Thursday, January 8, 2015

Warm Thoughts of Florida Birds


As frigid arctic air moves into the Midwest, I thought I would post some bird photographs taken during my March visit to Longboat Key, Florida. Thoughts of warmer climes, lush foliage and stunning birds certainly ease cabin fever on a day where wind chill readings of -30 degrees are expected here in Chicago. Brrr!


A handsome Barred Owl roosts quietly in the forest canopy


A hungry owlet calls out for its parents


A stunning Great Blue Heron shows off its impressive wingspan


Two Limpkins explore Celery Fields


A Great Egret in breeding plumage finery


Two curious Great Egret youngsters move about the nest


A striking figure amid the Spanish moss ~ White-eyed Vireo


Pretty in Pink ~ Roseate Spoonbill


A juvenile Little Blue Heron scratches an itch


The midnight blue feathers of an adult Little Blue Heron


Foraging amidst the Sarasota Bay mangroves ~ Yellow-crowned Night Heron


A colorful Green Heron perches above swamp waters


Searching for food ~ Glossy Ibis


Soaring above Celery Fields ~ Northern Harrier


Exhibiting courtship behavior ~ Double-crested Cormorants


A red-eyed Black-crowned Night Heron peeks out from behind the mangrove leaves


An American Alligator basks in the warm morning sun