The glossy Purple Martin, largest of North American swallows, winters in South America and migrates north to spend the breeding months across much of the United States. These aerial insectivores eat, drink, and bathe on the wing, feeding on flying insects (American Bird Conservancy). Purple Martins in the west tend to nest in tree cavities […]
Category Archives: Birds
This spot looks just right . . . Make sure no one else is around . . . First, a little sip . . . Some basic preening . . . Freshening up my head feathers . . .Ahhh, now for a quiet little swim . . .Who’s this interloper rushing over?!?!“May I join you. . . . ?” “Well. […]
I was out alone on the Scrub Ridge Trail at Merritt Island NWR looking for Scrub Jays, but having no luck. Then, halfway along the trail, I heard a lovely song coming from deep in the thick scrub right next to me. It didn’t sound like a Scrub Jay, but I had no idea who […]
This Black Vulture above, at Merritt Island NWR Nature Center, appeared to be drying off his feathers in the manner of Cormorants and Anhingas. Another visitor said he’d seen the bird emerge from the water just beforehand – a behavior I have never observed, though Black Vultures are very common here in Florida. But the […]
Why do so many people see this delightful bird and think it must be a Red-headed Woodpecker? Because it has a red head, right?! But lots of woodpeckers have red on their heads – see similar species on All About Birds. As eBird will tell you, the Red-bellied Woodpecker “is not well-named; rarely is the […]
“Whether wheeling over a swamp forest or whistling plaintively from a riverine park, a Red-shouldered Hawk is typically a sign of tall woods and water.” (All About Birds-Red-Shouldered Hawk). This handsome Hawk was definitely in his element. He was perched high up in a tree on the edge of the forest surrounding the beautiful marshy […]
Birder's Journey 