Sarasota

 Sunday March 12th

Headed up on Sarasota County today, visiting Myakka River State Park and The Celery Fields

Lots of Gators at Myakka River State Park

Myakka River State Park

eBird Checklist - 12 Mar 2023 - Myakka River SP - 35 species.

Long-billed Dowitcher

Black-necked Stilt

Blue-winged Teal

Snowy Egret

Lesser Yellowlegs

Palm Warbler

Sandhill Crane

Wild Turkey

American White Pelican

The Celery Fields

eBird Checklist - 12 Mar 2023 - The Celery Fields - 31 species

eBird Checklist - 12 Mar 2023 - Palmer Lake and Surrounding Area - 4 species

This Coopers Hawk was resting in the shade by the bird feeders

Brown-headed Cowbird

Painted Bunting

Gray-headed Swamphen were numerous here today

Purple Martin

Savannah Sparrow

Common Gallinule

Glossy Ibis

Sarasota

 Wednesday, March 29th

Spent Tuesday birding up in Charlotte County. 

Myakka River State Park

Noticed that the levee and the adjoining structure located west of the boat ramp has been removed. Somehow it doesn't seem right.

Fish Crow

American Avocets

Blue-winged Teal

Wild Turkey

Rosetta Spoonbill

The Celery Fields Gardens

Purple Martin

Common Ground Dove

Mourning Dove

Brown-headed Cowbird

The closest I managed going a pic of the beautiful Ruby-throated Hummingbird
 was the coral bean bush it was feeding on.

Pinecraft Park

Juvenal Barred Owl still sporting its downy feathers

Coopers Hawk

Spring is Around the Corner

Sunday March 13th

Painted Bunting

Recently visited a friends' feeders and noted that the Indigo Buntings and Goldfinches are molting into their summer colors. 

Soon.these fellas will  be heading north along with the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, Belted Kingfishers and American Kestrels. 

But we'll also soon be enjoying the arrivals of colorful warblers, grosbeaks, swallows, tanagers, orioles, vireos and more.  If the winds are favorable for them, most will fly past us. Otherwise we will have the opportunity to observe these neo-tropical sojourners as they rest and feed. Some will make beautiful Southwest Florida their summer retreat, while the rest attempt to speed north as quickly as possible,to their favorite nesting territories 

Indigo Bunting

American Goldfinches

This Cooper's Hawk is a resident in my neighborhood

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Carolina Wren

Eastern Phoebe

Red-headed Woodpecker

                                                                                                                                     
                       

Catching-up on November

Wednesday, November 26th

Its been difficult recently keeping current with my postings
So today I've chosen to  just post some pics from recent outings.

These Purple Swamphens are common at Chapel Trail on Sheridan Road, Pembroke Pines

About the only exotic species seem on a recent trip to the south Miami Area were these Muscovy Ducks

One of a pair of Bald Eagles often seen at Harns Marsh

This Merlin was recently seen at Bunche Beach

Blue-winged Teal are growing in numbers at Harns Marsh

A pair of Ring-necked Ducks at Harns Marsh

An enlarged photo of a Purple Gallinule at Harns Marsh

An uncommon Franklin's Gull found recently on Bonita Beach

A herd of Sanderlings playing tag with the surf.

A very uncommon, to Florida, Long-billed Curlew, but frequent visitor to Bunche Beach
This individual has been seen here over the course of several years

A White-morphed Reddish Egret seen at Bunche Beach

This Piping Plover, tagged as P69, was found recently at Bunche Beach.
More information on this individual is pending.

A Coopers Hawk seen this past Tuesday at the fishing pier at Ft DeSoto Park in Tampa Bay

Myakka State Park, near Sarasota, can be a great place to look for wintering waterfowl,
 such as these Northern Pintails and Mottled Ducked

Several Black-necked Stilts were also observed at Myakka State Park

Wild Turkey observed road-side at Myakka State Park