Black-and-white Creeper

I was reading the other day that the Black-and-white Warbler was once called the Black-and-white Creeper by many naturalists, such a perfect name! This is one of my favorite warblers and luckily for me, it overwinters here in South Florida so I see them for a good part of the year. The photo above was taken this past week at Green Cay. This young warbler put on quite the show circling and circling closer and closer until it was only a few feet away from a small crowd of visitors. I must have taken a dozen or more shots but this was my favorite. Oh, little black and white creeper, I'm going to miss you. Summer will be here before we know it, I feel it in the air...or should I say humidity.

Bird A Day: Black-throated Gray

The Bird A Day challenge has been taking me to new birding spots and expanding my County, State, and Life Lists. Yes, I do keep them all though not on any competitive level, just for fun. The latest adventure took me to Greynold's Park in Miami-Dade where I relocated an overwintering Black-throated Gray Warbler. At first I couldn't find my target bird but the park was so interesting that I enjoyed searching around. As I realized that my pursuit could end with a dip I went back to the spot described online and pished around. Finally I heard a chip note and knew my warbler was there, way up in the top of the canopy. I took a few crummy photos and watched the warbler until it disappeared. One more bird on the Bird A Day challenge, one happy birder!

Little Winter Warbler

The Palm Warblers are molting in some pretty feathers these days. I've seen more yellows and rust colors show up on our normally drab little winter warblers. Many people overlook our little wag-tailing Palm Warblers but I find them fascinating. Maybe it's that constant nervous twitch or those tiny little legs that keep it perched. Whatever it may be, I do love the little Palm Warbler.

Oh little warbler,
How you always make me smile
Except when you leave.

Harvest Time in the Redlands

Most people take the road to Everglades National Park from Homestead and drive right through those farm lands without slowing down for a second look.  Of course, the birders stop though because we know those redlands harbor much sought-after shorebirds during migration.  As I was driving down to Lucky Hammock this week I stopped to watch the farm workers picking crops.  I was curious so I stopped the car and shot a few photos off.  It was a beautiful day with a scorching sun and most of workers had large brimmed hats.  They were picking beans, large containers full of them.  The field after that held large ripe tomatoes.  The one down the road was partially tilled but once had squash.  It's harvest time in the Redlands.  Next time you're driving by take a minute and check out the fruits of the land.

Breeding Coloration on Great Egret

The egrets and herons are in full breeding plumage right now. Most people focus on the ornamental feathers but check out this bright tangy green around the eyes and bill on this Great Egret. I found this one hunting the Green Cay wetlands last week. It's a gem of a bird and once again, a common bird is seen with new eyes. It's all in the details folks!

Lizard Dewlap

Today at Green Cay I had a nice looking Brown Anole pump his little chest and flair out his dewlap when I walked by.  Now, I can't say I'm a big fan of Brown Anoles, they are an exotic herp here in South Florida but I'm a sucker for that bright throat skin.  I watched the territorial/courtship behavior, not sure which he was doing, and snapped a few photos.  This guy may be an exotic but I enjoyed him despite those shortcomings. 

Osprey Young

Look at that stare from the parent as the young Osprey looks on.  I caught up with this little family at the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge this past weekend.  Andy, Rosana, and Em were great travel partners and we had a nice weekend of sun and fun with a little birding on the side.  The best was wading across the channel at Bunche Beach to see the shorebirds.  We had a nice adventure and enjoyed the swimming afterwards

Blackbirds of Green Cay

The birds of Green Cay are so varied and beautiful but often we walk right past the common ones.  I took a moment this past week to slow down and enjoy the blackbirds.  They are all a ruckus right now with breeding season upon us.  The grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds are chattering up a storm and those male blackbirds are defending the railing like it's for their life.  Next time you're at your favorite birding spot, slow down and enjoy the common birds.  For those of us in South Florida, it will be all we have around us in just a few short months.

Shorebirds of Crandon Beach

The Bird A Day efforts are taking me to new birding destinations and recently I paid my $5 dollar entry fee and birded Crandon Park while in Miami.  It was a great shorebird spot with Black-bellied Plovers and Dunlin being the highlights.  But even the Royal Terns and Pelicans gave me some nice looks for ordinary birds.  I only stayed about a hour or so but it worth the trip.  If you're looking for an empty beach during the weekday then Crandon should be on your short list while visiting Miami.

Riverbend Park Volunteer Trip

We were greeted at Riverbend Park by one of the Peafowl that call the parking lot area home.  These birds are from a population that previous land owners had and have been left in their wake as Riverbend takes shape as a restored Palm Beach County park.

Seven brave volunteers loaded up in my van as I took us up north on I-95.  John Welch, naturalist, gave us a great behind-the-scenes tour.  We took a look at the Seminole battlefield, the old homestead, and had a great introduction at headquarters.  It was everything I was hoping for AND we had the luck of seeing a FOTS of Swallow-tailed Kite soar over us right before our picnic lunch.

One of my favorite parts of Riverbend is the scenery.  I love that it feels like the coastal plain of Georgia.  Those big Live Oaks draped with Spanish Moss and covered with bromeliads, like my favorite the Resurrection Fern seen below.

If you're visiting northern Palm Beach County you should load up your bikes and take a spin on the 15 miles of trails at Riverbend or rent a canoe and go down the Loxahatchee River.  Either way, you will have one natural Florida experience that you won't forget!

Rufous Hummingbird

It's a little late in the season but I got a lucky break this past weekend and found the over-wintering Rufous Hummingbird at Castellow Hammock Park in Miami-Dade.  There has been some speculation that this could be an Allen's Hummingbird but for my BirdaDay purposes I IDed as a Rufous.  I think it would be a tough call to go with Allen's and Rufous is much more likely but anything could happen.  I think this one will remain a mystery.

Filming at the Wetlands

This has been a long week so far at Green Cay.  We started Monday morning off with a busy schedule of filming with Channel 20.  They are doing an "Everything Animal" show on the nature center and wetlands.  We filmed in the wetlands and by the nature center.  The photos show you Lori, our naturalist, and the film crew.  Toni was our host and she was great to work with as well as Will, the leader of this filming production.

Once I know when the program is airing I'll put up a link.  I'm glad that we're getting some exposure and certainly it was fun working with a film crew for the first time.

On Tuesday, we headed to Riverbend Park for a volunteer field trip.  I'll have a great write-up on the park and our visit soon.  If you are visiting the Palm Beach area I highly recommend stopping by and taking a bike ride or launching a canoe down the Loxahatchee River.

Florida Trails Bird Migration Talk

Monday, March 5th I will be giving a Bird Migration talk to the Florida Trails group at Okeeheelee Nature Center in West Palm Beach, FL.  If you would like to join the talk it starts at 7PM.  I really enjoy doing some outside speaking engagements and this one always draws a nice crowd.  Those FL Trails folk are some of the friendlist around.  See you Monday!