Wildwestbirds

Florida 2017

Winter on the southern east coast of the USA provides unbelievable birding. It is not surprising that many birders make an annual pilgrimage to the Sunshine State.

This year I was fortunate to be one of them.

Great views of Bald Eagles on Merritt Island.

There were many raptors, most impressive the Eagles and Ospreys

Osprey

A prominent bird of the State is the Black Vulture, an agile glider and master of the air. On the ground the vulture is not quite so majestic however.

Black Vulture

Black Vulture feed on carcase

Rewarding discovery

Any bird that challenges an old birder with half a century of experience is a very special one. This remarkable creature did! I thought it must be an immature Ibis of a species I had never seen before. I still get excited when seeing a new bird! Experiencing and feeling all the innocent rewards of discovery and achievement, the enjoyment of a being a total beginner. Although, this observation I decided to save and record as one to review later, but then after reading about Cranes, I discovered a close relative the Limpkin, this was my bird and it also proved to be responsible for those eerie sounds that we heard at night.

Above: Limpkin

The lively Tricolored Heron is another character of the Florida's waters, darting across lily pad, stabbing and eating small fish. Among the vast array of birds in and around the waters of the State there only a very few photographed here. There is the brilliant red of the Northern Cardinal, the distinct plumage of the displaying male Hooded Merganser. Cattle Egret, and White Ibis were also seen

Below: Tricolored Heron