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