Upon returning to Florida this past week we were greeted by Alberto, a sub-tropical storm, which produced several days of heavy rain and wind. Unable to venture out into the local wetlands, my only photo opportunities have been in my back yard. Although I miss our morning walks, I do enjoy the quiet respite.
Egyptian Geese under overcast sky:
A Tricolored Heron hurries along the shoreline:
Our Illinois family visited us the first week of April, and we spent several nights at Sanibel Island on the southern Gulf coast. We have been so busy with travel that I just got around to reviewing the photos from that trip. Instead of the usual DSLR, I carried my new compact Olympic MSC ED-M Mk2 mirrorless camera. Having not mastered all its settings, my results were uneven, particularly in low light, so do not blame it on the camera.
We stopped at Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp on the way. Near the boardwalk, a Roseate Spoonbill posed nicely as it preened:
Nearby, a Great Egret cast a nice reflection:
I liked the way the light played upon the foliage and water at Corkscrew Swamp, a nice background for this Double-crested Cormorant:
One of the numerous White-eyed Vireos along the boardwalk:
At Sanibel, views of the Gulf of Mexico from our condo's screened porch:
Long-legged waders stole the show. Next to the fishing pier, Snowy Egrets seemed so expressive as they foraged along the beach:
A Reddish Egret's beauty was enhanced in the low light:
We drove several times along the wildlife loop at Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve. At a small pond in the Bailey's Woods area, a Black-necked Stilt scratched an itch:
Blue-winged Teal:
Marsh Rabbit:
Little Blue Heron:
An iPhone panorama of the Coral Creek estuary from the trail:
A Reddish Egret dances on a mudflat:
Two Reddish Egrets interacting:
Osprey chick in a nest along the road:
Brown Anole displaying:
At Lighthouse Point, two lovey Eurasian Collard-Doves:
Sanibel Lighthouse:
Sanibel beach exactly at sunrise:
A Willet was cooperative as the light increased:
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This week has been hectic as we were totally immersed in the tasks related to the sale of our Illinois condo, so Mary Lou and I have missed seeing nearly all the transient spring migrating birds.
We never reached our daily goal of 10,000 steps, although we got lots of exercise climbing up and down the three stories of our town-home, carrying furniture and household items. A good friend with husky relatives did the heavy lifting. Tonight (Tuesday), after attending our granddaughter's graduation from 8th grade we must catch a limo ride to the airport at 3:00 AM.
We visited Nelson Lake only a couple of times. This is the east entry path:
Earlier in the month we were able to drive through a nearby disturbed vacant area several times. We arranged our route so that whatever our destination, we could make one tour around the block. The area of grassland is platted, utilities and roads are in place and lots for future homes are marked out with signs and wooden poles. Using the auto as a blind, I captured a few decent shots.
Savannah Sparrow:
Eastern Kingbird:
Grasshopper Sparrow:
American Robin singing:
A female House Sparrow joined a male who was perched on a post:
The couple posed for a portrait:
This was the first time we found Bobolinks at this location:
Horned Lark:
A nice find was a Lark Sparrow. They have returned to this area after nesting here last spring for the first breeding record in Kane County. We are at the extreme northeastern limit of their breeding range:
A pair of Lark Sparrows foraged together. Another birder found a third:
Lark Sparrows are large, have long tails with white markings and their face pattern is distinctive:
A Killdeer had three newly hatched chicks:
Canada Geese dabbled in a roadside puddle:
A Bald Eagle flew overhead:
ADDENDUM: With all that is going on I forgot it was already Thursday and the blog posted automatically. I wanted to add a sky and cloud shot from the airplane as we were in final descent about 15 miles west of the Fort Lauderdale Airport and 6 miles north of our home. I was surprised to see that my neighborhood was visible just before we entered the heavier clouds. Click to enlarge and see annotations:
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