I spotted this handsome little Red-bellied Woodpecker foraging for goodies high up in a tree in the Morikami Japanese Gardens. His diet consists mostly of insects, spiders, and other arthropods, but he also may be enjoying bits of plant material here. Here’s a Cool Fact: “A Red-bellied Woodpecker can stick out its tongue nearly 2 […]
Category Archives: wildlife
This delicate little yellow bird was busy flitting from branch to branch when I caught sight of her. The Prairie Warbler “forages mainly by taking insects while perched or hopping on branches or twigs. Also catches flying insects in mid-air, and takes insects from undersides of leaves (and spiders from their webs) while hovering.” (Audubon) […]
Just came back from an evening walk at our favorite wetlands. A slight movement here in the dense marsh foliage made me take a closer look – and there he was! How lovely to encounter this Least Bittern climbing deftly from stem to stem right in front of us. ☺️
Despite their prevalence here in our local wetlands, I haven’t posted in a very long time about Wood Storks. The Wood Stork is a “bald-headed wading bird [that] stands just over 3 feet tall, towering above almost all other wetland birds.” (All About Birds). The adult’s head is bald and scaly in appearance, and its […]
How much more beautiful can this lovely Great Egret make itself? 💚
Barred Owls are SO good at camouflage! We nearly walked right by this quiet fellow, hiding in plain sight just a few yards off the trail.
The White Ibis is so ubiquitous here in Florida that I often forget how limited their range is in North America! (See the All About Birds, White Ibis Range Map) The lovely brownish youngster above hasn’t yet matured, but soon he’ll grow into his completely white plumage and eventually be as handsome as the breeding […]
The Double-crested Cormorant is a common but dazzling sight here in our marshes and wetlands, with its sleek, glistening plumage and “striking aquamarine eyes that sparkle like jewels.” (All About Birds)
These Purple Gallinules were literally up to their knees in Water Lettuce, a troublesome invasive exotic plant (FWC), earlier this season. The Purple Gallinule “readily accepts weedy conditions brought on by eutrophication and feeds on exotic weeds such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata).” (Birds of the World). I’m watching to see […]
There is something irresistible about Black-necked Stilts, so elegant with their uncommonly long pink legs and streamlined torpedo-shaped bodies! 💕 They’ve been enjoying this very shallow, muddy section of the marsh for awhile now, but I haven’t noticed any nests yet. Their nests can be hard to find as they are “usually located on bare […]
Birder's Journey 