Purple Gallinule

Hello,


My bird this week is the Purple Gallinule. It is a swamp hen in the rail family. The adult has big yellow feet and blue-purple plumage. This bird looks beautiful when the light is shining just right on it's feathers. It seems to be a common bird seen in our local Lake Parker Park in Lakeland Florida.

The Purple Gallinule has a pale blue forehead with red and yellow bill.

Lake Parker Park is just a short drive away and we usually see the Purple Gallinule every time we take a walk at this park.

I hope you enjoyed the Purple Gallinule and my photos. Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Saturday's Critters #167

Saturday's Critters #167

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

These are all sights from one of our Circle B Reserve visits. On the path from the parking a snake and armadillo.

A slider turtle and can you find the gator?

A Red-shouldered Hawk.

Great Blue Heron on nest.

Sandhill Cranes moving along the burr marigolds.

Pretty Green Heron, a common sight at the Circle B Reserve.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island Florida

Hello,

These are some images from our visit to Sanibel Island and Bowman's Beach. Just sharing some birds, seashells and a sunset.

Eagles in flight.

Sunset at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island Florida.

I am guessing this is a Black-bellied Plover.

Seashells on Bowman

Sunset at Bowman's Beach.

My list of thankful things:
I am thankful for the beautiful sunsets.
I am thankful for my sight and seeing all the colors.
I am thankful for all the beauty in the world.


I hope you enjoyed my post and photos. Thank you for your visit and comments on my post. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!

Thanks to Michelle for the meme Thankful Thursday

I am also linking up to Skywatch Friday, I hope to see you there.
Thank you to Sylvia, Yogi and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday.

Anhinga

Hello,

Today, I am sharing the Anhinga. It is a common bird in Florida. The Anhinga is also known as American Darter or the Snakebird.

There is at least one Anhinga on this tree with a few Cormorants. Can you find the Anhinga?  The bill is different on the Anhinga, sharper and thin.

The Anhinga can stay under water for a long period of time.

The male is a dark color almost glossy looking. Their wings are streaked with white.

Anhinga seen at Circle B Reserve.

Pretty colors on the breeding male Anhinga.

Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Saturday's Critters #166

Saturday's Critters #166

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

To all the animal lovers, we need the EPA Keep the EPA GREAT and Audubon take action

It was thanks to the EPA that our Eagles have made such a great come back. Banning the pesticides (DDT) is important, going back to no regulations is bad for the environment, the wildlife, our drinking water and clean air. Call your representative and support the EPA. The Endangered Species act is at risk too, so much is at stake. People need to speak up for the wildlife, the critters have no voice.

During our trip to the Sanibel Island and the Gulf Coast  we made time for a visit to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. On the way into the Preserve, we saw a herd of deer, wild turkeys and some Sandhill Cranes. 

Outside the visitor center, we were being watched by this raccoon.

While walking the boardwalk we saw this Pileated Woodpecker.

The first time I heard an alligator hissing was while watching this baby gator under the boardwalk. It appears momma was just on the other side of the boardwalk. I think she was warning us to keep our distance.

The Limpkins were around the boardwalk and marshland.

You can not go to a Florida park or preserve and not see an alligator.

This Limpkin preferred walking on the boardwalk railing.

This Little Blue Heron was also perched on the boardwalk railing.

I hope you enjoyed our visit to Corkscrew Sanctuary and my photos.



As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Lovers Key State Park

Hello, Happy Thursday!

On this day hubby and I visited the Lovers Key State Park near Fort Myers beach. We had a beautiful day for a walk on the beach and on the trail. It is a lovely park.

"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin

The trail to the beach, pretty sky and a lovely day for the beach.

Our shadow shot on the Lovers Key beach.

A gull and possible Willets.

A Magnificent Frigatebird. Sorry, it is not the best photo but so far it was the only Frigatebird I have seen. 

A Gopher Tortoise

We enjoyed the trail at Lovers Key State Park, the mangroves and birds, fish jumping out of the water and even a Manatee sighting.

An Osprey on it's nest seen from the trail.

"If people were superior to animals, they'd take better care of the world." Benjamin Hoff



My list of thankful things:
I am thankful for all the great park land and beaches in Florida.
I am thankful for all the wildlife and their natural habitats.
I am thankful for the kind people who protect what they love.


I hope you enjoyed my post and photos. Thank you for your visit and comments on my post. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!

Thanks to Michelle for the meme Thankful Thursday

I am also linking up to Skywatch Friday, I hope to see you there.
Thank you to Sylvia, Yogi and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday.

American White Pelican

Hello,

Happy Valentine's Day

I always enjoy seeing the American White Pelican. Since being in Florida, I have been able to see these pelicans in various wildlife refuges and at our local lake. The pelicans are one of my favorite birds, I just love the way they look. Here are some of my photos from various places in Florida.

White Pelicans seen at Lake Morton, Lakeland Florida. The White Pelican likes to nest in colonies on freshwater lakes.

White Pelicans on our local lake. Unlike the Brown Pelican the White Pelican does not dive for it's food. The White Pelican catches it's food white swimming and eats more than 4 pounds of food in a day.

The White Pelicans come together in large groups where they can corral the fish to feed on. The photo below was taken at the Viera Wetlands near Vero Beach.

White Pelicans seen at Ding Darling NWR

The White Pelican seen at Pelican Island NWR.

One day, I was able to catch these White Pelicans flying over our house.

I hope you enjoyed my White Pelican photos and post. Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Saturday's Critters #165

Saturday's Critters #165

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

These are some images from our visit to Ding Darling wildlife refuge in Sanibel Island, Florida. This was an overnight trip and we were able to visit some various parks and preserves. 

A couple of Roseate Spoonbills seen from the Ding Darling wildlife drive.

I believe this is a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron with a crab.

American White Pelicans.

Various birds seen from the wildlife drive.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to Ding Darling and my bird photos.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.