Sunday March 11th
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| Spring has arrived with the blooming Blue Flag Iris |
Six-mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a very busy place these days. Lots of snowbirds, winter residents and spring trading baseball fans are enjoying their visits here. Besides the bird life, the gators, otters and snakes are very popular.
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| Barred Owl |
Part of the boardwalk has been closed to protect a pair of Barred Owls who have selected a nest tree within a few feet of the boardwalk. An Eastern Screech Owl has recently be seen using the nest box set up in the parking lot.
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| Limpkin opening an Apple Snail |
And the Limpkin family, with its near adult sized babe, is also another favorite for the folks. The momma Limpkin made quite a fuss the other day when an otter dared to swim through the Limpkins` comfort zone. The adults are probably very defensive after losing there other chicks to predation by night-herons.
Seeing lots of Tree Herons, Black-crowned Night-herons, Anhingaa, Cormorants and Great Egrets are nesting at Gator Pond. Wood Ducks are being seen at Otter Pond. Short-tailed Hawks have been spotted soaring over head.
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| Tufted Titmouse |
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| Palm Warbler |
Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers are continuing, but will be heading north soon. Prairie, Black-and-White, Common Yellowthroat, Yellowthroated and Black-throated Green Warblers are commonly seen. A Northern Waterthrush has been observed and is typically one of the earliest arriving species in Spring migration. And this pending migration will bring in more species in just a few weeks.
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| Palm Warbler |
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| Prairie Warbler |
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