Painted Bunting and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird were active at the feeders.  Plus Northern Cardinal, Mourning Doves and calling Gray Catbirds.

Entering the cypress swamp, it became less birdy. Not much to be seen till the Lettuce Lake were a nice mixed flock was busy feeding. Mostly Gnatcatchers and Pine Warblers. Mixed we say Black-and-White Warbler, more Yellow-rumps, Blue-headed Vireo, Tufted Titmice, a White-eyed Vireo, Downy Woodpecker, Black-throated Green Warbler 

Northern Cardinal

I was disappointed as I  dipped on several expected species.  The Purple Gallinule continued to be a nemesis bird for me lately. Also missed were the wild turkeys, great created flycatchers and the ovenbirds. Just bad timing. Still a very good day

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Pine Warbler

Yellow-crowned Night-heron

A family of River Otters were seen and enjoyed by many of the visitors today.  I missed them, but did get to see raccoon, an armadillo in the parking lot , a white-tailed doe just out-side the entrance and sunning Florida Banded Water Snake 

Armadillo seen foraging in the parking lot

Raccoon

Florida Banded Water Snake

Blooming Swamp Lily