Travels south

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) - Brady Park, Garson, Ontario - 2015 February 10

This winter has been long and cold and bird watching opportunities seem to be few and far between. In early February I was out for a walk at Brady Park in Garson but the only birds were a few Black-capped Chickadees. This one was busy looking for food and allowed me to get close for a photograph.

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) - Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida - 2015 February 28

We decided a good cure would be a trip south to Florida. Travelling south we finally left the snow behind in northern Georgia but winter was still lurking in north east Florida. We travelled down the Atlantic Coast where one of our stops found this Northern Mockingbird willing to pose.

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) - Port Orange, Florida - 2015 March 1

Crossing over the intracoastal waterway at Port Orange a group of Laughing Gulls lined up on a pier railing. Some were already in their breeding plumage with dark black heads while others had not completed the molt.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Continuing south we explored some of the Canaveral National Seashore. Here a Bald Eagle perched at the top of a utility pole.

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) - Bairs Cove, Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Stopping at a boat launch, I can only guess the smell of fish attracted some local Black Vultures. The group was almost tame, this one staring us down from the curbside showing a good view of his bald but dark face.

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Spending some time in this large protected area we found some lovely isolated Atlantic beaches. Here a Brown Pelican is enjoying the morning sun.

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Not far away a Laughing Gull was also settled in for a siesta.

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Further up the beach was a mixed group of birds. The larger terns with the bright orange bills are Royal Terns, the smaller terns with the masked face are Forster's Terns in winter plumage. Also in this photograph is a Ring-billed Gull in the foreground and a Laughing Gull.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Exploring further we saw many different birds. Here a White Ibis is foraging in a shallow pool.

Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)
American Coot (Fulica americana) - Biolab Road, Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Travelling along Biolab road, an internal gravel trail, was a birding experience. A large variety of birds went about their daily routine completely oblivious of us. Here a Roseate Spoonbill is ready to probe for his next snack while in the background several American Coot swim past.

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Biolab Road, Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

In the same area a group of Ibises included one of the dark species. This Glossy Ibis stood out among the background group of White Ibis. When observing a dark Ibis, a bird watcher needs to pay particular attention to the white surrounding the eye. In this photograph the white surrounding the eye is broken at the back of the eye. If this white patch was continuous, it would indicate the very similar White-faced Ibis.

Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) - Biolab Road, Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville, Florida - 2015 March 1

Further along the road we came upon this Wood Stork perched precariously on one leg. Although not a particularly beautiful bird we were happy to take a photograph.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

A few days later we stopped at the Shark Valley visitor complex at Everglades National Park. Here we found this juvenile White Ibis posing. These birds finally molt into their white adult plumage after spending a year in this drab coloration.

Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Not far from the Ibis was an Anhinga in a classic wing spread drying stance. We observed these birds slowly swimming below the water foraging for a meal. They would ocassionally come up for a breath, and then eventually come out to dry off in the sun. Some observers may confuse this bird at a distance with a Cormorant, but the Anhinga has a straight bill like that of a heron whereas the cormorant has a distinctly hooked upper bill.

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

In the canal nearby was this Common Gallinule. Still in winter coloration it is lacking the bright red shield above the bill.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

There were also several heron species along the trail. Here a Tricolored Heron watches intently for fish. This species is identified by the whitish underparts and yellowish face markings.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Here a Green Heron was in a similar trance as it watched for a meal.

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Not far away another Gallinule swam leisurely.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Our peaceful hike was disturbed by the loud calls of a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks. This one stopped in a tree right above the hiking trail.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Here another Tricolored Heron was walking towards the canal.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Another heron that looks similar at a distance is the Little Blue Heron. As seen in this photograph it has a slate coloured body, purplish tint on the neck and a greyish face.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

And here is a third related bird. The Snowy Egret is bright white with black bill, yellow face, black legs and barely visible here, yellow feet.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Leaving Shark Valley we stopped along the roadside where these two white birds stood, a White Ibis in the foreground and a Snowy Egret stands guard.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Close by a Tricolored Heron stood on a log giving a good view of its feet.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) - Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

Our next stop was Everglades City on the south coast where we went on a boat trip out into the mangrove estuary of Chokoloskee Bay. Here a pair of Osprey has a nest built on a navigation marker.

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) - Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades National Park, Florida - 2015 March 3

On a sand bar there was a collection of birds including several American White Pelicans, a few Double-crested Cormorants and some Royal Terns.

White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) - Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

A day later we spent some time on the beautiful beaches of Sanibel Island near Fort Myers. This is a photograph of one of a pair of White Ibis that were strolling through the surf looking for breakfast.

Willet (Tringa semipalmata) - Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

Not far down the beach this Willet was stretching his wings and legs.

Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) - JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

A well known spot to visit on Sanibel Island is the JN "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge. There is a well established Wildlife Drive which must be one of the few drive through bird watching trails in the world. Finally with this photograph I found the last of the egret species I was hoping to view on this trip. A Reddish Egret easily identified by its red tinted neck and two tone black and pink bill.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) - JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

A short distance down the road my wife spotted another red bird. This Northern Cardinal sat perfectly still for several minutes which was most unlike any Cardinal I had seen before. After we took some photographs a large insect jumped out from about a foot away from the Cardinal. The bird quickly flew up, grabbed the insect and disappeared into the shrubbery. We can only guess that the Cardinal was eyeing the insect all the time it was posing for us.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

Another bird watching hot spot on Sanibel Island is the Bailey Tract, a series of trails around several fresh water ponds. Here a Little Blue Heron was watching for movement in the water.

Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

I also spotted under the shade of some trees along a far shore a Mottled Duck. Very similar to the common Mallard, the Mottled Duck has no hint of white around it's tail and wings.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

In a nearby pond a pair of Blue-winged Teal were very tolerant of our presence allowing us to approach within a few meters. This is the male.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

The female was at his side, a very plain greyish duck.

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

Very close to the pair of Teal this Tricolored Heron was also not startled by us walking past.

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) - Bailey Tract, Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

Further along on our hike we saw a white heron perched in a tree. At first I thought it was a Snowy or Great Egret, but something did not look right. Greyish legs, and a pale bill and a look through my field guide led me to the conclusion that this was an immature Little Blue Heron.

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) - Sanibel Island, Florida - 2015 March 4

While travelling around Florida, I saw on numerous ocassions Eurasion Collared-Doves. They are similar to our common Mourning Dove but noticeably paler. On close observation one can see a small black collar on the back of its neck. Earlier sightings were all from a moving vehicle, until hiking around the east end of Sanibel Island I spotted this dove perched on a light post.