We departed on Nov. 30 for an 11-day birding trip. We didn't even get to our first birding destination when we started seeing some great specimens--at rest stops! Great Egret, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Pied-billed Grebe, Boat-tailed Grackle, and Snowy Egret. En route we also saw Cattle Egrets, cows, orange groves, broomsedge, and a police helicopter searching for a lady in black. 

After a stopover near Orlando to see some wonderful long-term friends, we met a new cousin for lunch in Largo and then stayed two nights in Pass-A-Grille near St. Pete where time seemed to have stood still. A wonderful small community. On the beach we saw Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Willets, gulls, Horseshoe Crabs, parchment tube worms, cockle shells, sea grapes and some animal bones. Along the sidewalks were lots of brightly colored Adirondack chairs in the shape of birds, dolphins, fish, surfboards, flip-flops, palm trees and mermaids. Great sunsets from our front porch. 

Juvenile White Ibis and Wood Stork 
hanging around a construction site


Great Egret feeding in a pond

Loggerhead Shrike at a service station


Pied-billed Grebe 

Osprey landed on this post to eat his fresh-caught fish, 
but was more interested in posing for the camera

The beach was very productive for not only birds, but also shells and sea life. This Giant Atlantic Cockle shell contained two Sea Urchins (not alive).

Piping Plover

Lightning Whelk occupied by a Giant Hermit Crab

Double-crested Cormorant at nearby Pass-A-Grille

The next morning, we drove to Sarasota to visit the waterfront Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and saw many of the same species we had already seen, plus some beautiful plants. 

Then we drove to Charlotte Harbor, across the bridge from Punta Gorda, and stayed three nights at the Banana Bay Inn, a remodeled 1950's motel. Our end unit was next to a tidal inlet and pier, offering perfect views of birds and sunsets. The birds we had for neighbors were Mottled Ducks, an immature Little Blue Heron, Scaups, Snowy Egrets, and Spotted Sandpipers. We walked to dinner at the nearby Portofino Restaurant, which was just as awesome. 

The next morning, we visited the Peace River Wildlife Center in Punta Gorda and saw a collection of Cormorants, White Pelicans, a juvenile Night Heron, Sandhill Cranes and several raptors. We had lunch at Fishermen's Village in an open air restaurant on the bay, protecting our food from the Boat-tailed Grackles who were hovering over the tables looking for the best meals. 

In the afternoon, we walked across the 1-1/2 mile bridge from our motel to Punta Gorda for a scoop of delicious ice cream. On the way, we spotted a Bald Eagle on a power pole on the bridge, enjoying the beautiful view. We also spotted a huge Herring Gull, Little Blue Heron and a couple of Turkey Vultures. After enjoying our ice cream, we had to walk back across the bridge--another 1-1/2 miles. The power lines were covered with Cormorants. 

Immature Little Blue Heron fishing in the inlet


Bald Eagle perched over Charlotte Harbor


Juvenile Night Heron (yellow or black) at Peace River Wildlife Center

Back at the Banana Bay, a Cattle Egret was wandering around the grounds while I took its picture. After another beautiful sunset, we watched the Punta Gorda Christmas Boat Parade from our front door. 

Mottled Ducks swimming and feeding


Cattle Egret at Banana Bay


Turkey Vultures in Punta Gorda

The next day, we rented a canoe and paddled up the Peace River in search of birds. We learned this was also an excellent place to look for fossils, so we added a sifter and shovel to the canoe. Just as we stopped the canoe at a spot that looked productive, it began to sprinkle. Being optimistic, I began to dig in the hard dirt and rock bank. The rain got harder, and we decided to cut our trip short. In the meantime, we had seen quite a few birds. We'll plan to do it another time.  

Kildeer

Since this adventure got cut short, we had time to drive over to Myakka River State Park. In addition to alligators, we saw Great Blue Herons, Yellowlegs, Wood Storks, Black-necked Stilts, Black Vultures, Glossy Ibises, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Anhingas, Ospreys, Snowy Egrets and Sandhill Cranes.

Wood Stork

A juvenile White Ibis feeding in the river


Great Blue Heron at Myakka River State Park


Black-necked Stilt

Tricolored Heron searching for food in the river


People were digging along the river for fossils


Snowy Egret at Myakka River State Park


Yellowlegs

Then we drove to the south end of Ft. Myers Beach, our home for the next four nights. Upon check-in at Lovers Key Resort, we quickly noticed Black Vultures flying by, and below, our 11th floor picture window. The entire view was beautiful and provided us with constant entertainment and amazement from this birds-eye perspective. As the tide rose and fell, we could watch the shorebirds come and go on a sandbar that also came and went. A pair of Ospreys staked out their future nest on a platform in the water. 

