All About the Birds

All about the birds today -- and our get-away to go see them.   We actually took a few days off from our restoration work at the end of last month.    It was a lovely time, made even lovelier because it had turned cold (for here) and heat on chilly mornings comes from the same presently non-existent source as air conditioning on hot days.  (We lost our heat pump/air conditioner and all the duct work as well as under the floor insulation because of  Hurricane Ian. ) 

 

Brown Pelican -- Chokoloskee Bay, Everglades  

 

We went to the Everglades/Big Cypress where it was beautiful and as birdy as ever  ... and the camper van was snug and warm whether we were driving or camping.  It was a wonderful birding trip.    If anything, we spotted even more than usual for this time of year.  Apparently the hurricane didn't  affect the birds much.  (That's an entirely unscientific observation -- I hope it is correct.)

 

Big Cypress National Preserve

The sign is a sign of good things happening.   The National Park Service is currently in the process of restoring many acres of land.    They are turning the Everglades back into the river of grass it is meant to be.  And the wetlands the restoration creates are definitely for the birds.   And birders.   

The other pictures in the mosaic really only go a little way toward showing the sheer number  of birds we could see all at once. 

 

Snowy Egret (yellow slippers)

I tried  several times to count but kept losing track.     It was more fun to try for pictures of the individual birds, although sometimes it was hard to focus because there were so many places to look.

 

?

Everyone will understand why I related to  the following from the National Park Service facebook page:

 

Me: “I’m an expert at identifying birds.”

Friend: “OK, what about those ones flying over there?”

Me: “Yep, they're all birds.

 

Whoever does the NPS page has a great sense of humor, but provides good (serious) information too.   The page is well worth checking out often.   Here's a link:  National Park Service

 

 

So yes, as usual IDs were not easy for me.    But whether I know their names or not, observing the birds is the important thing.  The wildlife, the water, the nature -- that's really why we keep coming to Florida.   

 

Tri-Colored Heron ? Night Heron?

 

 White Ibis

Playing a game of peek-a-boo maybe?

 

Great Blue Heron 

It didn't matter whether you looked in the marshes, in the water, or up in the Cypress trees, birds were everywhere.

 

?

We stayed at Midway Campground in Everglades National Park but most of the birds we saw were on loop roads in Big Cypress National Preserve -- the two Parks adjoin.  

 

Little Blue Heron

We enjoyed our little break from reality.    Our cottage and our snowbird neighborhood are almost back to normal (pre-Ian).  But it's still a bit of a construction zone around here so we are reminded daily of the damages that storm caused.  But it was not nearly as bad for us as for much of the Fort Myers area. 

We drove a different route on our way home coming back along along the recently reopened road through Fort Myers Beach, the area that was most devastated.  So very sad still.   A full three months after the storm there is very little recognizable about this seaside town.    

 

Wood Stork

 

It was quite a contrast -- from the  beauty of the Everglades area which seemed unchanged to the beach which may never be the same.   We were glad to get away from it all but glad to be home too especially with the reminder of how fortunate we really were.  

 

LINKING this week to the following:  Thank you to the hosts.

MOSAIC MONDAY; NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; WILD BIRD Wednesday;  SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  SATURDAY CRITTERS   and  RATHER B' BIRDING

 

 

Comments

[Pat]

Hello Sallie
So many wonderful birds on your post. I especially loved the one of the snowy egrets as it looked like he was wearing yellow rainboots to me :)
I'm glad you are able to enjoy your warm and snug van on cold days but I hope you will be able to rehab your heart and air conditioning system.

My post went up late today --last night I had trouble on my internet as it was running slow, maybe due to everyone streaming the Superbowl game.

[David Gascoigne]

A wonderful series of pictures, Sallie. South Florida really is a paradise for birds - and other wildlife too. I hope that at some point the Everglades can be rid of all the exotic species that have been introduced there, but that's probably an unrealistic dream on my part.

[Anni]

You've created a masterpiece of bird photos!! Wow

Enjoy the week ahead as best as possible and thanks for joining us at IRBB.

[Adam Jones]

This looks like the kind of place that I like to visit. Love all the different varieties of Herons.

[diane]

The number of birds you saw is amazing. How lucky you are. So glad that you are getting back to normal. It must have been a lot of hard work and expense for you.

[Shiju Sugunan]

The photos are lovely!

https://craniumbolts.blogspot.com/2023/01/recent-haul-from-saul-kere.html?m=1

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
I enjoyed this post , your trip to the Everglades and Big Cypress sound like my kind of fun. Wonderful birds and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.

[Veronica Lee]

I'm glad you took some time to explore the outdoors.

