I am working on so much new art! In the meantime, here are a few bird photos from an overcast day at Merritt Island…

Here are some little paintings of bird sightings at Merritt Island.

I am currently doing the ’30×30 challenge’ which I learned about through the blog resurrection fern. The challenge is for Canada, but I just loved the idea so I decided to do it personally without officially signing up… The challenge is to spend 30 minutes outside for 30 days, that is the month of June.

At the same time there in a challenge among birders to find as many different species within your selected county during the month of June. So these challenges go together perfectly!

Here are some of my highlights from the first week:

June 1st, Roseate Spoonbill at Lake Geneva (rare to see so inland)

June 2nd, two Swallow-tailed Kite’s

June 4th, Northern Parula mama with fledgeling

June 4th, gorgeous field of flowers along the shores of Lake Harney

June 5th, Brown-headed Nuthatch

June 7th, a very pretty juvenile White Ibis at Lake Jesup

June 8th, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher after a Red-shouldered Hawk… personally I thought it a bit daring for this tiny bird to be flying around the hawk like this!

June 8th, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the Econ River… I love to see a hummingbird in the wild!

Knowing I was getting out of work early today, all I could think about was finally getting in some bird watching time! So despite the dreary clouds looming overhead I got in my car and was off to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, picked up breakfast at Sunrise Bread Co. and was on the beach by 10:30.

Found this beautiful Prairie Warbler on the dune.
Unfortunately, also discovered the return of mosquitoes. BIG TIME. Rushed back to car!

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron

Eventually it did start to rain… Black-necked Stilt. Love their legs.

Roseate Spoonbills in the rain.

What a great face!

I also saw a number of nests out there. Will definitely be back to check for chicks.

From Merritt Island last weekend…

Snowy Egret

Cattle Egret

White Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

American White Pelicans

American Avocets

Great White Heron

Great Blue Heron

Sora

Eastern Kingbird

The beauty of Merritt Island never fails! I can not tire of it. This week there was a new addition, a very large colony of Avocets. I love them, they are such elegant birds.

And then ducks, so many the water seems to be COVERED in feathers from their preening!

Here are some birds from Merritt Island a few days ago. There is so much to see, I could be there all day. There was a Bittern attracting the most attention, I didn’t take any photos because it was just so crowded.   The Horned Grebe is my favorite! It’s so cute.

Horned Grebe

Green Heron

Coots

Northern Shovelers

Glossy Ibis

Wilson’s Snipe

Roseate Spoonbill

Northern Pintail

Reddish Egret

Pied-billed Grebe

American White Pelicans

Great Blue Heron

Here is a little painting of a Roseate Spoonbill.

The Roseate Spoonbill is not an uncommon sight when bird watching in Florida, but I never tire of seeing them. They are cool to watch feeding, as they swing about their spoonbills in the water. They get their pink color from their food, just as flamingos do. They do some nesting in Florida, I hope to get out and see that this spring!

Yesterday was the first day of Summer! I got up while it was still dark, and my Mom and I drove over to Merritt Island for some birdwatching. When we got there the sun was up, and making for some beautiful light and sparkling water.

My main hope was to see some baby chicks. It didn’t take long before we found this fluffy little Willet chick.

It’s parent was in a tree making a fuss.

We saw some other birds…

Then I was about to give up hope on finding any more chicks. We had driven down Gator Road, and Black Point Drive where I had seen so many Black-necked Stilt’s nesting about a month ago. But down Bio-Lab Road, I got out to look at a Roseate Spoonbill and there was my Black-necked Stilt family by the shore! One parent was flying overhead and making a lot of noise, the other walking along with baby.

So adorable!

Here are some photos from recent birdwatching adventures, taken at Viera and Merritt Island. This is my first Spring/Summer birdwatching. I used to only go in the Winter but I am addicted now I have to go all the time, and it’s so interesting.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck.

Purple Gallinule.

White Ibis.

Cattle Egrets.

Sandhill Cranes, the young one still learning from it’s parents.

Tri-color Heron.

Roseate Spoonbill. Intensely pink.