Crystal River, FL

 Our day in Crystal River started out cloudy but ended nice and sunny and quite warm. We spent the morning birding the Fort Island State Park beach and trail (by the boat launches). Lots of migratory birds resting on the gulf beach before the beach became populated with swimmers and sun worshipers. The weather was warm with a brisk north-west wind that pushed the morning clouds away. The less windy sable palm hammock held the songbirds and the beaches were populated with migratory gulls, terns, and shorebirds.

Here's a sampling of what we saw:

Black Skimmer

American Oystercatcher

Royal Tern

Laughing Gull

Dunlin

Ruddy Turnstone

Sanderling

Willet

Double-crested Cormorant

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Red-shouldered Hawk (light Florida morph)

The Celery Fields, Sarasota, FL

 On Saturday, February 25th we were up before sunrise and headed to The Celery Field east of Sarasota FL.

 The morning fog made gave the Sandhill Crane on top of the embankment a mysterious look.

We observed a wonderful mixture of species from the viewing platforms and at the beautiful garden around the visitor's center. Here is a selection of what we saw...

Common Gallinule in courtship.

Limpkin on a nesting box.

Little Blue Heron hunting.

Nanday Parakeets making noise in the tree tops.

A Palm Warbler snacking on a dragonfly.

And a Purple Gallinule taking a stroll on top of the water lilies.

Jekyll Island, Georgia

 On a very warm and sunny February 23rd, we biked the north end of Jekyll Island along the Ocean View Trail and through the live oak and palmetto woods on soft surface trails near the campground. We saw 36 species in the various habitats of beach, marsh, and woods. It was a wonderful day of biking and birding on our favorite coastal island in Georgia. Here is a sampling of what we saw in the morning:

Easter Bluebird (female):

 

Savannah Sparrow:

Tricolor Heron:

White-eyed Vireo:

 White Ibis:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker:

Yellow-throated Warbler:

Pawleys Island amd Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

 We spent February 19-21 birding the Pawleys Island area and Murrells Inlet. The majority of our birding took place in Huntington State Park, a tract of land bordered by low country marsh, impoundments, and Atlantic Ocean.

Our first excursion was on a cloudy and brisk afternoon on the ocean shore at Pawleys Island. Forster's Terns and Bonaparte Gulls fished along the shore where the surf meets the sand. It was delightful seeing these skilled fishers taking a meal from the seafoam, like this Bonaparte Gull that looks to be dancing on the water.

Late in the afternoon and seeking a meal of our own, we walked the Marsh Walk of Murrells Inlet where seafood restaurants and fishing boats crowd the walk but there are great views of the inlet and marsh grass. Brown Pelican rested on the pilings. until the fishing boats came in then they crowded around hoping to catch a stray bit of fish.

Common Loon did their own fishing, and this bird found a succulent shrimp not to far from where the pelicans were jostling for scraps.

 

Laughing Gull, like the loon, were still in non-breeding plumage, and like the pelican they enjoyed perching on the pilings.

Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile found a cozy tree sticking up from the reeds.

 

On a sunny Monday morning we headed into Huntington Beach State Park and walked the causeway that crosses marsh and shallow water impoundments. Lots of waterfowl and waders on both sides as well as songbirds. Here's a selection of what we saw there...

Little Blue Heron in non-breeding white plumage:

 A close up of a breeze-tossed Snowy Egret:

Hooded Mergaser male:

Least Sandpiper:

Kildeer:

Swamp Sparrow:

 

On Tuesday, February 21 st we spent a good part of the afternoon at Brookgreen Gardens just across route 17 from Huntington State Park, Birds, a butterfly, and other critters live among the very old live oaks, beautiful, magical gardens, and old rice beds that are now lush wetlands. Here are some of thewild  residences of Brookgreen Gardens...

Black Swallowtail butterfly:

Cedar Waxwing:

American Alligator and turtle pals:

Fox Squirrel:

 Tufted Titmouse:

And Great Horned Owl on nest:

Early spring in low country South Carolina is here!

Virginia State Parks: York River SP and Machicomoco SP

 On this very balmy and sunny January, we birded two more of Virginia's State Parks. 

In the morning we visited York River State Park in James City County. Fog lifted to reveal sunny skies and temps in the 60's. The park not only features a beautiful view of the York River, it also has a beautiful pond called Woodstock. The bayberry myrtle ringing the pond held dozens and dozes of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a dozen Mallards, Great Blue Heron, and one Double-crested Cormorant.

The trail from the visitor center to Fossil Beach had the musical notes of a male Eastern Towhee.

 A Fox Sparrow perched conspicuously near the dam separating the pond from the river.

 On the wooded trail to Fossil Beach, Ruby-crowned Kinglets flocked with Yellow-rumped Warblers and Carolina Chickadees.

 A Brown Thrasher poked the leaf litter.

Red-headed Woodpeckers chattered from the trees

Eastern Bluebird posses alertly near the visitor center:

In the afternoon, we drove to Gloucester County and to Machipocomoco State Park on the northern shore of the York River. The open and wooded landscape and marshy creeks are great habitats for winter birds. 

Three Bald Eagles fished the creek bank. One enjoyed his catch on the muddy bank.

Northern Mockingbird flew from tree to tree in a mad flutter.

 

A Great Blue Heron flew low over the creek.

We saw lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Dark-eyed Junco, American Gold Finch, two American Kestrels, and one Air Force Two.