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

Sarasota Area Birds

During the month of February, I was fortunate to spend several days on the west coast of Florida. Below are a variety of beautiful birds seen in and around the Sarasota area.

A striking Red-shouldered Hawk shows off its stunning plumage

A Brown Pelican floats in the briny Gulf of Mexico

A pair of Great Blue Herons occupy a nest in the mangroves ~ I stopped by the next day and saw three herons sitting in the nest

A pretty Roseate Spoonbill hunts for prey in a shallow pond at Celery Fields

Seeking sustenance ~ Black-bellied Plover

A handsome Osprey looks out over Sarasota Bay

Three Black-bellied Whistling Ducks enjoy a quiet morning at the pond

Two prehistoric-looking Wood Storks soar aloft at Oscar Scherer State Park

A stunning White Ibis relaxes while soaking in the late afternoon sun

Double delight ~ Red-shouldered Hawks

Birds of the Suncoast

This blog post features many stunning birds seen on a recent visit to Longboat Key, Florida.

A beautiful juvenile Roseate Spoonbill searches for food amid a patch of water hyacinth

Perched on a dead limb, a regal Osprey scans Sarasota Bay

The dusky midnight blue plumage of an adult Little Blue Heron

Seeking prey in the pond ~ Juvenile Little Blue Heron

A prehistoric-looking Wood Stork soars aloft

A long-necked Anhinga dries its feathers in the sun

A handsome Red-shouldered Hawk scans the area for food

Fishing in the shallows ~ Great Egret

A striking Great Blue Heron snares an unfortunate fish

A juvenile White Ibis settles into the mangroves

Preening amongst the lush green leaves ~ Brown Pelican

A female Belted Kingfisher rests on a bare branch

Swooning over a Spoonbill

I am so very happy to finally be putting out a blog post! This summer blogging has taken a back seat to more pressing matters. Building our new home in Indiana has been a priority over the last few months. Bruce and his crew have been working diligently on the construction and the house is really starting to take shape. Though most of our time has been spent in the country working on the house, we have yet to acquire internet service. I have greatly missed reading all of your beautiful blogs, writing comments and putting out posts of my own. Most importantly and sadly, my wonderful Dad passed away at the beginning of August. It has been a difficult time for me and my family, but we have taken great comfort in all the kindness, support and generosity from family and friends.

I recently spent a few days in Longboat Key, Florida. Though the trip was not for pleasure, I managed to find a couple of minutes here and there to venture out with my camera. The highlight of my outings was finally being able to view a Roseate Spoonbill from a close distance. Over the past few years I have been enamoured by this elusive blushed pink bird. Until recently I was only able to catch a passing glimpse of a spoonbill. Oh what a joy it was to observe this cool bird with the odd shaped bill. This post features photographs of lovely feathered friends seen on my recent visit to Longboat Key and a few from past trips.

A splendid sight ~ Roseate Spoonbill

 

 

One of many Northern Mockingbirds seen on Longboat Key

 

 

The stunning plumage of a Tricolored Heron

 

 

A striking Great Egret seeks prey in the shallows

 

 

Soaking up the morning sun ~ Turkey Vulture

 

 

A statuesque Great Blue Heron has hunting success

 

 

Two pretty Willets spend a late afternoon at the beach

 

 

Looking out over Sarasota Bay ~ Snowy Egret

A beautiful White Ibis forages for food in the pond

 

 

A common sight on Longboat Key ~ Osprey

 

 

Drying feathers amongst the mangrove leaves ~ Anhinga

 

 

One last look at the Roseate Spoonbill