December at Chapel Trail Nature Preserve

Looking forward to the upcoming South Florida Audubon wetlands walk at Chapel Trail Nature Preserve in Pembroke Pines, on December 1. Here are selections from my photo archives for this location in the corresponding month in past years.  

View to the west in December 2015 looks pretty much as it does today:



View to the south from the entrance dock in 2012 reveals more open water than at present:



Wood Storks are tactile feeders which benefit when their prey is concentrated in shallow water. Although they were common in December, 2014 when this photo was taken, high water levels at Chapel Trail during the next couple of years caused most of them to forage elsewhere.



Great Egret and Wood Stork are seen hunting together in 2017. They both may benefit from this association. As a sight feeder, the egret may help the stork find concentrations of fish and other aquatic organisms. The stork stirs the water with its pink feet to scare them into its open jaws, at the same time exposing the fleeing prey to be captured by the watchful egret.



Gray-headed Swamphen in December 2014. This introduced exotic species favors the flooded spike-rush prairies along the boardwalk:



Killdeer often forage in the manicured grassy areas around the entrance to the preserve:



We saw the American Bittern this year on our November walk. This photo is from December, 2012:



Look for the bittern as it hides motionless in the reeds and sedges:



Cooper's Hawk flying over in 2012:



American Robins may be numerous in some winters, while we were lucky to find just one in December, 2012:



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a common and very active tiny bird of the treetops (2012):



The Little Blue Heron is a common sight unless there is high water (2011):



The Prairie Warbler (2011) may be seen all winter, but in spring most move out to the mangroves along the coast to breed:



Northern Mockingbirds are numerous. These two are engaged in a territorial dispute (2010):



Red-shouldered Hawks nest in the preserve and are seen here all year (2010):



The Merlin, a visitor from the far north, is reliably present most winters but this falcon seems to prefer wooded areas. One posed nicely on the fence next to the parking lot in December, 2008:



Look for Pine Warblers in the native pines in the drier areas along the boardwalk (2016):



The handsome Tricolored Heron is one of the most common herons at Chapel Trail (2017):



Flocks of White Ibis will forage in shallow water and on the landscaped grounds (2012):



A very unusual sighting was this flock of Mute Swans which flew over in December, 2015:





A Loggerhead Shrike eating a caterpillar (2015):



In 2011 we photographed a Sandhill Crane in the parking lot:



This rather tame crane remained through 2012, but disappeared mysteriously in 2013:



Chapel Trail Nature Preserve is not just about the birds. Check the flowering shrubs to see butterflies such as this Julia longwing male...



...Zebra heliconian...



...and White Peacock:



Marsh Rabbit, 2011:



A Swamp Lily in December, 2010:



A close look at a "Crab Spider," or Spiny Orb Weaver in 2011:




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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

 Linking to Fences Around the World by Gosia

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

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