Learning how to bird one day at a time

~Jenn | A self proclaimed environmentalist and I think birds are cool~

[birdingiscool]

Juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk, Charles. 

[animal-photographies]

Blue Jay with it’s Feathers Ruffled

[s-m0key]

Unexpected II. By - David Sangüesa

[birdingiscool]

Some days all you need is a walk in the water. Tampa, Florida. 

[audubon-odysseys-blog-blog]

Audubon Nature Odysseys recently returned from our inaugural trip to High Island, Texas. Our travel partner Victor Emanuel Nature Tours organized this wonderful trip, where over 180 species of birds were spotted. Sahar Sea, Audubon’s intrepid trip leader and also the Education Manager at Trinity River Audubon Center, sent along some of her photographs. Included here are images of the excellent birding they had at Houston Audubon’s Smith Oaks Rookery in High Island. Check out the Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, and Neotropic Cormorants nesting in colonies. Oh, and there’s also that hungry alligator below.

[audubon-odysseys-blog-blog]

The Agami Heron is a reclusive species and is rarely seen, preferring the shade and overhanging vegetation. That’s why we were so enthralled by this gorgeous photograph by Corey Finger on the excellent birding blog 10,000 Birds. This was taken during a 2009 visit to the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, a major wetland and mangrove lagoon in Honduras. Audubon Nature Odysseys will pay a visit here in February 2014 as part of our expedition to Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. 

[birdingiscool]

Everyone likes birds. What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?

David Attenborough 

[birdingiscool]

Great Blue Herons are pretty common in Florida. A series of Great Blues I have collected the past few months. Davis Island/Tampa, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

Peacocks! Gorgeous of course, but oddly just strolling around neighborhoods in Tampa. The albino peacock seemed a bit put out that it lacked colors as well. Tampa, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

While I have varying opinions on animal sanctuaries, this bird sanctuary was well run and the people in charge truly loved the birds. This huge and gorgeous Blue Gold Macaw was a sweet heart. Tampa, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

I love this little one. A gorgeous Indigo Bunting was just hanging out on the side of the road at Honey Moon Island State Park. Didn’t have to break out the binocs to see this little guy. Dunedin, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

A two hour Saturday Morning walk around Davis Island led me to find this little guy. I believe he is a Brown Thrasher. Davis Island, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

Top 3 Favorite Birds (Currently)

1. Red Wing Black Bird

2. Indigo Bunting

3. Roseate Spoonbill (or as I call them a wreck up from the neck up)

[birdingiscool]

An American White Ibis strolled by me as I was writing a paper. Not the most beautiful of birds, but still cool nonetheless. Tampa, Florida. 

[birdingiscool]

Some binocular pictures of shore birds. Fort Desoto, Florida. 

This land was roped off and protected as nesting ground for these birds.

[birdingiscool]

Bald Eagle Nest with babies (2- not visible). Honey Moon Island State Park Dunedin, Florida. 

[snailkites]