Seing pink

I started my week by driving through Ding Darling this morning - it was high tide and it was quite windy with gust up to 25+ mph but that doesn't bother me because any day birding makes for a great day. It was on the quite side however it provided some beautiful eye candy - cotton candy perhaps ..... take a look...

One of them is banded.

After all this preening - it is time to let it all hang out and enjoy a well deserved snooze.

Bowman's Beach

My friend Jewel is in town and she is on the beginning stages of learning about birds, I was more than happy to accompany her to the beach for some further study.....Bowman's Beach seemed like a good idea and it turned out to be perfect.

Our first sighting was a Short-billed Dowitcher, he must have gotten separated from the pack because he was all alone.

The sun is rising and the sky is waking up with gorgeous colors.

The Gull coming in for a landing is looking familiar....

Aha! It is! An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

A pretty big gull - towering over the Laughing Gulls at twice the size.

Another beautiful surprise - American Oystercatcher with Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling and Willet.

Since their bill is not totally red - that tells me that it hasn't quite reached adulthood yet.

A couple Semi-palmated Plovers were seen.

Several flocks of Sanderling were observed.

My friend again - one of the perks of fall into winter is the sighting of these beautiful Gulls.

On our way out Jewel pointed out this Yellow-crowned Night Heron sleeping in the Mangroves.

What a great way to seal the day!

Great sightings on the beach this morning, check my E-bird list for the rest of the species seen today.

Bailey Tract's surprises

Every time that I step out - I open myself to receive the gifts of nature - today I left my foot prints next to a gator's print.....what a way to start the day!

A pair of Kestrel watched me as I approached.

I had to return the favor and watch in return - what a beautiful bird!

The Palm Warblers have arrived -  a dime a dozen - but what's not to like, this one even has a rusty cap on.

A Mourning Dove taking a snooze.

And a Gray Kingbird made a magical appearance this morning .... this sealed the day! Tweet!

The early riser gets the bird

I just love this time of the year, the sky is clearer and the air is cooler - there are more birds and the trail is still quiet.

My visit to the Bailey Tract and the Sanibel Garden Preserve this morning provided nice surprises.

Doesn't this Mockingbird look lovely as he is being kissed by the morning light?

I guess I could say the same about this Eastern Phoebe, his song was a nice bonus too.

Several White Ibis adopted this bare tree, the Osprey decided it was just too crowded and left.

I liked how the clouds/humidity started to move in the area - it sure created interesting hues in the vista.

A young Bald Eagle perched on the tower - which provided me the answer as to why all of a sudden all the birds left.

When the dust settled a few unknowing Eurasian Collared Doves came to roost nearby.

On my way back I stumbled upon a House Wren right out in the open, he had the better viewing side.

A regal Merlin digesting his dragonfly.

You know the ducks are underway when you see a nice crowd of Blue-winged Teal.....I'm ready.

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.