This pair of young Roseate Spoonbills looked quite relaxed as they strolled through the marsh at Merritt Island NWR. These unique pink wading birds use their spatula-shaped bills for foraging in the shallow water, catching their prey by tactolocation.Audubon.org calls Roseate Spoonbills “Gorgeous at a distance and bizarre up close.” The young Rosies are distinguished from older […]
Author Archives: Birder's Journey
We saw and heard many beautiful woodpeckers at Corkscrew Swamp on a recent visit – Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, and this beauty above. The vertical white wing patch (along with the yellow belly :-D) is a key distinguishing feature that tells me this is a female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Tree trunks lined with ‘distinctive, neatly […]
Learn more, and take a virtual visit to this special place: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
I love the American Bittern – what a curiously unique member of the heron family! This large Bittern has been aptly described as stout, streaked, solitary, and, most definitely, secretive and stealthy. The elusive American Bitterns are often very difficult to spot, but this one was quite accommodating and stayed out in the open for quite some time before he slipped back […]
I spotted these two sweet, young adult Purple Gallinules the other day. . . . more colorful than their younger juvenile peers, but not yet as brilliant as they will be in their full adult colors. See this All ABout Birds comparison for more.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
This scene struck me as a study in contrasts . . . . a curiously quiet, reflective Limpkin against a veritable riot of yellow flowers. More often it is the Limpkins that are causing a riot with their loud screeching calls, and the background is hardly noticeable ☺️.
I was drawn by the lilting song of this sweet Eastern Meadowlark while out walking in Wellington Preserve, on Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. So irresistible ~ Have a listen.And, right across the road ….a handsome Loggerhead Shrike was posing in a low tree. What a blessing to have these delightful birds in our midst.
A handsome Great Blue Heron primps before setting out to start the day ~
