Everything but woodcocks.

     I went to Green-Wood Cemetery in hopes of seeing at least one woodcock, but alas, today was not my day. But there were still plenty of things to see and probably the highlight was some very interesting behavior from a wood duck on the Dell Water. We saw a lot of cool behaviors from birds, heard the amazing blue jays array of calls, including their rattle call, which is only made by the females, heard a blue jay do a dang good red-shouldered hawk, and enjoyed the cardinal pairs singing in unison. I was joined by my friend Jim and it was nice to have their company for our nearly 4 hours out covering a good chunk of the cemetery.

As usual, the welcoming committee included 25 monk parakeets, many of which were basking in the morning sun.

As we were watching a slew of birds, primarily tufted titmice (there were a lot today), drink from a knot in a tree, Jim spied this raccoon who was settling in for their daytime slumber.

Got to see its little raccoon hand before it backed fully into its tree hollow and out of view.

We saw this lone wood duck male on the Dell Water. Just casually swimming about, very un-shy. And then I saw it with something brght orange in its mouth, I was convinced it was trying to eat plastic.

Closer inspection revealed it to be a goldfish!

As young, wood ducks will eat insects and small fish. But as adults, they primary are herbivores. So this duck had some kind of craving!

The duck carried the fish across the water and began picking at it and even manipulating the whole fish in its bill.

It seemed to be trashing the fish to rip off small bites. As it did seem to be trying to find its inner cormorant, looking like a few times it was about to just toss the whole thing back, but it couldn't make that happen.

After having its fill, it carried the fish and placed it in the shallows next to some rocks. A snack for later perhaps? Also tapping in to its inner nuthatch, stashing away some food for later?

Perhaps fish oil is the key to his good looks, who knows.
But he left his fish and swam back across towards us, knowing how good he looks.

Just a protein-seeking wood duck.

Any feeder in the cemetery had birds on it. This downy played a bit of peek-a-boo from behind a small tree before hopping onto this suet feeder.

I was today years old when I learned that paired cardinals sing a duet together, matching their notes in unison. And I got to see it and I thought it was just so sweet to sing you union in unison.

Left on a good note, a male and female Eastern Towhee. Ain't she lovely?

Florida Birding: Smyrna Dunes Park (pt. 2)

     On our last day in Florida, we decided to keep it low key, pool and beach. All right outside the door. I decided I'd start the day with a bike ride down to Smyrna Dunes Park, hoping to see a Loggerhead Shrike. The park truly delivered. Birds were very photogenic and this was probably my favorite day out. I even got my husband to come down with the kiddo to see some of the gopher tortoises which was lovely to share with her. I just really loved this morning and what it shared.

The rails of the boardwalk had morning dew on them which the songbirds gathered along to grab a freshwater drink. Genius!

This gray catbird along with another and two cardinals dipped and drank between each passerby.

Is this going to turn into a loggerhead shrike photoshoot?
YES.

The first time we visited our family here, I remember stepping out of their door and seeing one of these birds on the wire and was just totally wowed! I had never seen a shrike of any kind before. So I was determined to find one of these birds and happy I returned to this park!

Surfers, dog walkers, and casual morning striders walked right by and this bird had no cares to give.

These little songbirds have a hooked beak, they are little birds of prey as they hunt not only insects but also lizards, rodents, even other birds. It's what makes shrikes strikingly badass.

For small prey like they, they just gulp it on down, once they get it in just the right position.

Bleb.

A good thorny bush or barbed wire helps this bird when it catches something larger. It will impale it on the thorn or barb and then proceed to use its hooked bill to pull apart its food into more manageable pieces. So it's no surprise the mockingbird pair nearby took offense to these birds in the same area that they were.

And speaking of pairs, this loggerhead shrike is part of a pair!
They even did some calling and wing flapping at each other. I think they liked each other.

This bird made me so happy. I love birds of prey and so therefore, I love songbirds who take on that role.

And just when I thought, that was the best, the birds just kept being extra photogenic.

Brown Pelican in the surf.

A lovely little wing flap...

And taking a higher vantage point among the fishermen on the jetty.

Ruddy turnstones looking picturesque in front of the Ponce de Leon Inlet and Lighthouse.

This snowy egret was a bit of an antagonist amongst its peers. There was a lot going on by the jetty near the inlet.

Look up and you have pelicans, osprey, and terns overhead.

