All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Need Help: 365 Days of Birds

Year 1

Hi everyone. Thanks for everyone’s kind comments and thoughts over the years that this blog has been in existence (now in year 9). As you know I freely help with birding throughout the Northland, am a volunteer naturalist up at Sax-Zim Bog, and even give away full PDF’s of  my children’s owl picture books (see Do You Hoot?!). Now I need your help.

I have created a Google Business Listing under the subject headed of “bird watching area”. Via Google Maps, my location shows at the Mouth of the Lester River … walking distance from my home. For security and privacy reasons I did not use my actual street address. Please review me using the link found immediately below (good, bad or ugly). Thanks!

Sunday Night at the Movies!

Year 9

For the first time in two weeks we have rain, actually severe thunder storms, to start out the morning. Thus birding is out and it is time for a “moving recap” of my expeditions down here in Fort Myers. eMail subscribers will have to click on “video link” to watch any movie. Thus, let’s get on with the show!

How many of you remember “Sunday Night at the Movies”?! This TV staple existed before there was Netflix, Hulu, or even Blockbuster Videos. Yes, there was actually a time in America when the family would gather around the television, and watch whatever the television networks offered. In Duluth, we only had two TV channels while I was growing up. ABC was not an option. Our market was too small. Enjoy!

The Morning Feed at Babcock Webb Wildlife Preserve (video link)

Loggerhead Shrike Singing at Harns Marsh (video link)

White Ibis Flock in a Dead Tree at Babcock Webb Wildlife Preserve (video link)

Gray-Headed Swamphen at Harns Marsh (video link)

White Ibis Feeding in a Cypress Swamp (video link)

Remember … the Burrowing Owls and Monk Parakeets of Cape Coral appeared on film in a prior post. Tomorrow morning early we set off back north via Bald Point State Park in the Florida Panhandle where I will search for the immortal bird, the Brown Headed Nuthatch (would be a lifer for me). This park also is known for American Oystercatchers, which are always a treat for me to watch.

Return to Harns Marsh

Year 9

Monday morning early we start our way back to northern Minnesota. Given the weather forecast is for significant rain tomorrow at sunrise (Sunday), I made my last visit to Harns Marsh at sunrise yesterday morning (use the “Fort Myers” tag to see my other posts for this area including Harns Marsh). Birding was good and I once again enjoyed watching the Loggerhead Shrikes, and took a few pics of some other birds I had not yet features. Enjoy.

Loggerhead Shrike

Common Gallinule

Boat-Tailed Grackle (by 60 minutes after sunrise, their plumage starts to look plain black, but at sunrise … uff dah!)