Monday, January 31, 2011

Space Coast Birding festival~Viera Wetlands

Howdee all,

We had a great time at the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife festival.

One of our first outings was to Viera Wetlands.

Located between the Moccasin Island Tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area and the Brevard Zoo, the wetlands are a popular site for birders, photographers, and eco-tourists.  The entire wetland system is accessible by automobile, making the site popular among those who find the rigors of hiking trails and summer temperatures daunting.  Even better, viewing the site from one's automobile serves to screen visitors from birds and wildlife, enhancing the experience

Our alarm didn’t wake us and we missed the bus..but luckily after some scrambling around to get directions we made it to the wetlands just in time to start the Bird outing with the group.

Our group leader was the very knowledgeable and friendly Laura Erickson.

Fourth from the right..

Viera wetlands_002

We joined the group in the bus which took us to various spots on the loop road..

A beautiful sunrise

Viera wetlands_005Tree swallows land on grasses…Viera wetlands_012White IbisViera wetlands_014Birders shadows…Viera wetlands_016A palm warbler…Viera wetlands_023Oh..what's this? Viera wetlands_025A lovely Limpkin…Viera wetlands_032

Lovely Limpkin with Laura Erickson speaking with the birders

Common Moorhen with its candy corn bill….Viera wetlands_043It was a chilly morning and my fingers were cold and numb…in our rush to get ready I forgot my gloves…

Viera wetlands_050Limpkin and Little Blue HeronViera wetlands_052Beautiful surroundings….for a water treatment plant..

I highly recommend birding here…Viera wetlands_054Wonderfully scenic…Viera wetlands_056

And great birding!Viera wetlands_060Common YellowthroatViera wetlands_085

A raft of CootViera wetlands_093Brevard hot spot hike_001

These photos below were digiscoped by Jeff

American Bitternjeffs digiscoped pics_038Blue-winged Tealjeffs digiscoped pics_046Sleeping..jeffs digiscoped pics_050Sandhill Cranejeffs digiscoped pics_052Green Heronjeffs digiscoped pics_054

A great morning of Birding!

More of the Space Coast Birding Festival to come….

The festival is over…Jeff and I are in Mims for a few days then we head south to Lake Worth for a few weeks..after that we haven't decided where to go.

If anyone is interested in getting together for some birding..let me know..I am trying to get a group together…have a few birders interested already.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival

Howdee all,

This is just a very quick post to say hello..

Jeff and I are at the Space Coast Birding and Nature Festival here in Titusville,FL.

We met up with Twitter friends Linda, Melanie and Donna…

These photos taken with my itouch

image

Here is the beautifully attired Linda..Love her New Mexican style

She was dripping in Camera Jewelry!image

I also met many facebook and blogger friends here…more on that later…Just wanted you all to know we are busy from morning until night with birding outings, classes and socializing.

I have more photos….but no time to post…have to get ready for an outing with the gals today…We are going to the seashore for some sea and surf!

Catch cha later..

OH..and please visit my latest post at Birdingblogs.com

I think you will love my

 Featured Bird Blogger of the Week

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Harris Neck NWR day 2

Howdee all,

Another cold morning in Georgia…harris neck nwr_005 (1)I put on my down coat and went for a morning walkharris neck nwr_015 (1)A mist of cold above the water…harris neck nwr_007 (1)Here we sit…our windows face the lakeharris neck nwr_009 (1)The car was frosty..harris neck nwr_011 (1)harris neck nwr_012 (1)The Eucalyptus tree …reminds me this is a warm weather area..

harris neck nwr_014 (1)Jeff and I left the RV park after it warmed up..and on the way in a side ditch..note the beer bottle in the water….was a beautiful Birdharris neck nwr_031 (1)American Bitternharris neck nwr_035 (1)

On the way to the park we noticed this Clever sign…hee heeharris neck nwr_062

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

harris neck nwr_063

Harris Neck NWR was established in 1962 by transfer of federal lands formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Located in McIntosh County, Georgia, the refuge serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the Atlantic seaboard, and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island refuges, both located southeast of Harris Neck.

Harris Neck's 2,762 acres consists of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous woods, and cropland. Because of this great variety in habitat, many different species of birds are attracted to the refuge throughout the year. In the summer, thousands of egrets and herons nest in the swamps, while in the winter, large concentrations of ducks (especially mallards, gadwall and teal) gather in the marshland and freshwater pools.

We scanned the river for birds..harris neck nwr_064

Only a few Egrets...in the grasses Palm Warblersharris neck nwr_071

OH NO!harris neck nwr_072This tree was yelling something…Do you think there is a bird in its mouth?harris neck nwr_073I don’t know why it was yelling…maybe I just startled it…Or MAYBe it was surprised how chilly it was for a January day in Georgia.harris neck nwr_074Second stop…. the birdie Bluebill Pondharris neck nwr_076harris neck nwr_078Lots of Cooties…harris neck nwr_080I loved the green muck in the water…harris neck nwr_089Isn't it beautiful?harris neck nwr_093

harris neck nwr_095We saw at least eight Snipe…harris neck nwr_105More coots..we did see many other ducks here…harris neck nwr_110List at the end of this post..harris neck nwr_111The Coots were the only birds that got close enough…harris neck nwr_115For my point and shoot camera to photographharris neck nwr_117Its times like these I wish I had a big lens DSLRharris neck nwr_118

Instead I will be happy with what I can capture with my point and shoot…harris neck nwr_122Ohh..lookie here..Red-shouldered Hawk..harris neck nwr_128And another coot…harris neck nwr_135Two more Coot..harris neck nwr_140We left the pond and drove a bit further checking out the water areas along the road..harris neck nwr_112We parked the car and took another walking path to a few small ponds..harris neck nwr_151A Possum crosses the road…harris neck nwr_147Small ponds..hard to see the birds..mostly Coot..and too far away for photos…harris neck nwr_153So I take a few shots of cat tail..harris neck nwr_155I really liked the fuzzy seed heads…harris neck nwr_156We walked further….And one of those Walking helmets cross the road.Smileharris neck nwr_163A great day….harris neck nwr_166

Jeff and I are now in Sunny Florida..well not too sunny today..its overcast, breezy and beautifully warm..73 degrees. Tomorrow is the start of the Space Coast Bird and Wildlife festival…We have a 4:30 am start to the day..Early to bed for me tonight!

 

Birds of the Day

American Bittern

Palm Warbler
Tufted Titmouse
Mourning Dove
Common yellowthroat
Yellow rump warbler
Northern cardinal
Great egret
Snowy egret
Turkey vulture
Red bellied woodpecker
Hermit thrush
Ruby crowned kinglet
Gadwall
Green winged teal
Coot
Wilsons snipe
Killdeer
Ring necked duck
Common merganser my bad..meant to put Bufflehead thanks Scott for the heads up
Hooded merganser
Pied billed grebe
Lesser yellowlegs
Eastern Phoebe
Blue wing teal
American pipet
Swamp sparrow
Song sparrow
Red winged blackbird
Carolina chickadee
American goldfinch
Downy woodpecker
White ibis
Red shouldered hawk
Eastern towhee
Pileated woodpecker
Eastern bluebird
Savannah sparrow
Northern harrier
Pine warbler
House wren
Wood stork

Common Moorhen..thanks Hap. I forgot to add