A visit to the Shipley/Pond Apple Trails

Now that turtle season is coming to a screeching halt, I have more time and more energy to spend on the trails and revisit some of my old favorites. It has been several months since I last visited the Shipley & Pond Apple Trail and today seemed to be a good day....so, come and visit with me...

The sun is rising, the colors are changing and the birds are coming alive by the look of wings in the sky.....

A pair of Black-crowned Night Heron flew above me and I wondered where they will spend the day.

Looks like the Dairy Queen Eagles are back in town - this one perched in an Australian Pine while the other 

called from the depth of the Pond Apple Trails....I leisurely made my way down.

I was able to skip and jump over these puddles but when I finished crossing the boardwalk I had to retreat because there was no end in sight as to where a dry walking spot could be.

 However, I was in for a sweet surprise....not one but two Ovenbirds were spotted.

On my way back I also enjoyed watching some of the wild flowers that grows here and there along the trail.

I made it back to the retention pond area and spent some time watching the bird life .... many Anhinga and Little Blue were perched on top of the roped fence area...a Green Heron perched too.

The Bald Eagle was still holding his post.

Some interesting fungi growing on a tree trunk, sharing space with a Christmas Vine.

One of my favorite wild flower: Lance-leaved arrowhead, it blooms from Apr-Dec by ponds, rivers etc.

And the Seagrape tree which permeates the air with the sweet smell of ripe grapes - luring me to taste a few - yum .... sweet and tart, not much to eat since it has a large pit inside but the taste is heavenly.

Suspended above the water was an Orb Weaver - its web catching the sun's rays while sparkling away.

 A family of Red-bellied Woodpecker were busy feeding and learning the ropes - they were fun to watch.

The Bailey Homestead Preserves is still undergoing renovation and preparation for grand opening - perhaps later this year.

On the other side of the trail - many frogs were heard and seen jumping away as I approached, making me smile as I enjoyed their serenade.

The man made pond is ready for wildlife to come.

A deck has been built in front of the pond - looks like a good spot to rock the day away.

The gazebo is filled with information, four benches has been added since I was here last.

It is refreshing to see that 68% of Sanibel Island is preserved and I am proud to call this place: Home, Sweet Home.

Take a look at my E-Bird List and see what I feasted my eyes on.

For today you may call me "The Bird Lady"

I was really happy to have the opportunity to do some birding this morning - the skies looked rather menacing - so I stayed close to my escape route.

I went just a few hundred yards into the Sanibel Garden Preserve and had to retreat quickly because of the lightning I saw and how quickly the storm seemed to be approaching. I sat in my car for a bit and when it cleared up some, I decided to venture into the Bailey Tract.

The Pied-billed Grebe stayed close to the shore and allowed me to watch.

He seemed to enjoy the company of a pair of Common Gallinule - used to be known as Moorhen.

This specie is common in freshwater marshes and ponds - though, it has become uncommon to rare and declining from much of interior range.

I wonder what he's thinking....birds are quite smart, a lot more than we may realize.

I ventured a bit further when all of a sudden a Red-bellied Woodpecker practically flew right into me before taking a sharp turn into a tree. The light was horrible at that angle but I figured that if I moved, he would moved too.....so.....I stayed

and before I knew what was happening, he flew at my feet and started pecking at my shoes...

I assumed that he was after some bugs that I couldn't see from where I was - behind the camera lens....peck, peck, peck....

I was totally mesmerized by this event and couldn't believe what was happening.

Then he climbed onto my shoe and kept pecking away - I could feel the movements and could tell he was still looking for something to eat...

I raised my hell at some point since he seemed to be interested in the soles of my shoes. I know that I walked into tons of spider webs this morning unbeknownst to me that it would be attracting a young male Red-bellied Woodpecker.

At some point I decided to back away just to see what he would do - wouldn't you know....he followed me every step of the way. Eventually he flew into a tree at about the same time that the rain started - I left with a brand new feeling in my heart and needless to say - full of excitement for this connection. Wow - my birding expedition was short but, oh, so enriching - I will keep and cherish this experience in my soul for many moons to come.