Bird Club time! Today: Bird Rookery Swamp

The Caloosa Bird Club meets every Monday - Nov through April - it has been 6 months since the last trip and I welcome the fact that we are resuming - let's go!

Today's meet took place in Naples - Collier Co - at Bird Rookery Swamp. This is a combination boardwalk/nature trail that is 12 miles in length if you do the entire loop, the group usually turns around way before that. It feels like you're in a different part of the world when you enter this peaceful place - like heaven on earth - come and see.....

Our group today was a nice size - 21 members + 3 guests. This is the trail leading to the boardwalk.....

A Red-shouldered Hawk was silently watching, I love how the sun emphasizes his amber colors.

A Swamp Sparrow gave us good looks right out in the open across that little ditch.

This red maple leaf brought me back 'home' to Canada.

The trail opens right after the boardwalk...don't you just want to go and walk!

An Eastern Wood-pewee, no eye ring and wing bars.

A small gator laying over a log.

Beautiful vista, eh?

On the way back, the same gator was spread across the log with green algae on top probably trying to disguise as an iguana.

I love Lillies - the bees loves them too.

Interesting information about the Witches Broom

Shortly after we left the area - destination: IFAS Extension for lunch. This is where we refuel and go over the E-Bird list for the trip...53 species...not bad at all. We then went to Oil Well Road, a venue that was really productive a year ago with lots of ducks - this year not so much - it's almost dry and I think a bit early for the ducks. My E-Bird list for Oil Well Road.

 Elaine and I left the group and decided to return to IFAS Extension to spend some time in the garden.

We were rewarded with great sighting of a couple Hummingbirds.

I would have liked a better camera view point so that the colors would be more noticeable but as the song says: You can't always get what you want.

But nevertheless, this bird was on my 'wishlist' today and my wish was granted - I am greatful and I was blessed.

Eagle Lakes & Sugden Park in Naples w/Caloosa Bird Club

Ahhh....Monday morning and the Caloosa Bird Club is calling - let's go birding!

Today's itinerary: Eagle Lakes in Naples, Florida.

A Blue Grosbeak was a very nice surprise today.

An American Wigeon showing off.

An Indigo Bunting had me guessing for a bit - those female/first winter bird are tricky for me to recognize.

This park is large with wide cement trails that we shared with bikers/walkers, the view is great everywhere you looked....just watch where you're going.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - my favorite.

A Great Blue Heron doing a dance for another nearby.

You know you're into snowbird season when the Coots are in great numbers.

Here's a reptile that generated quite a conversation - from the angle and the distance, some folks thought it might have been an alligator snapping turtle but as can be seen here - the scutes are 'gator' like and not cone shape.

We later moved to the Sugden Park where we consumed our lunch - a Kestrel was glowing in all its beauty - don't you agree?

A few Bald Eagles were spotted flying overhead - beside this young one, our eyes followed a mature pair carrying nest material....

to their nesting site nearby. A great way to seal the day! My E-bird List for Eagle Lakes and my E-bird List for Sugden Park.

Oil Well Road and Corkscrew Swamp with the Caloosa Bird Club

Guess what day is today? If you answered Monday or Caloosa Bird Club day - you are correct and win on both counts.

We got up at 4 to get to our first destination at 6:30a.m. to witness the ducks waking up and some of the waders taking off for the day.

Check this out! How many ducks do you see?

This is only a very small portion of what was happening - species were seen all over - good thing we had many eyes on the scopes.

Several times we watched the birds/ducks being displaced by Northern Harrier and Bald Eagle flying overhead - it is just amazing to watch the ducks fly in unison and to hear the wings is just breathtaking. I did a whole lot of bird watching today as you'll see from my E-bird list for this location - I highly recommend a stop before the pond dries up or gets drained (whichever comes first) for tomato planting - very soon.

An hour later we made our way to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - one of our first greeters for the day ..... a Mourning Dove

and a handful of American Robins - they are finally here and it is nice to see them again.

There were also a pair of Deers eating their fill and blending in quite nicely with their surrounding.

We take our birding very seriously and willing to suffer from neck stiffness in the process.

The Wood Storks we saw along the boardwalk...ummm.

This place is so beautiful and photos never do it justice - this is one of those places where you have to be there to know what it's all about.

A Limpkin drew a nice crowd - he quickly went down and started catching apple snails - his favorite food.

A Downy Woodpecker - my last photo for today. Check my E-Bird List for the Corkscrew - a very nice day of bird watching indeed.