Crops & Clips: Flashback to February, 2020

As I do on the first Thursday of each month, I enjoy looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, to remember how things were then in Florida, as compared to events this year at our new home in Connecticut. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and scenes which speak for themselves. 

We spent the entire month of February at home in south Florida. I processed 458 images, mostly captured under fair skies in the local Wounded Wetlands. 

A wintering American Kestrel was the first bird photographed that month:

A single Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was settled in the remains of the rookery. Its crown, no longer streaked, was starting to take on the breeding yellowish tone. In coming weeks its legs will brighten to deep orange and long plumes will develop on its back. Spoiler-- they will not breed here this spring because their habitat has been so degraded:

A female Northern Flicker spread her tail and called out to attract males:

The full Snow Moon served as her backdrop:

Only one male responded. Sometimes 3 or 4 may gather and display:

At local Chapel Trail preserve, Gray-headed Swamphens foraged in the flooded spikerush:

Red-shouldered Hawks were courting:

Northern Cardinals were in fine color:

The adult female Painted Bunting is our only native all-green bird:

A Green Heron looked down from its perch on a dead branch:

This male Northern Parula warbler exhibited colorful plumage:

Other birds of note included White-eyed Vireo...

...an occasional winter visitor,  an American Robin...

...a permanent resident, Carolina Wren...

...and a local Blue Jay, ready to bury an acorn:

A member of the local pair of Bald Eagles crossed my path:

A male Bobcat prowled in the dry prairie:

Gulf Fritillary on Lantana blossom:

A pair of Mottled Ducks reflected nicely:

A flock of White Ibises traversed the blue sky:

Twenty minutes before sunrise on February 24, the clouds resembled brush strokes:

The setting Snow Moon emerged from under the cloud deck against the western  horizon before sunrise:

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Linking to:

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Garden Affair

All Seasons

Image-in-ing

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World
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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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