Stafford, KS ~ Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Hundreds of Wilson's Phalarope flying

Spotted Sandpiper

Common Nighthawk

Red-headed Woodpecker

And another Red-headed Woodpecker

Superior, AZ ~ Boyce Thompson Arboretum ~ Birds

Spotted Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Black Phoebe

Gambel's Quail

White-winged Dove

Phainopepla

Apollo Beach, Fl ~ E G Simmons Park

Osprey with breakfast

Spotted Sandpiper

Royal Terns

Whimbrel

St Augustine, FL ~ Marshes of Moultrie Creek

Long-tailed Skipper

This morning I spend the morning checking out the marshes from both sides of the creek.  I drove along Shore Road stopping wherever it took my fancy and looked out to see what birds were around. It was going on high tide and yet still I was pleased with birds seen ~ unexpected shorebirds along with some ducks.  But the biggest surprise was a pristine Long-tailed Skipper along the edge of the marsh. I loved watching this Hooded Merganser fight with the shrimp he caught.  He finally was able to have some lunch.

Hooded Merganser & Shrimp

Whimbrel

Spotted Sandpiper

Turkey Vulture

Green Heron

CMBO Walk ~ The Beanery

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Eastern Kingbird

Sanibel Island, FL ~ Ding Darling NWR

Reddish Egret was dancing and flying ~ very neat

Spotted Sandpiper

Corolla, NC ~ Currituck Lighthouse & Heritage Park

There are 3 lighthouses on the island so today's trip was to the one nearest to where we are staying.  The Currituck Lighthouse is built of brick and opened in 1875.  There wasn't time to climb the lighthouse because we also wanted to explore the grounds of the Heritage Park.  We walked out one of the trails to the Currituck Sound.  Along the trail we saw Eastern Kingbirds, Gray Catbirds, Marsh Wrens plus lots of different dragonflies.  Once out at the Sound we saw Least and Spotted Sandpipers feeding at the muddy edge of the water.  Flying across the water were several Bank Swallows catching some insects.

Barn Swallow

Spotted Sandpiper

Eastern Pond Hawk Dragonfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Kayaking - Cape Island Creek

Another great day kayaking on Cape Island Creek. Lots of great birds spotted but we never did get to see the Belted Kingfisher I'd hoped to see. Only downspot was the tide was going out and several times I almost got stuck in the mud. Next tide I think we'll go out on a rising tide.

Spotted Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher probing for lunch!

Short-billed Dowitcher

Thoughtful Thursday



Spotted Sandpiper

Our avian brothers are back to roost on the first leg of their annual sojourn south.  Why them and not us?  Maybe because we humans are meant to be rooted in one spot.  Mitchell Burgess