Cape May Point Birding

 Great to get out early this morning to bird at several productive spots in the Point.  First stop, was the jetty at Alexander Avenue where I saw several Brown Pelicans, lots of different species of gulls, some Double-crested Cormorants, many Yellow-rumped warblers and many Golden-crowned kinglets.  Next stop was Northwood Center.  Then I headed over to the beach and the trees along Harvard Avenue.  I had a great time.

Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

American Redstart

American Goldfinch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker

Beth's Patch ~ Bird's over the Delaware Bay

Everyday, I see Osprey fishing in the bay and then flying the fish back to the nest to feed the babies. 

Looking for the fish.  They have eagle eyes!

Brown Pelican's also fly along the bay a few times weekly.

Clearwater Beach, FL ~ Sand Key

Dancing Reddish Egret.

Reddish Egret

Brown Pelican

Diving Brown Pelican

Yellow-crowned Night-heron

Displaying Laughing Gulls

St Augustine, FL ~ Marshes of Moultrie Creek ~ Take 2

This morning before I finished the tide was high so I decided this afternoon I'd work on pictures and maybe take a nap.  So I did and then went out for a second drive along Shore Road hoping that low tide would be as fruitful.  It really wasn't but I enjoyed what birds I found.  Mid-tide seems to be best.

Belted Kingfisher

Brown Pelican

This Eastern Bluebird was a surprise!

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Great Blue Heron with Laughing Gull

Red-shouldered Hawk take-off

Watsonville, CA ~ walking the Slough's

Anna'a Hummingbird on Mexican Sage

Lesser Goldfinch

White-crowned Sparrow

Brown & White Pelicans resting

Everglades City, FL ~ Cruise out into the Everglades

10,000 Islands

Osprey in nest

American Bald Eagle

Bottlenose Dolphin ~ photo credit Deb Philip

Bottlenose Dolphin ~ photo credit Deb Philip

Brown Pelican

Sanibel Island, FL ~ Lighthouse Park Beach

Bottlenose Dolphins

Brown Pelican

Snowy Egret

Merritt Island, FL ~ Kayaking the Indian River Lagoon

Brown Pelican

Our adventure last evening was having a private kayak tour using A Day Away Kayak Company.  We met at 6PM and our guide, Brian introduced himself.  Our plans were to kayak up the Overhaul Canal to see the Manatees before kayaking over to Mullethead Island, which is in Indian River Lagoon.  There is a large rookery there so we would be able to watch the birds coming into roost at nightfall plus we would watch the sunset before the kayak trip back. It was great to see some close looks at Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets, juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons plus other species. The tricky part of the kayaking was the trip back to shore as we were fighting headwinds.  By that time my back was really bothering me so paddling  was a little difficult but I did make it under my own steam.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (front) & Roseate Spoonbill (back)

Roseate Spoonbill

Merritt Island, FL ~ Pine Flatwoods Trail

One of our target birds was a Florida Scrub Jay which would be another lifer for both of us.  There are several trails on Merritt Island where you can see Scrub Jays.  We decided we would walk the Pine Flatwoods Trail where we were happy to see a pair of the Florida Scrub Jays.

Florida Scrub Jay

Bonita Springs, FL ~ Lover's Key State Park Oceanside

Laughing Gull with lunch

Diving Brown Pelican

Diving Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican diving

Touchdown Brown Pelican

Sanibel Island ~ At the Lighthouse

We finished our day here and while I found the lighthouse a disappointment as it's just a metal structure there were some great birds including a gorgeous Reddish Egret.  There were dolphins frolicking in the water. We also saw our first butterfly which was a Monarch and collected some shells for Jenny.

Brown Pelican

Reddish Egret

Reddish Egret