Look down and ruddy turnstones dipped in and out between the rocks in the sand.

This turnstone came u lucky itself, with a small crab that it ran off with and gobbled down.

And just when I thought mother nature laid it all out for me, on my last day...

A gopher tortoise yawn was the icing on the cake.
Until next time, Florida.

Birding Florida: Indrio Savannahs Preserve

     We reported down to Port Saint Lucie for some Mets Spring Training, oddly enough, Feb-March birding in Florida is a bit like spring training for the north. You get a taste of warbler, waders, and all the birds to come in the months ahead.

    We spent the night in the area and so I visited Indrio Savannahs Preserve, based on the fact I saw you can see scrub jays there. A 30 minute drive got me to my destination and I also met my first and only mosquitoes of the trip. A nice person on the trail told me of some cranes that were easy to view and so I followed his directions and saw them along with some others too! I was also fortunate enough to find a Florida Scrub Jay here, with no luck on grabbing a photo.

Upon walking in, the place was aflutter with warblers, mostly palm (above), yellow-rumped, and one magnolia.

I followed a trail as instructed by a person earlier and I got to see this American Kestrel fly in with a dragonfly it caught!

There were plenty of dragonflies to go around, what a great meal that must have been!

I found my way to this Snadhill crane, and heard a number limpkins in the background. It was so nice to see this bird and all alone. I do really enjoy a little bit of time to myself.

I later on my way back, found two more sandhill cranes who made sure to not allow too much quiet time, as they trumpeted away as I made my way down the trail.

I love seeing these tall, leggy birds. Such a treat, and in Florida, they are everywhere.

I did love hearing them, I imagine its what their extinct cousins sounded like (dinosaurs, that is).

Florida Birding: Merritt Island NWR

     Whenever we visit, I love going to Merritt Island. My husband is obliging and kind enough to be my bird safari driver along the wildlife drive, putting up with my constant "stop! a little tiny bit clos.... STOP!"

    It's a gorgeous place with many other trails to visit, but the wildlife drive alone is a legitimate bird safari and I highly recommend, especially if there are non-bird people in your company. This place even provides enough razzle dazzle for the non-birder. Gators are also plentiful and easy to spot among the birds which are close enough for easy viewing. Also, important to recognize is the ability to drive or be in a car, makes it incredibly accessible for those who have limited mobility or cannot be on their feet for a long time.

    Every time I visit it's always a bit different, making it very exciting each and every visit. I think maybe our next visit, Kestrel may be able to handle this little outing and I look forward to it!

We were welcomed by a tricolored heron to the wildlife drive.

Anhinga are easy to spot when they are drying their wings in the mangroves and shrubs. They are also very funny in that they are easy to also spot soaring among the vultures.

Unlike my other visits here, the water in many parts of the wildlife drive were totally dried up and devoid of birds. This small muddy area did have one bird that my wonderful husband spotted, a Wilson's Snipe.

It was very busy feeding and probing the mud for any goodies it could find.

I love the contrast in the white ibis to the glossy ibis. You can see on their wings how they get their name.
The white ibis are like a mix of squirrel and pigeon. They are likely to sneak scraps of your meal underfoot as they are likely to ump up onto the table and scoop up any crumbs or table fries.

A little blue heron comes up lucky with its catch. The entire drive is shouldered by a water-filled ditch always with birds in it, and fish too, apparently!

This tricolored heron was displaced by a smaller little blue heron and it made a racket about it.

Part of the rail family, this common gallinule sports the crazy feet characteristic of this family. 

Another anhinga resting in the mangroves.

And taking a look at any delicious treats swimming by in the water below.

One of the many gators along the wildlife drive. This one was a pretty big one.

A very fun sight was like 200 or so American coots i a large raft just splish-splashing around.

I also like coming to Merritt Island because you get to see the American White Pelicans reliably here. This time we were lucky to see one fairly close, floating along the water.

Truly, white ibis always look like they have seen some shit...

A lovely treat, a turkey vulture, perched fairly low. I think they are gorgeous.

Glam.

Perfection.

Whenever you visit Merritt Island NWR, always visit their main visitors center and walk around back to the feeders for a rainbow treat.

I only learned this last year that you are nearly guaranteed painted buntings back here on these feeders.

If you get into any trees in the refuge, this time of year, they were crawling with Northern Parulas.