Big Pine Key and Dry Tortuga's

Recent trip To the Dry Tortuga's, with a stop by Big Pine Key to see the Key deer. How adorable and friendly, was able to get close enough to touch her nose. Then down to Key West to catch the ferry to Fort Jefferson to go birding, with my friend.    Lauren                      

Key Deer

So wanted him to come home with me.

Fort Jefferson

Busch Key ad joining island, where to Sooty Terns Nest. 

Leather back Island

Beautiful Caribbean water.

Magnificent Frigate bird

Sooty Tern

Barn swallow

Male and Female

Black Skimmer

Brown Noddy's

Not sure Brown or Black Noddy ?

Picking out a house

We put up a Screech owl box a few weeks ago, hoping on getting a owl I had seen a few times. Well for two days in a row a Starling was seen flicking out the shavings from inside the box. This made me upset :( and yesterday I noticed this young guy checking it out. Then within a half hour, I think the correct tenet occupied the box.      Lauren   

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Hmm maybe

Fit's just right

Eastern Screech Owl

No! Mr Owl not my cardinal   :/

The new backyard King

Is this a Parakeet at my feeder?

I was sitting on the patio the other day with the dogs, watching the birds. When I noticed what appeared to be a possible blue bird in the feeder with the Buntings. My first thought was this looks like a blue Parakeet, like the ones we had as kids. I sent my husband  to get the bino's and camera. (this is one time the camera wasn't around my neck, waiting in anticipation for a new bird to show up). Now realizing this wasn't a Parakeet, I started snapping pics. While uploading them to the computer I got my Stokes field guide out and confirmed this was indeed A Indigo Bunting , male possible second to third year. Even though he wasn't the dark blue color, it was a great excitement for me. Another one towards the " Wings Over Florida."    Yea Lauren   

Buntings feeding

one more picture, then I am gone.

February....A backyard full of love.

February proved to be a very good month in the yard, several birds I have not seen before here. And many of the regulars. Loving migration season.

Old reliables

New to the yard and a first for me Brown headed cowbirds. Male and female

palm warbler seen almost everyday , in numbers.

One Saturday I noticed flocks of hundreds of birds flying over. They looked like Robin's then one landed. Sure enough another first to the yard.

Again flocks of dark birds landed on day after a rain. This is when I noticed the cowbirds, and Red-winged blackbirds among Grackles. 

One of several female Cardinals.

Male Cardinal

Mockingbird, likes to sit and harass my Cardinals and Buntings at the feeder. Shame on him.

A pair of Red-shouldered hawks

A daytime appearance of one of the cottontails.

One of a pair of Yellow-Rumped Warblers

Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, hardly see this pair, only once in awhile. 

Male Painted Bunting, one of two I have seen.

Another first in the yard a Catbird, I hear him quit often now but only have seen him twice.

Female Bunting, one of three observed. 

These are the tattle tails of the yard along with the Mourning doves, Cant sneak up on a bird with out them flying away and scaring all the other birds away. (Ground Dove)

America Goldfinch. Two came and made a appearance for the other old birder. What a nice Birthday surprise for her. Another Florida bird list check off. 

Back view of Goldfinch.

Some new visitors

Finally some activity in the old backyard, I was beginning to think the birds have all left and are never returning. Alas patience is a virtue.

One of two male bunting seen, so glad they found my new house.

Mockingbird enjoying the berries. 

Yea , love to see the Eastern Cottontail bunnies, so far only at night. 

A set of Blue jays, always fun to watch

Red bellied, has been a constant. Got to love them for that. 

The male doesn't seem as shy this time. 

The female on the other hand is very camera shy.

Both the Buntings, are shy. I have to practice my prowling on them.

A new bird. Just appeared the other day, A Goldfinch. 

A Eastern Phoebe comes and goes. 

A very shy Common Ground Dove.