The Purple Gallinule is one of my favorite wetland birds. I loved how this one looked, surrounded by the dark green plants and dark blues of the water on a late afternoon December walk. We see them frequently here, all throughout the year. Their colors are just glorious in the sun, as their feathers truly […]
The late Chabad Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson is quoted as saying, “Melody is the quill of the soul. Words may be an expression of your heart, but a melody expresses the contents of your soul. . . . “ (Source: Prisms, Uplifting Views on Daily Life, 2014). We made a visit to the renowned world […]
We were visiting our daughter in New York for Thanksgiving, and she suggested we take the subway up to the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. What a serene and beautiful place~! The Garden’s 250 acres are varied and beautifully kept, and there are many special exhibits and collections on the grounds. Definitely a […]
Went birding at a little park across from the beach the other day, but there were no birds to be seen. All I found was this Golden Silk Orb Weaver, hanging in front of me, its immense web stretched across the walking path. I’d never seen such gigantic spiders till I moved to Florida – […]
I love to watch Tri-colored Herons as they hunt in the shallow water – their technique is so showy! It’s no wonder they are so slender – they perform feats of acrobatics over and over again just to fill up on a meal of one teeny, tiny, little fish after another. The process begins as […]
Exciting news!! They have arrived! The Great Blue Herons are coming back and are beginning to settle in at the wetlands rookery. Today was the first time this fall that I saw them ‘displaying’, as in this arched neck posture, and jockeying for the best nesting sites on the tree island. They looked just magical in […]
Visited a lovely preserve called Peaceful Waters Sanctuary this week. Such an apt name! Even in the rain, it was a pleasure to walk the trails and the boardwalk – not a soul around, just a few Herons and I enjoying this very tranquil spot. On my second trip, today, the handsome Green Heron was […]
I caught sight of this Osprey on the look-out, high up in a tree at Ding Darling NWR, and waited patiently for him to do something exciting! He sat staring intently out across the water below, occasionally bobbing in the wind to keep his balance on the skinny branches. It didn’t take too long to zero in on […]
The other morning was the chilliest so far this fall, and completely overcast, with occasional drizzle, so I wasn’t sure I’d see much on my walk. But I was delighted to encounter several of my favorite bird friends! The Wood Stork featured above was foraging among the marsh grasses, when he suddenly leapt up and made a […]
We witnessed a magnificent Sunset (above) over the Gulf of Mexico this past Sunday. The brilliant oranges and yellows got me thinking about how different “Fall” looks in different places. These beautiful, rich Purple Morning Glories above were blooming all along the roadside on the water’s edge at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge the other day. Their bright blossoms […]
Birder's Journey 