My father and I drove up to see the Snowy Owl at Little Talbot Island State Park that was seen yesterday. It’s a beautiful bird! Apparently I saw one in Eureka, CA when I was a kid, but I don’t remember seeing it, so it’s not on my list. This is a lifer for me. […]
Tag: florida
Wilson’s Snipe
This Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) was spotted on the shoreline at Ollie’s Pond, a birding hotspot in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Swallow-tailed Kites in Dade City, FL
This morning I drove out to Dade City to look for Mississippi Kites that were seen there yesterday. I got there around 8:30 am, and by around 9:30 am, the area was swarming with at least 40 Swallow-tailed Kites. Then off in the distance, I saw my first Mississippi Kite. It was very far away; […]
Markham Woods Tract of Wekiwa Springs SP, 5/15/2013
This morning I decided to try a new place. There’s a tract of the Wekiwa Springs State Park that is in Seminole County. It’s a very pretty park, and shortly after arriving, I heard a Summer Tanager greeting me to the park. I never did see it; it was pretty far off the trail. But […]
Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice)
Female Seaside Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax berenice). Year round resident of peninsula Florida. This one seen in a grassy area, near a fresh water pond and marsh and also near a mangrove forest. Small and easily missed at 1.3 inches. Here’s a nice piece about their behavior from the “Northeast Naturalist,” and my friends at Eagle Hill […]
Spiney Orb Weaver Spider
Spiney Orb Weaver Spider (Gasteracantha canciformis). Found here in Florida most often around citrus trees….both in groves and suburban yards. Known locally as the “crab spider”due to their crablike carapace, they belong to the family of orb weavers, Arneidae, and are quite harmless. The Spiney Orb Weaver spins a large and strong web (like the […]
Mangrove Skipper, Phocides pigmalion.
The Mangrove Skipper (Phocides pigmalion) is a member of the Spread Wing Skippers of the Hesperidae family of butterflies. Found in the Mangrove forests of Florida, this large (48-70mm wingspan) skipper is a strong flyer and is often seen perching upside down with spread wings. The iridescent blue markings are beautiful and, along with it’s […]
Limpkin, a Tropical Wading Bird in the U.S..
The Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) is a tropical wading bird with Florida being the northern limit of it’s traditional range. Hunted to near extinction in the early 20th century, the Limpkin has made a remarkable comeback. These photos were taken in a fresh water canal in my “very suburban” neighborhood. I believe these birds are a […]