I think I can learn to like birding in Florida. While enjoying a glass of wine in “The Legends” where our friends live (and are hosting us for a week), I left my liquid libations behind as the light and birds were calling. Fifteen minutes late I returned to my glass of Chardonnay!
I did not need to wear long underwear while taking any of these photographs. Sorry Lady (my favorite Snowy Owl this winter), my eyes are looking at some other birds.
Great Egret
American White Ibis
Or even northern Minnesota! This morning I drove over to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary a bit southeast of Fort Myers. The sanctuary has a three mile boardwalk that winds through various habitat including a mangrove swamp. Wow … the habitat is amazing, and I have never walked within a Mangrove Swamp. I did not miss the frozen northern Minnesota bog!
The highlight of the morning for me was a lifer, the Painted Bunting. Better yet, by arriving close to opening at the Audubon sanctuary (7 am), I had a very private experience to begin with on the boardwalk. When I left just a bit before noon, the large parking lot was almost full. Moral to the story … bird early everywhere, but particularly in populous Florida.
Painted Bunting (male and female)
Little Blue Heron
Peekaboo Cardinal
Rory the Raccoon
Barred Owl
Anhinga
Okay, Edgar Allen Poe did not include a reference to a Snowy Owl in his famous poem, but somehow it seems appropriate. My favorite lady Snowy found herself under attack yesterday afternoon (she is okay). In fact, given it was only one raven pressing home the attack, at times the owl chased the big black bird!
Raven Attacks Snowy Owl
The Movie! (link for email subscribers)
You will hear briefly some music during my short video clip. My phone was ringing (ignored). My ring tone is an excerpt from the Volga Boatmen. Kind of funny given what was taking place.
Once this attack was finished, Lady Snowy got her evening hunt underway. She was kind enough to even pose in non industrial locations, and allow a sunset photo or two. Due to this bird’s cooperation with me over the past week, I recognize this Snowy Owl is a true lady … and in the tradition of naming owls … I present:
Lady … the Snowy Owl
Lady at Sunset
Lady on the Hunt after Sunset
Just in case you might be thinking I was devoting all my attentions to Lady, I also enjoyed some time with this all white male Snowy Owl. However, this gentleman is “too cool” to ever do much of anything before sunset, let alone hunt. Thus, although he is an extremely handsome bird, I tend to ignore him.
All White Male Snowy Owl
I plan to take a few days off from blogging. Time to get ready for my visit to warmer climates!