Boat-tailed Grackles are among the most commonly seen birds in the wetlands, but the lovely brown females are very often overlooked, while their flashy (and boisterous!) male counterparts demand our attention. The hardworking female Grackle builds her nest by herself in the low recesses of the grassy marsh plants, and she does a great job […]
Category Archives: Nature
I recently read an informative article (see this link at Florida Audubon) with a unique perspective on the Tricolored Heron’s ‘multi-colored’ appearance. Here’s an excerpt: The Tricolored Heron Has More Than Three Colors, “Multicolored Heron” might be a more accurate name for this small wading bird, formerly known as the Louisiana Heron. Their plumage changes […]
I’m always so happy to see a Gray Catbird! They’re frequently heard but not seen as their dark colors blend in with the shadows of their habitat. “Rather plain but with lots of personality, the Gray Catbird often hides in the shrubbery, making an odd variety of musical and harsh sounds,” (Audubon.org). A dark gray […]
I’ve only seen the species a few times over the years, but this quiet fellow can be seen at our local wetlands in virtually the same spot nearly every day lately. The Wilson’s Snipe favors wet habitats such as marshes, pond edges, flooded meadows, and fields, foraging in the mud for prey such as insects, […]
“Among the most elegant of the herons, the slender Snowy Egret sets off immaculate white plumage with black legs and brilliant yellow feet.” (All About Birds). I’ve always loved the graceful mannerisms of the Snowy Egret, a species that was nearly decimated in the early 1900’s during the notorious plume trade, when an ounce of their […]
From a distance, I initially thought this was an Osprey – they’re always sitting on top of power poles like this. But, what a special moment when I realized it was actually a magnificent Peregrine Falcon! I’ve seen Peregrine Falcons only a couple of other times and never this close up . . . I […]
This American Alligator was one of 15 or 20 that I spotted lounging along the banks of the waterways of Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive the other day. “American alligators are large crocodilians found only in the United States. They can grow to be more than 12 feet (3.6 meters) in length and weigh as much […]
Sandhill Cranes are very large non-migratory birds that “breed and forage in open prairies, grasslands, and wetlands” (All About Birds, Florida FWC). Monogamous breeders, they are known for their unique mating dances! (listen on Bird Note and watch this Bird Note video (especially after 45 sec. or so). On a recent walk, I heard this […]
As I’ve mentioned before, healthy Florida Raccoons are regularly out and about in the daytime, unlike their northern counterparts. The curious fellow above was romping in the flowers alongside the trail at Orlando Wetlands. A few weeks ago, I had a different sort of Raccoon experience on the Corkscrew Swamp Boardwalk – see the sequence […]
The mornings and evenings are a bit cooler now, and the days are not nearly as humid anymore. Heading into everyone’s favorite time of year in southeast Florida! The warblers are here, and soon our resident wetland birds will begin the busy months of courting and nesting☀️
Birder's Journey 