A non-birding trip to Florida

Of course, there were birds it just wasn't the purpose of the trip. It was chilly for Florida and the purpose was to visit friends. That purpose was accomplished, the birding thing, not so much. I was in Jacksonville & Titusville, Florida & Saint Simon's Island (in Georgia), I was also there at the same time of year in 2023. In 2023 there were a LOT more birds. Not more diversity, there was plenty of diversity, but less volume of birds, a LOT less. Hoping that is just due to the weather and not a long term trend. Unfortunately I think that might be exactly what it is.

Here is what I saw --

Andrews Island Causeway

Least Sandpiper

Northern Harrier

Lesser Yellowlegs

White Ibis

Clapper Rail

Tricolored Heron

Pied-billed Grebe

Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White Ibis

Black-bellied Plover

Wood Stork

Saint Simons Island

Cedar Waxwing

Eurasian Collared Dove

Tricolored Heron

The Loblolly Pine forest

Black Point Drive

Boat-tailed Grackle (Female)

American Alligator

Path to Glory Beach

Boat-tailed Grackle

Killdeer

Jekyll Island Causeway

Black Point Drive

Reddish Egret

Wilson's Snipe

Tricolored Heron

Willet

Long-billed Dowitchers

American Coot

Blue-winged Teal

Roseate Spoonbill

Juvi White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Tricolored Heron

Common Gallinule

Anhinga

Bald Eagle -- waiting for its mate

Mottled Duck

Merlin

Great Blue Heron

Anhinga

American Alligator

Royal Tern

Killdeer

Least Sandpiper

American Alligator -- a BIG one!

Forster's Tern

Saint Simon's Island

Gould's Inlet

Black Skimmer, Ring-billed Gull, Royal Tern

Brown Pelican

Great Blue Heron

Black Skimmer

Sanderling & Black-bellied Plover

Royal Tern

Black Skimmer

Wood Stork

Clapper Rail

Downy Woodpecker

Wood Stork

Jekyll Island

Forster's Tern (Poop shot)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Brown Pelican

House Finch

Willet

Red-shouldered Hawk

Boat-tailed Grackle (Female)

Painted Bunting (Female)

Yellow-throated Warbler

Pine Warbler

Carolina Chickadee