The next day at Lovers Key, we awoke to view four Ospreys hovering and circling over the adjacent building, Turkey Vultures soaring in front of and below our window, and a Little Blue Heron and Snowy Egret wading on the beach below. 

Turkey Vulture outside our window

Later in the day we visited Estero Lagoon on Ft. Myers Beach to see Western Sandpipers, Tricolored Herons, Wilson's Plovers, Cormorants and Kildeer. 

Western Sandpiper, Estero Lagoon


Kildeer, Estero Lagoon

White Ibis and Snowy Egret competing 
for food at Lovers Key State Park


Wilson's Plover, Lovers Key SP

The next day, we went to Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island. We were excited to see Reddish Egrets, White Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, Black-bellied Plovers and White Ibises.

Reddish Egret at Ding Darling NWR


White Pelicans at Ding Darling NWR


Pied-billed Grebe at Ding Darlilng

Burrowing Owl

At Lovers Key State Park, we saw many great specimens: Kildeer, adult and immature Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets fishing in the lagoon, Great Egrets, Willets, Roseate Spoonbills, Tricolored Herons and White Ibises. 

Kildeer at Lovers Key State Park; 
notice the orange detail around its eye



Little Blue Herons at Lovers Key State Park; 
top-adult, bottom-immature


Roseate Spoonbill at Lovers Key SP; these birds feed by sweeping their wide bill sideways in the water


Snowy Egret with fish, Lovers Key SP

Black-bellied Plover at Ding Darling


Black-crowned Night Heron at Ding Darling


Yellow-crowned Night Heron at Ding Darling

The next morning, we drove to Cape Coral to look for the adorable Burrowing Owls. After quite a while, we finally found two. We were careful not to get close enough to make them jump up and down, a sign of agitation.

Looking up

On the beach at Lovers Key State Park were Florida Fighting Conchs, coral, sponge, Sea Pork and numerous Pen Shells. 

Florida Fighting Conch (alive)


Sea Pork


Fossil Colonial Coral

At Ft. Myers Beach, we saw  unique Christmas trees made of foam noodles and flip-flops.

Noodle tree at Ft. Myers Beach

On Captiva Island, we had to make a return visit to the Bubble Room for lunch. It's like an old toy museum.

We made a quick stop on Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island. Not many shells, surprisingly.

Pen shell on Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island


Sea turtle egg shell on Bowman's Beach


White Ibis trying to feed at Ding Darling

The next day we walked on the boardwalk at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a beautiful wetlands full of Pond Cypress, Bald Cypress, Red Maples, Dahoon Hollies, Air Plants, Alligator Flags, Swamp Lilies, Broomsedge, several varieties of ferns, and Water Lettuce. There were also a few birds--Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, White Ibises, Pine Warblers, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Turkey Vultures, a Northern Harrier and one male Painted Bunting.

Water Lettuce in Corkscrew Swamp's "Lettuce Lake"

Partway into our journey across the state, we spotted two Sandhill Cranes along the state highway. We made a U-turn. As soon as I got out with my camera, the pair began their obnoxious squawks, one remaining erect on watch as the other fed, then alternating responsibilities. 

Sandhill Cranes

Arriving on the east coast of Florida, we decided to check out the Brevard Zoo. What a great place! Everything from Cobras to exotic birds and raptors.

Lorikeet at Brevard Zoo

Our final bird stop in Florida was Viera Wetlands. No matter what season we visit this water reclamation plant, the birds are abundant. This time we saw American Coots, Common Moorhens, Blue-wing Teals, Glossy Ibises, Cormorants, Mottled Ducks and Tricolored Herons.

Deer at Viera Wetlands

Painted Bunting at Corkscrew


Ospreys on nest with Brown Pelican in flight


Osprey carrying its fish by our window


Crested Caracara at Brevard Zoo

Glossy Ibis at Viera Wetlands

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Corkscrew

On our last morning at Lovers Key Resort, the animals were showing off for us. Two Ospreys were perched on their nest on a pole in the water while pelicans and gulls circled around them. A Little Blue Heron was wading on the beach. Three dolphins were playing together--flipping over, splashing and jumping out of the water in tandem. Then an Osprey flew by our picture window carrying a long fish. As we were driving away, an Osprey was perched on a fence next to the road.

Dolphins jumping at Lovers Key


Dolphin doing a back-flip


Scarlet Ibis at Brevard Zoo


American Coots