Swallow-tailed Kites

 Friday July 14th

One of our most favorite birds are the Swallow-tailed Kites. Often seen soaring tree top high as they search for their next meal. A beautiful delicate looking white and black raptor that arrives in Florida around the end of February. 

That is when small numbers emigrate from Central and South American population to nest in the American Southeast. By July, after nesting, we see these birds gathering in roosts and in impressive kettles, before their return to the wintering grounds in Brazil. Most will be gone by the end of July.

Harns Marsh

Friday, June 14th

Swallow-tailed Kites

Birded the south end of Harns Marsh this morning with idea of possibly finding wood duck. Recent rains have raised the water levels, filling the canals. Tilapia, cichlids and gar fish could be seen near the surface. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies including Gulf fritillary, White Peacock, Scarlet Skimmers, Blue Darners and Four-spotted Dragonflies

Swallow-tailed Kite

What caught my attention were number of Swallow-tailed Kites roosting tree top across the big lake. Counted ten, but could have been more. I'm assuming that they are already staging in preparing of their migration across the Gulf of Mexico in about a month.

Didn't locate any wood ducks or snail kites, Mostly had Black Vultures, singing Northern Parulas and Carolina Wrens. Plus Red-shouldered Hawks, Common Gallinules, a few wading birds and a sleepy Yellow-crowned Night-heron.

Little Blue Heron

Red-shouldered Hawk

Common Gallinule

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Scarlet Skimmer

Yellow-crowned Night-heron

Great Blue Skimmer

Some Pics From July

Getting wildlife to pose for a pic can be very frustrating

Tuesday July 31st

Just a few pics from July. Not a lot of birds around, but you can fall back on dragonflies, butterflies and wildflowers.  Maybe a fish or two.

By the end of July the bulk of these Swallow-tailed Kites 

have left the States for their wintering grounds.

 This bird was observed on the first of July in Alva

Purple Gallinule seen at Harns Marsh

White-tail Doe seen at Babcock-Webb WMA

A pair of Mute Swans are resident at a local mall

Cattle Egret in breeding plumage sitting atop the back of a steer

Fiddler Crabs were doing there thing in the middle of the Ding Darling WMA Wildlife Drive

Passion Flower seen at Ding Darling

Tree Crab seen at Ding Darling

Gulf Fritillary are commonly seen this time of year

This tadpole is probably a Cuban Tree Frog

Eastern Amberwing seen at the Franklin Locks

Rambur's Forktail Damselflies seen at the Franklin Locks

Arrowroot is in bloom

A Ramshorn Snail seen at Harns Marsh

This maybe a Golden Winged Skimmer

Believe that this bloom is a species of Sneeze Weed.  Seen at Babcock Webb

A species of Spider Lily seen at Babcock Webb

Halloween Pendent Dragonfly

Wild Morning Glory in Bloom at Babcock-Webb

Brahminy Blind Snakes have been showing up in my home lately. 

A harmless invasive species from South Asia 

Cuban Tree Frogs are every where

The invasive Topfin catfish is becoming quite common

Apple Snail shell is what's left after a Limpkins meal

Some June Pics

Sunday July 1st


Thought I would share some of my observations in June

Spotted this Swallow-tailed Kite at rest at Caloosahatchee Regional Park

Purple Martin hanging around the Franklin Locks

on the Caloosahatchee River in Alva

A young House Sparrow at the Franklin Locks

Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Babcock-Webb WMA

Ring Necked Snake seen at Babcock-Webb WMA

Great Horned Owl seen in Lehigh Acres

Florida Scrub Jay seen in Lehigh Acres

Wood Duck seen in Alva pasture

Purple Gallinule seen at Harns Marsh

Wild Turkey spotted along Church Road

Gray Kingbird seen on Ft Myers Beach

This family of ducks are probably hybrids between mottled and mallard ducks

Buckeye Butterfly

Probably a Needham's Skimmer

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Some Watusi cattle seen on a property near Alva

Sandhill Crane

Nanday Parakeets seen in Fort Myers

Sandhill Family nesting with a very recent hatching in Alva