Your photos are amazing!

Hugs and blessings, Sallie!

[Peter B.]

Glad to hear about the restoration process. The bird variety is really impressive!

[Michelle Keltner]

Glad you took a break to get out in nature. These bird shots are fantastic! You really found a variety. Thanks for linking up.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Bird is the word.

[DeniseinVA]

You have the most amazing wildlife down there. Great post as always. I am in the middle of writing you a letter as I so enjoyed yours. Thank you so much!

[Dee Nambiar]

Thank you for sharing pictures of these winged beauties of the wetlands. It's nice to know that Ian was not too bad to the birds. :)
Wishing you luck with the repair and restoration. Have a good 2023!

[Gaelyn]

That's a lot of birds. Good birding break.

[Linda W]

Great shots! Glad the NPS is restoring the natural environment.

[Tommy & Teaghan]

The birds are all so beautiful in the south. It's such a joy to see them all!

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...WOW, you hit the motherload!

[Sognafaret]

I love the birdlife

[mae]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the birds survived the hurricane and were encouraged to come back. We had heard that the pythons were destroying bird life — I hope that’s wrong. Your photos are really an encouraging sign that there is lots of hope for many species.

best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Heidrun]

Thank you for sharing at
MosaicMonday . I'm glad to read about this Part of nature. The wildlife there is a great treasure. Hope, that will stay for the next years.

And of course... have a wonderful good New Year, dear Sallie. Stay healthy and well.

Hugs by Heidrun

[Hazel]

Lovely to see, especially during a cold, dank and wet spell here in the Uk! It’s good to see you are making time to enjoy Florida. I don’t expect there will be a chance to get the air/con replaced this season with all the restoration work in the area?

[Dina Johnston]

Looks like a fun get away. Your blue bird with the white belly is a tricolored heron. (same as the one in the tree). Looks like you saw a lot of good stuff there. Hope things are going well with the clean up.

[Beatrice]

Happy New Year, Sallie, and hope that your holidays were a time of happy get togethers with family, friends or both as were our own. Thank you for the lovely comments on my holiday posts. The birds in these post reminded me of the ones we often saw on the VA Eastern Shore when we lived there. It was good to read that you were able to take time off from your cottage restoration projects. It was sad to read about the devastation you saw in Ft Myers, which was formerly a favorite getaway location for friends of ours.

[Carol]

You captured so many beauties - your trip was great for the birds! Keeping you in my prayers as you continue restoration on your home (2nd one). Take care and happy 2023

[Pat]

Happy New Year, Sallie!

The Everglades is such a rich habitat for birds of all kinds--I'm so glad to see some restoration going on! What marvelous photos you were able to take--I enjoyed seeing the array of different birds.

[Lavender Dreams]

It was so sad to watch the news of the devastation of Hurricane Ian. I know it takes years to get things done to the structures and some things will never be the same. I'm glad you went to see beautiful birds and enjoy some time in nature. I like the funny about IDing birds. I need to remember that one! lol Hugs, Diane

[Eileen]

Hello, Sallie

Your getaway to the Everglades sounds like a perfect break from the renovations at the canal. Birdwatching is my simple pleasure and it is not always about getting a photo. But, just enjoying the moment.
Florida is a great state for a birder to visit. I hope Fort Myers come back better than ever! Your bird id's look correct to me. Take care, have a great week ahead.

[Amila]

I am happy to see all these bird pictures. They are lovely. Sorry to hear about the things that have happened due to Hurricane Ian. Glad to see how you spend time in nature activities.
Have a great day!

[ellen b.]

Glad you could get away and get a warm up, too. I have an advanced bird identification expertise...I like all those bluish birds you took photos of! :) You saw a lot of great birds. Hope you can get new heating/air in sooner than later.

[Mary Howell Cromer]

Hi Sally, long time since I last posted, or got to see your entries. What a beautiful array of colorful birds. Florida certainly has plenty. I hope that you all are doing well. Happy New Year Blessings~

[William Kendall]

The blue heron is a favorite bird for me.

[Jennifer Jilks]

Happy New Year!
What a trip. They are amazing to see from here. It is so cold!

[Alan]

Wow, you really did find a lot of birds and such diversity. Glad the birds are back and that your cottage repairs are coming along.

Really sorry about the general devastation. I hope people are able to rebuild.

Wishing you a great New Year!!

[Penelope Notes]

Happy New Year to you and yours, Sallie! I've wondered about the wildlife and where they hide during storms. Destruction is devastating and it can take years to rebuild what disappeared in a blink of an eye. It is always great to see so many survivors!