Florida - Honeymoon Island

Today we decided on a day on a beach on the Gulf Coast. It was warm in the high eighties and following a drive of an hour and a half over to Tampa and Dunedin we settled onto the fantastic white-sand beach at Honeymoon Island.

Offshore were feeding Forster’s, Sandwich and Royal Terns along with the ubiquitous Laughing Gulls in their winter plumage. The sandy beach stretched to the north for two miles or more and I strolled for part of the way seeing Willet, Turnstone, Knot, Black-bellied Plover, Sanderling and Hudsonian Whimbrel in the surf line.

Osprey were common fishing offshore and a single Northern Harrier flew through scattering the Red-winged Blackbirds that were feeding in the grassy dunes. A fearless Green Heron allowed me to approach to within a few feet and my first Brown Pelicans were seen offshore. The hoped for Magnificant Frigatebirds were absent however.

Florida - View from an Airboat

Tired from our journey the day before, a late breakfast was had and we decided to drive to Lake Toho to take a ride on an airboat and to get our first look at our Floridian surroundings. Of course there would be birds. En-route the Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures and a few American Kestrels were viewed.

At Boggy Creek Captain Chuck took us out for a half hour “bird flush” and in no time I had clocked Great White and Great Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Snowy Egret, Cattle Egret, Little Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Belted Kingfisher, Wood Stork, Limpkin and Greater Yellowlegs. Our driver slowed at strategic points to view a perched Snail Kite and a pair of Bald Eagles on their nest platform. I was left thinking that environmental pressure on the birds during the breeding season would probably be adverse although Lake Toho is one of many huge lakes in Florida.

Florida - day one

As always the first morning is greeted with the sounds of unfamiliar birds and I chose a pre-breakfast stroll around the vicinity of our villa situated close to a golf course and area that would undoubtedly harbor birds. This first morning was grey and it had rained in the night but within 50yds of our home I started to collect species not seen before. Bright red Northern Cardinals, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Ground Dove and a confiding Brown Thrasher started the day off. What was also very apparent was how tame the birds seemed compared with birds at home in the UK. Three Sandhill Cranes walked along the pavement completely undeterred by me trying to creep up to take some photographs. If anything I ended up backing off as my telephoto lens wouldn’t focus that close !

More Bugs

Two of several on the Raspberry bushes.

Alien Invaders

A real influx noticed this morning. Log sightings at http://www.harlequin-survey.org/default.htm

Long-tailed Tit

Trichomoniasis ?

Greenfinch are enjoying the garden sunflower heads although some are showing signs of disease. This one seemed particularly lethargic.

Spotted Flycatcher

Plenty of birds around this lunch time despite the rain.

Illegal Immigrants

This little chap was a joy to watch diving clear of the water before submerging.

Little Egret

Waders @ Grafham

Buzzard @ Octogan farm

Green Woodpecker

One of this year's young feeding on the set-aside at Willington.

Redstart @ Cockayne Hately

Thanks to Andy & Melissa I saw the Redstart and now know where Cockayne Hately is !

View from the Deckchair

Guillemot, Harbour Porpoise(?) and Common Seal.

Taken within 20 metres of the beach at Kessingland seemingly showing interest in the activities of my children playing in the surf.

Roesel's Bush Cricket

Taken at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk.

Med Gulls

After careful consideration I decided that photographing the Med Gulls was the only reason anyone would want to go to Great Yarmouth.

Reptile Wrestle

I chanced upon a tussle this evening between a large Slow Worm and a Grass Snake. I'm not sure who was most surprised but needless to say these were the best shots I could get in the time as the snake scarpered followed by the Slow Worm. They were tangled in a hold almost "Jurassic" in miniature.

The Hawker had seen better days and has had it's wings clipped.

Garden Warbler

Very autumnal in Willington after the rain this morning. A good mix of warblers feeding on the blackberry bushes including Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and this Garden Warbler.