Gator and Black point Road birding,Florida

Howdee all,

I found this forgotten post on this rainy, overcast North Carolina Day…I have a few Florida posts waiting to be finished..and I have been lazy about blogging…

I have been walking around Sickstas garden and getting my hands dirty. I have also been searching for the illusive Morel mushroom..hope I find some soon.

I set out my feeders and have a few new arrivals, American Goldfinch and Common Grackle..today a Ruby-throated Hummingbird :) The Bluebirds are checking out the nest box…and spring has sprung..Bird Migration is happening and we are ready and waiting.

Anyway..

I want to share some clouds and birds…

~Remembering~

Merritt Island NWR

This photo from Gator Drive, Merritt Island NWRWe always enjoy birding this area of Florida..Great EgretGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherPied-billed Grebe

Snowy Egret

Tri-colored HeronAnhingaGreen Heron

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

These are just a few of the many birds you will encounter in this area…

A wonderful place to bird!

Wordless Wednesday

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Green Cay Wetlands with the Badbirdz

Howdee all,

I cant say enough about Green Cay Nature Center..

Green Cay Nature Center is the county's newest nature center that overlooks 100 acres of constructed wetland and provides educational opportunities about this unique habitat. The wetland features 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk featuring interpretive signs about the habitat. The Nature Center includes a lecture hall, gift shop, and live animals in an extensive exhibit room that highlights wetland attributes. Come for a visit and find that there's something for everyone at this fantastic new facility!

I love this place! I could spend all day here…Granted its not in the wilds,it is an Oasis in a noisy sprawling developed area in Boynton Beach.

I love the Colors here..the green of the algae and Duck weed…Close up views of birds…

This particular day we met up with Angel and Mariel Abreu of Badbirz-reloaded.

Below is a bit about their website

Noel Wamer made us all “radar junkies”. Just because he’s off the official scene, doesn’t mean we can all up and quit cold-turkey. This blog is an attempt to keep the radar images coming, and to engage birders, scientists, and anyone else who is interested, in the study of migration using radar. Beginning in October 2008, Angel and Mariel Abreu joined the Badbirdz team as contributing authors, and as of Spring 2009 have become the primary authors and administrators of the site.  My other site, www.woodcreeper.com, tracks nocturnal migration over New Jersey, and was heavily influenced by Noel’s old website, badbirdz.com. ~David LaPuma

They could use your support..if you would like to donate to keep their website running go to this page.

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We had a wonderful time with Angel and Mariel, they are great naturalists and birders, who enjoy taking their time to study all things nature. They don’t rush around to see it all, they immerse themselves into what is happening at the moment.

I filled a 4gb card taking photos and videoSo I wont be showing them all here…Instead, I will, feature a few of the critters we saw in their own posts....

So..until then enjoy some of the highlights of the day..

Turtle stack!Moss covered Turtles…A huge Alligator…Some sort of wasp… American Coot..Common MoorhenBlue-winged TealGreen HeronSora…..we saw six of them!Tri-colored Heron

Limpkin… 

White Ibis Black-bellied Whistling Duck Blue-headed VireoPied-billed GrebePainted BuntingGlossy IbisA Lovely place…

Stay tuned for more from Green Cay!

Space Coast Birding festival~Viera Wetlands

Howdee all,

We had a great time at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival.

One of our first outings was to Viera Wetlands.

Located between the Moccasin Island Tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area and the Brevard Zoo, the wetlands are a popular site for birders, photographers, and eco-tourists.  The entire wetland system is accessible by automobile, making the site popular among those who find the rigors of hiking trails and summer temperatures daunting.  Even better, viewing the site from one's automobile serves to screen visitors from birds and wildlife, enhancing the experience

Our alarm didn’t wake us and we missed the bus..but luckily after some scrambling around to get directions we made it to the wetlands just in time to start the Bird outing with the group.

Our group leader was the very knowledgeable and friendly Laura Erickson.

Fourth from the right..

We joined the group in the bus which took us to various spots on the loop road..

A beautiful sunrise

Tree swallows land on grasses…White IbisBirders shadows…A palm warbler…Oh..what's this? A lovely Limpkin…

Lovely Limpkin with Laura Erickson speaking with the birders

Common Moorhen with its candy corn bill….It was a chilly morning and my fingers were cold and numb…in our rush to get ready I forgot my gloves…

Limpkin and Little Blue HeronBeautiful surroundings….for a water treatment plant..

I highly recommend birding here…Wonderfully scenic…

And great birding!Common Yellowthroat

A raft of Coot

These photos below were digiscoped by Jeff

American BitternBlue-winged TealSleeping..Sandhill CraneGreen Heron

A great morning of Birding!

More of the Space Coast Birding Festival to come….

The festival is over…Jeff and I are in Mims for a few days then we head south to Lake Worth for a few weeks..after that we haven't decided where to go.

If anyone is interested in getting together for some birding..let me know..I am trying to get a group together…have a few birders interested already.