Birding with Larry

Larry Manfredi has been birding in Florida most of his life. I've always heard he's the guy if you want to bird Southern Florida. We were set to meet him at 7:30am at his home in Homestead. His feeders are famous -- so we started racking up birds.

We forgot to get a photo of/with him so here he is at the Dry Tortugas with someone else.

We started off with a bunch of Painted Bunting

Next up a lifer for Cindy -- Bronzed Cowbird

Common Grackle

Gray Catbird

Purple Martin

Then my prize a lifer -- Shiny Cowbird

Off to the local airport -- looking for Burrowing Owls and we found them

One of the many, many Loggerhead Shrikes we saw -- this one was having breakfast

There were Eastern Meadowlarks singing as well

Next stop Frog Pond Wildlife Management Area to see a White-tailed Kite (Very far away - no photo) and our first Gray Kingbird (Lifer for Cindy)

We entered Everglades National Park and headed straight for the Anhinga Trail. Very productive. First we saw a Purple Gallinule

The Green Herons there were much smaller than the ones we are used to in Rhode Island.

The Alligators are MUCH bigger than the ones we are used to in Rhode Island...

Lots of Swallow-tailed Kites (and nests) made it a very satisfying lifer for me.

I'm told that he has a baby bird in his talons

Had to get a photo of an Anhinga because it is the Anhinga trail...

Off to Flamingo for lunch - lots of birds in the area

Common Myna

Cattle Egret

White Ibis

Osprey

Great White Heron

Great Crested Flycatcher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Shiny Cowbird

1st Gull of the trip - Laughing Gull

Northern Cardinal

Spotted by Cindy in an estate on the road home -- Indian Peafowl (Male)

Picked up some takeout for Cindy, then home to relax and sleep! Off to Key Largo tomorrow.