Yesterday's Birding

It was overcast and cool yesterday. After breakfast we ventured out to Sheepshead to see what we could see.

There has not been a lot of action there with this gloomy weather but we never fail to see the eastern phoebe.

The huisache trees are in full bloom.

The rubber tree is about to sprout a new leaf.

 We then drove up to the Birding Center. Right at the front by the water feature was a green heron. The first of three we saw today in different places.

 Out by the boardwalk was a double-crested cormorant

and the spotted sandpiper we often see here.

On the north side of the boardwalk was green heron #2.

Looking WAY to the south I spotted a male belted kingfisher.

Over at the alligator pond was a big group of birders on a tour. There were many herons and egrets. This yellow-crowned night heron had its nape feathers blown up by the chilly north wind.

This one was hunkered down in the lee of the wind beside the cattails.

The reddish egret was putting on quite a show. The new-to-the-area birders were SO impressed.

Also there were snowy and great egrets, and great blue and tricoloured herons.

Along the last boardwalk were a pair of snoozing blue-winged teal.

I always look up to the overhead wires on the way back to the parking lot. There was a loggerhead shrike. They are known for impaling their prey on thorns. The hooked beak is very handy for grabbing food items.

It flew down and I got a shot of the spider it had grabbed just before it gulped it down.

Back at the Birding Centre building we climbed the 5 flights of stairs to the top of the tower to get a panoramic view. Down below was a group of 5 roseate spoonbills sheltering themselves from the north wind.

It was then time for lunch.