Happy first day of Summer!

What a great Spring it was. I hope that Summer will be great too. I’ve been having so much fun outside, but I dread the upcoming heat and mosquitoes.

I have held strong in spending 30 minutes outside every day this month. Here are a few photos from this last week and a half.

Pileated Woodpecker’s

Tri-colored Heron

This gorgeous Barred Owl made my day, and see the little Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher next to it in this photo? That little bird was making a huge fuss when the Owl landed on that tree, but it is kind of a cute photo.

Brown Thrasher

Green Heron

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

Birds love to fly away while you are taking a photo of them!

Sometimes when you are taking a photo of a bird it decides to fly away, fluff it’s feathers, or do something otherwise awkward. When I come home and start going through the photos from a bird watching trip, sometimes I just say “wha…?”

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.

This bird in flight makes me laugh…

All the birds looked cold like this. All tucked in.

How cute are armadillos? They are so small and remind me of bunnies, but with armor.

Those pelicans where at the Manatee Observation Deck, but unfortunately no manatees.

Here are some photos from Black Point Drive at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. Not too much activity from the birds in the middle of the day, but what a nice way to spend the afternoon before a big Thanksgiving dinner!