When the birding is slow...

Even before sunrise it has been hot and humid on the wetlands next to our south Florida home. We got out most mornings, but the birding has been slow-- relatively few species and none out of the ordinary. After walking out briskly for a half hour, I then explore special spots that sometimes hold surprises. The Harbour Lake impoundment is usually the first stop, but on the way two Brown Thrashers appeared along the road. 



In a nearby Trema tree, an immature male Northern Cardinal moved close to the other thrasher.



The immature cardinal still has a mostly dark bill which will become bright red by spring.



Water levels are elevated, causing long-legged waders to disperse. There was no wind, and the lake's surface mirrored a lone Great Egret. A Little Blue Heron was resting on an adjacent rock.



As usual, the egret did not tolerate my presence, leaving the heron to stand its ground and protest. 



A Loggerhead Shrike occupied a high perch and kept a wary eye on me.



I found a shady spot on the levee of the canal and watched quietly. When there are warblers around I sometimes resent the distraction of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, but for a while a flock of a half dozen provided my only entertainment.







A Prairie Warbler with at least two more companions suddenly appeared.







I heard the cat-like mew of a Red-eyed Vireo, and soon two emerged from a nearby bush.



A pair of Carolina Wrens sang a duet nearby-- the male provided loud whistling notes and the female finished the song with a flat chatter. I briefly caught sight of the female.



Between the brief avian encounters, I turned my attention to some interesting insects. Dragonflies included a Needham's Skimmer...



...a Regal Darner...



...an Eastern Pondhawk...



...a Halloween Pennant...



...and a Band-winged Dragonlet:



Butterflies abounded. Here is a perfect specimen of a White Peacock:





This is a tiny Clouded Skipper:



A male Julia heliconian with closed wings looks nondescript from below...



...but blazes with color when it opens its wings.



The female Julia is less conspicuous:



The previous day one of our local Bald Eagles had been seen working on the nest, a full month earlier than this has been observed over the past eight breeding seasons during which we have monitored their behavior. While driving past the nest site I was surprised to see both adults roosting just west of the nest tree. 

The female is noticeably larger than the male:



This is the male:



After a few minutes the female flew along the road to a tree just to the east of the nest.





The male followed her.



For more information, photos and reports visit my Bald Eagle Nest FORUM.