Purple Thistle

Tuesday February 25th

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Today was a visit to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County. It wasn't very birdy on this visit, but the flowering Purple Thistle were hosting numbers of butterflies and other insects. Black Swallowtails, Palmetto Skippers and Whirlabouts were very active on these flowers and would pose nicely for the camera. Other butterflies present included Gulf Fritillaries, White Peacocks and Zebra Swallowtails

Twin Spot Skipper

Whirlabout

Palmetto Skipper

Aside from the purple thistles other wildflowers today included Limewater Brookweed, Horned Bladderwort, Spanish Needles, Spanish Daisies, Cowpea, Axilflower, Wild Petunias, Daisy Fleabane, Marsh Fleabane, Southern Cattails, Pitted Stripeseed, Blackroot and Leavenworth's Tickseed

Palmetto Skipper

American Bumble Bee

White Peacock

Carolina Wild Petunia

Daisy Fleabane

Blackroot

White Waterlily

Pitted Stripeseed

Netted Pawpaw

Flooded Gum Trees

Peninsula Axelflower

What Kind of Crow is This?

Friday February 7th

House Crow x Fish Crow hybrid seen at Lovers Key in December 2018

Had posted this photo on iNaturalist.com as an example of a Fish Crow.  The photo was taken December 14, 2018 at the Lovers Key State Park parking area next to New Pass, without taking a real go look at pic.  Fish Crows are the predominate crow species at the beach. I have, as well as other birders, been reporting on hearing an American crow calling in this area on occasions.  I now believe that the calls were coming from this bird.

House Crow seen at Nokomis Beach in May 2018

Reviewers had disagreed that this picture was of a Fish Crow just by the heavy bill.  There was some initial speculation that it was an exotic species, like a Cuban Crow.  But we've now decided that it is fact a hybrid of a House Crow and a Fish Crow. Based on the calls, the bill and faint gray coloration draping the back, neck and breast.

Fish Crow seen at Nokomis Beach May 2018

A very tiny population of House Crows have been living up at Nokomis Beach.  With speculation that they have been nesting with Fish Crows So a hybrid being seen and heard is a real possibility. 

House Crow Facts