A Northern Cardinal In The Swamp
While I was hanging out in Big Cypress Swamp Preserve, look who else was too.
One of my favorites, the Northern Cardinal.
Northern Cardinal (male)
Great Crested Flycatcher
High atop a tree, I heard the calling of the Great Crested Flycatcher.
Great Crested Flycatcher
After realizing I was watching it, the flycatcher flew to a different tree.
Great Crested Flycatcher
The above photo was cropped from the below photo.
Great Crested Flycatcher
I couldn’t help playing with that last photo doing the two composition crops, it was so colorful. 🙂
— Photo taken in a residential area in Everglades City, Florida
American Kestrel
The American Kestrel is North America’s littlest falcon and also one of the most colorful of all raptors.
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
I’ve found this beauty a few times perched in one of the trees in an open, uncut grassy area in Everglades City.
American Kestrel
American Kestrel in flight
The little area is an ideal hunting spot for it, and for me some nice photo opportunities. Yay!
American Kestrel
Killdeers
I’ve seen and heard Killdeers fly by in pairs and small flocks several times in past weeks. I finally sighted a pair of these pretty plovers on the ground.
Killdeer
Their bold red eye-ring is quite stunning.
Killdeer
While the above one foraged away from me, I captured the other Killdeer preening, giving a glimpse of its bright orange-buff rump that is usually only visible during flight.
Killdeer preening, giving a glimpse of their bright orange-buff rump
“I’m all done my preening, how do I look?” 🙂
Anhingas
A bird that flourishes year-round in the Everglades is the fascinating, elegant Anhinga.
Anhinga, adult male
The adult male has greenish-black plumage overall, accentuated with silver-gray feathers and long white plumes.
The adult female is a bit lighter overall and their head is a pale brown.
Anhinga, female
Angina, immature or female
Immatures have light brown heads also, so they are difficult to ID whether male or female until they reach adulthood in two years.
Anhinga, immature, drying its feathers
Unlike most waterbirds, Anhingas do not have waterproof feathers. It’s actually a plus for them; their wet feathers and dense bones help Anhingas slowly submerge their bodies under the water so they can slyly stalk fish.
The above youngster had something to say to me….
Anhinga, immature, talkin’ to me
Anhinga, immature
I was close enough to get some nice close-ups of its dark red eye and yellowish feet. The eye will turn bright red in adulthood.
Anhinga, immature
Anhinga, immature
Eastern Phoebes
The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes. Even members of a mated pair do not spend much time together.
Eastern Phoebe
There are a lot of Eastern Phoebes around, teasing for their shot of fame.
These are my two favorite photos so far from the last few weeks. I couldn’t single it to one.
Eastern Phoebe
Did you know the Eastern Phoebe was the first banded bird in North America?
John James Audubon attached silvered thread to an Eastern Phoebe’s leg to track its return in successive years.
Wood Storks
Another almost all-white bird that’s been a little more harder to get a nice opportunity with is the Wood Stork. I’ve seen them, dotting the swamps or mangroves, but always at a distance or somewhere I can’t stop to photograph.
Wood Stork in flight
Finally, a couple days ago late afternoon I spotted one close enough to give a try.
Wood Stork profile
I’ll continue to stay on the hunt for more close ops of this elegant, unique looking bird. 🙂
Update: I follow Birder’s Journey and was pleasantly surprised her post and mine featured the same bird this morning, the Wood Stork. Don’t you just love and it make you smile when that happens to you?!
Birder’s Journey included the italicized info below in her post that I was unaware of and want to further share with you.
“The Wood Stork is North America’s only native Stork (Florida Fish & Wildlife-Wood Stork). Once abundant in Florida, the destruction and degradation of wetlands caused their numbers to drop significantly, and they were placed on the Endangered Species List in 1984. After 30 years, conservation efforts resulted in the Wood Storks’ status being changed to Threatened in 2014.
Though we have many nesting Wood Storks now in our wetlands, they are still at risk due to on-going concerns over development and habitat loss in the Everglades and other parts of South Florida (Scientific American, June 26, 2014; Florida Audubon).”
😞 I hadn’t had a chance to learn much about the Wood Stork, just wanted to be sure to gather more photos of this unique bird to my archives before we left Florida. I just researched quickly to see if I could find the Wood Stork’s present status and things are looking up for their numbers, although they are still on the Endangered Species List. Here’s a map I found of colonies tracked from 2009 to 2018.
Courtesy USFWS North Florida Ecological Services Office
Be sure to check out Birder’s Journey’s Wood Stork post, she has a gorgeous photo of a juvenile!
Two Birds Watching Me Enjoying That Sunset
My last post featured a beautiful sunset over Chokoloskee Bay in Florida. It was what I specifically arrived for to photograph.
I was standing alone along the shoreline, enjoying the colorful changes the clouds and setting sun produced.
…..or so I thought.
Aglow from the coloring skies, a White Ibis just a few feet away from me (there long before I knew it!)
Red-shouldered Hawk watching me return to my car
(“How long were you there watching me, Mr. Hawk?” )
They were both a happy surprise. I wondered who else was watching me in the dusky lighting as I got in my car and left. 😉
Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
Time to enjoy another sunset! Tonight’s was a beauty.
I headed to the Chokoloskee Island Bridge that connects Everglades City to Chokoloskee Island. The bridge overlooks Chokoloskee Bay with the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge in the far distance.
Sunset over Chokoloskee Bay – January 20, 2020
The big picture…..
Sunset over Chokoloskee Bay and distant 10,000 Islands National Refuge
Then a quick venture down towards the shoreline for a few dramatic captures.
Sunset over Chokoloskee Bay through the shoreline mangroves
“If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God.” ― G.K. Chesterton
White Ibis
White Ibis are considered the most abundant wading bird in the Everglades.
Small flocks of White Ibis usually forage together in shallow areas with less than 8 inches of water, but they also love lawns and parks.
Adult White Ibis foraging a lawn in Everglades City
Did you know White Ibis are not born white? They are mostly brown, slowing changing from brown to white patches as shown below, turning totally white before they turn one year old.
Immature White Ibis with a muddy beak from recent swamp foraging
Although their beaks curve down, it still looks like they’re throwing a lovely smile with those enchanting blue eyes.
Adult White Ibis
Immature White Ibis relaxing high up in a tree
Bay Photos by Donna 