The ‘gator didn’t move a muscle – he just sat there, smack in the middle of the path. Should I just turn around and go the other way?! (This trail happens to be bordered on both sides by swampy waterways that are frequented by American Alligators.) But the guy above who was walking toward me […]
Category Archives: Nature
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 […]
When I go for a walk in one of our natural areas with someone who’s never gone birding before, they’re usually awed by the beauty and diversity of our avian friends. So I always share with them this line by Jonathan Rosen, writer, editor, and birder, from his wonderful book, Life of the Skies: Birding […]
“Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world.” Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (1962) May we always have the insight to appreciate the beauty of this world and the wisdom to protect it. Wishing all my blogging […]
Actually, the first day was completely overcast, quite chilly and very windy – but beautiful nonetheless! We were treated to sightings of many of the Merritt Island ‘regulars’, only a few of which are pictured here. White Ibis and Cattle Egrets like those above were ubiquitous, and groups of Roseate Spoonbills gathered in the shallow, […]
This time of year, our Wood Storks stay pretty relaxed, singing and/or . . . . . . dancing.By next month, we’ll start seeing them doing pirouettes overhead.Then the crowds will arrive, and the Wood Storks will start taking over ALL the nesting tree islands!And then, come February and March, the huge fluffy Wood Storks will […]
