Lakeland, FL ~ Mirrow Lake

life Bird #425 ~ Common Shelduck

Life Bird # 426 ~ Mandarin Ducks

Mandarin Duck ~ Drake

Found an Alligator at Mirrow Lake

Lakeland, FL ~ A Walk around Lake Morton

Life Bird #423 ~ Black Swans

Life Bird #424 ~ Black-necked Swan

Wood Duck ~ Drake

Wood Duck ~ Hen

Ruddy Duck ~ Hen

Ring-necked Duck

White Pelicans

Polk County, FL ~ Circle B Bar Ranch Preserve

Barred Owl

Common Gallinule & chicks

Double-crested Cormorant with breakfast

And after all of his manipulations he loses his fish!

Polk County, FL ~ Circle B Bar Ranch Preserve

American Alligator watching us!

Lots of birds and other animals around Circle B to see.  What a great place.

Sunning Turtles

Sora  was the best bird of the day found by Bernie 

Purple Gallinule

Roseate Spoonbill

Snowy Egret

Snake

Polk County, FL ~ Circle B Bar Ranch Preserve ~ Butterflies

Carolina Satyr

Today Bernie & I headed to Circle B Bar Ranch Preserve for the first time.  We have thought for a long time it was a great place and boy, were we right.  We saw so many different birds, butterflies and other animals.  We walked about 4 hrs in the morning, took a break for lunch and then walked another couple of hours.  Just amazing!  Wish I lived closer as I'd be there a lot this time of year but that's one reason I retired to be able to travel to places like this. I must say I was surprised at the many species and numbers of butterflies seen here.

Variegated Fritillary

Viceroy

Ceraunus Blue

Dainty Sulphur

Fiery Skipper

Phaon Crescent

Vero Beach, FL ~ West Regional WTF Wetlands ~ Snail Kites

Spent an hour checking out the Snail Kites.  They sure are fun to watch.  Hard to get good photos as the soar around the skies.  There were at least 6-8 of them with adults and juveniles mixed together.

Boynton Beach, FL ~ Green Cay Wetlands & Nature Center ~ Atala Butterfly

I first heard about the Atala Butterfly several years ago and saw it in captivity.  But with Coontie being replanted their populations are increasing.  At Green Cay Wetlands & Nature Center the Atala butterflies have returned in good numbers.  I saw at least 12 yesterday but didn't find any caterpillars so decided to go back today and look again today with good success.

Palm County, FL ~ Wakodahatchee Wetlands & Green Cay Wetlands Birding

White-faced Whistling Duck ~ ABA Life Bird #421 

Ovenbird ~ ABA life Bird # 422

Anhinga spears breakfast

Displaying Red-winged Blackbird

Gray-headed Swamphen  (invasive)

Gray-headed Swamphen  (invasive)

Gray-headed Swamphen  (invasive)

Delray Beach, FL ~ Wakodahatchee Wetlands ~ Love is in the Air

Wood Storks

Anhinga's

Cattle Egret in Breeding Plummage

Displaying Great Egret

Double-crested Cormorant & babies

American Alligator & babies

(Close-up)