I always spend a lot of time watching the birds at my parents place in North Carolina. They have so much personality.

I first saw this Red-headed Woodpecker 5 weeks ago. I’m not exactly sure what’s up… I’ve never seen a pair, just the one lone bird,  although there appears to be a nesting hole that I often see it hanging out near, it doesn’t seem like it goes there often enough to be feeding little ones. Curious… In any case it has taken a liking to this tree in the last 5 weeks and can be seen there regularly. It is an old dead pine that the American Kestrel was hanging out on through Winter, and now they you can sometimes find them both there seemingly un-bothered by one another. I’ll keep watching!

There are a lot of Sandhill Cranes hanging about Viera Wetlands right now. Last year I was happy to observe one couple with it’s young throughout the Spring and Summer, starting with this absolute cuteness:

That was the only pair around then, but last weekend I saw two pairs with little babes, a pair on a nest, and two other pairs wandering around… it’s pretty cool to go and see all the pairs doing their thing.

There are Anhinga nesting at Viera Wetlands. Some have already had babies for a while, others are on the nest.

This fine gentleman brought his lady a stick for the nest.

Ok, see ya later!

Ok, thanks!

She placed it and then covered it with another, securing it’s placement.

And here is a baby Anhinga from another nest. They look so mature, I don’t think they are ever that “cute” despite the white fuzzies.

Last weekend while birdwatching I saw two firsts, one was a Northern Gannet, the other a Sora. It’s easy for me to have firsts since I haven’t been birdwatching seriously (actually IDing birds) for very long. I think I may have been lucky to see the Sora though, as it was really hiding…

Others from the day…

Osprey

Northern Flicker

Savannah Sparrow

Wilson’s Snipe

Red-winged Blackbird

Gorgeous thistles very busy with butterfly and bee action!

The birds are beautiful out in their breeding plumage. From Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Friday…

White Morph Great Blue Heron (Great Egret has black legs.)

Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron…bad hair day?

Juvenile White Ibis

Tri-colored Heron

I drive by the Eagle nest every couple of days to see how they are doing. There are two Eaglets which both seem to be doing okay. I usually stop by on my way home and don’t have the camera with me, when I do bring the camera they decide to be shy! Despite the bad lighting, I did snap a shot of one this last time (with parent). They are big!

This Winter the Orlando Wetlands has some special visitors, a couple of Vermilion Flycatchers. I waited for a nice cool day, as the park is very sunny and lacking in shade. You don’t want to go to this place when it’s hot! But luckily the nice cool day came along and it was beautiful and I spotted both Vermilion Flycatchers right where they said they would be…

1…

2…

See them? No? I guess a closer look would be good…

Gorgeous birds and a rare sight to see. So glad I got out there!

I have been anxiously watching the hummingbird feeder and today- there they were! Two male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds fighting over the feeder. They flew about, darting at one another and a couple times falling to the ground over the scuffle. The cat is enthralled. We were both glued to the window over lunchtime!

Sandhill Cranes are common in this area, I’m sure I see them every day. This is the first time I found a nest, it can be seen from the road and I have been keeping an eye from a distance. Finally got a chance to stop and take a few photos. I will continue watching for the little ones, and hope they stay safe!