We spent the morning with Don taking us to look for birds. We started along the beach looking aat gulls and terns. Royal Terns and Laughing Gulls were dominant species.
There were also several batches of Black Skimmers.
Finding Sandwich Terns is always fun.
The dominant shorebirds were Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings and this Willet.
The major “target” of our cruising the beach was this Heerman’s Gull, a western vagrant.
A young Great Black-backed Gull was an unexpected treat.
From the beach we headed off to search ponds for ducks, unusual or not. We found Muscovy at several sites.
A single Egyptian Goose was another “target” bird. The last time I saw one in Florida it was not a “countable” species, so I don’t remember photographing it.
At one large pond we found both Greater and Lesser Scaup, as well as some very close and accommodating Ring-necked Ducks. This male Ring-necked was a treat.
Scanning wires for birds resulted in both American Kestrel and Loggerhead Shrike.
Our final bird of the day was Red Jungle Fowl. Countable or not these were attractive birds.
More tomorrow…
Michael's Place 