New & No So

Went to 2 new site in Jacksonville today and revisited 2 others. Got one new Life Bird - Wilson's Plover and added 29 birds to my Florida list. I started at St. Augustine Road Fish Management Area. It was a lovely pond with some Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebe & Common Gallinule along with a fairly large gator.

Wood Ducks

Pied-billed Grebe

Juvenile Common Gallinule

Next up was Spoonbill Pond in Big Talbot State Park -- a wonderful, bird-filled pond -- Ironically, no Spoonbills (they have gone to South Florida for the rest of the winter). It is a raised boardwalk about 1/2 a mile long. My friend Joyce was with me and saved my feet by going back to the car to fetch another camera battery when mine ran out. Highlights included tons of Dowitchers (both Long and Short-billed) 10 American Avocets, a Spotted Sandpiper, Tricolored Heron, Northern Shovelers and more...

Bald Eagle - drying out

Tricolored Heron

American Avocet

Black-bellied Plover

Greater Yellowlegs

Snowy Egret Yoga

Northern Shoveler (Gone South!)

Back to Huguenot Memorial City Park where there were tons of birds -- but a lone Wilson's Plover was waiting for me at the family beach. Also my first Florida American Oystercatcher (and had them at two sites)!

American Oystercatcher

Wilson's Plover

Savannah Sparrow -- would not move out of the road...

Sanderling

Red Knots

Great Egrets looking like Charlie's Angels!

Juvi Ruddy Turnstone

Full Adult Laughing Gull

Brown Pelican Take-off

On to Wood Storks & a flying Blue Heron.

Wood Storks

Little Blue Heron coming in for a landing!

St. Augustine tomorrow!