Migration is in full swing

During the summer months I sometimes struggle to attain my Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR) of 20 bird species in our local Wounded Wetlands. This is so much easier during spring and autumn migration. 

This past week the highlights among the arriving birds have been--

Black-throated Blue Warbler, males...

...and rather dissimilar females which show the "trademark" white wing patches:

Yellow-billed Cuckoo:

Yellow-throated Warbler:

Common Yellowthroat male...

...and female:

Ovenbird:

Red-eyed Vireo:

Yellow-throated Vireo:

Northern Parula warbler:

Scarlet Tanager male in winter plumage:

For comparison, here is a male in breeding plumage I photographed in Illinois (May, 2017)

American Redstart:

Gray Catbird:

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher:

Prairie Warbler:

This fruiting fig (Ficus species) along the Levee Trail attracts many warblers:

Crepuscular rays from the sun emerge from the "civilized" side of the canal, about 20 minutes before sunrise:

On the opposite (western) horizon, anticrepuscular rays converge over the Everglades preserve as distant Coyotes sing to celebrate a kill:

This was the Miami, Florida Doppler radar velocity image at 4:30 AM on October 13.  Our home location is circled and the direction of the reflections from migrating birds is indicated by the arrows:    

The image from Key West at the same time gives some idea of the density of southbound migrant birds passing over the Florida Keys:

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Linking to:

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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Walking the Levee Trail

The Levee Trail provides access to the Bar Ditch Trail which traverses the wildest part of the Wounded Wetlands. The latter trail is now under about a foot of water, shortening the walk but inviting more careful exploration. Spending more time at "sit spots" along the levee, I get a bit less exercise as well as some nice finds.

A feisty Brown Thrasher:

Migrants, including bright male Cape May Warblers...

...and less conspicuous females and immature birds of the same species:

Yellow-throated Warblers...

...which seem to advertise their names:

American Redstarts are hard to follow as they move erratically in the trees...

...sometimes offering only a quick click as they blaze away like wildfire:

This demure redstart is probably a female. The immature male is very similar but usually shows more of an orange tint:

Northern Parulas nest just to the north and are early arrivals during fall migration. These are males:

Females lack the red breast markings:

Active and acrobatic Black-and-White Warlbers do not nest locally but are sometimes seen here during breeding season. This could be an adult female or first year male:

This is an adult male on September 29, 2020:

In spring, the adult male is more boldly patterned with black markings (April, 2020):

Palm Warblers arrive a bit later and many stay here for the winter. Their long legs are an adaptation for feeding on the ground:

Prairie Warblers are back:

This male Scarlet Tanager was a bonus bird this past week. The male sheds his scarlet coat for a green one:

On my way home yesterday as I emerged from the high brush at the trailhead, I cautiously looked around before walking out into the open. Occasionally I surprise a mammal such as a rabbit, Raccoon, deer or Bobcat. This time I almost missed seeing a Coyote which had stopped to answer the call of nature:

When finished with doin' business, it continued across the gravel road:

We are in the heart of the wet season. Cloud formations can be very entertaining. Can you see this poor guy being knocked out by one  thief while the other sneaks off with his stolen horse? (or is it a rooster or a seahorse?

A record number of tropical storms have developed this year. Thankfully, south Florida has been spared a direct hit so far. Morning walks have been interrupted by "pop-up" showers associated with some of them.  Storms brewed rapidly before sunrise on October 3:

This was the scene to the south 25 minutes before sunrise on October 5. The clouds formed rapidly and I had to cut the walk short.

I got to the exit gate only minutes before the deluge:

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Linking to:

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

________________________________________________

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