Birding in between hurricanes

We returned to Florida from Illinois on August 5, flew to Amarillo only six days later, then on to Corpus Christi, Texas on August 16 and returned to Florida on August 20. Hurricane Harvey struck Corpus Christi on August 26. As Hurricane Irma approached our Florida home we escaped to New Mexico on September 6, came back to Florida on September 12, then departed for Illinois on September 16. This adds up to seven flights over a six week period. 

A pre-dawn view of cruise ships in Port Everglades as we took off from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (the airplane cabin was dark but my iPad turned on and caused a reflection):



In betwen trips we enjoyed a few rain-free days which allowed us to go birding in our local Florida wetlands. This was the scene just 5 minutes after sunrise on August 9:



Int the flooded woodlands, Melaleucas and Australian Pines had wet feet and cast weird reflectons:



The herons in the rookery had raised their broods and most abandoned the site. Among the stragglers were an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron:



It posed for a portrait, demonstrating its binocular vision:



A well-hidden juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron:



I captured this photo of a Great Egret preening its feathers through a hole between the branches. This produced a natural vignette: 



The appearance of a Northern Waterthrush was a sign that land bird migration was underway:



Northern Parula warblers are early migrants:



Last year we had a tiny Alder Flycatcher stay well into autumn. Perhaps this is the same one, as it appeared in the same fruiting Trema tree. Since it is best distinguished from the nearly identical Willow Flycatcher by its call, I must wait to hear it to be sure of my identification. However its olive plumage and its habit of foraging along the branches like a vireo appear more consistent with an Alder Flycatcher:



Blue-gray Gnatcatchers may breed down into southern Florida, but I have never seen them during summer until late August:



Northern Cardinals are present year around. This is a female:



Prairie Warblers breed locally but their numbers are augmented by arrivals from the north:





Raccoons commute between their homes and those of humans who fail to secure their garbage:



A feral boar appeared about a year ago. They can be dangerous and we try to avoid them:



Unusually wet conditions in the Everglades drive the White-tailed Deer onto high ground nearer to civilization. This is a magnificent eight-point buck:



This is an earlier photo of a doe jumping over the guard rail of the unfinished roadway:





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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to FENCES AROUND THE WORLD by Gosia

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

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