Birding the Jacksonville Area Beaches

Many of the birders we met at Little Talbot Island State Park where we saw the celebrity Snowy Owl were also looking for other rarities that were recently spotted in the area. We gathered information and headed to Huguenot Memorial Park just up the road to see if we could find the Snow Buntings that have been reported. The tide was still too high to drive on the beach so we got lots of exercise.

We never found the buntings, but saw lots of ducks. The profile of a Merganser is unmistakable. There were hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers swimming in a large tidal pool across the dunes from the beach. They were quite far away.

I saw this lone Grebe among the ducks. It must be a Horned Grebe but it sure looks like the Western Grebes I see in Colorado.

There was different activity on the beach - and lots of it!

I like the silhouette of the ship in the background.

On our way out of the park we saw some of the regulars. There were lots of Osprey...

Mockingbirds...

and a Wood Stork keeping guard while a Big Blue Heron fishes down in the ravine. It was still early so we decided to head further north to Ft. Clinch State Park located on a peninsula on the outermost point of Amelia Island to see if we could see the Harlequin Duck that has been seen at the end of the pier.

The pier was long (lots of exercise!) and the water was choppy. There were several Black (or American) Scoters swimming near the pier - a Life Bird for us both.

The Harlequin Duck had been swimming too far out to see without a scope - but swam in just as we arrived to the delight of the birders on the watch. He actually swam along side the pier towards the beach diving in the rough waves next to the rocks for as long as we were there.

Another Red-breasted Merganser.

 The water was clear enough that we could see his feet and he was close enough that many of the birders with enormous lenses had to change them out. My lens was perfect.

All along the jetty we saw dozens of Ruddy Turnstones.

While I was watching the Turnstones a Purple Sandpiper hopped up on the wall! Yet another Life Bird!

The Purple Sandpiper didn't stay in view very long but while he was there the cameras were clicking like crazy (mine included!)

Fort Clinch Beach is a prime nesting area for Black Skimmers and the beach was loaded with them! Bill and I had an amazing birding day in the Jacksonville area - but I just might have to go back and try to get a picture of the Snowy Owl with her eyes open! On our way home we spotted the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher sitting on the wire near the Ocala Regional Sportsplex - but I was too tired to get out the camera and Bill was too tired to stop.

Snowy Owl in Florida!

Bill and I have been reading the many reports of a real snowbird in Florida. A Snowy Owl is wintering on Little Talbot Island at the State Park. It's only the third-ever sighting of a Snowy Owl confirmed in Florida. According to the local paper, Snowy Owls fly farther south when their population spikes or their food source  (Lemmings) becomes scarce. An invasion of Snowy Owls has been reported this winter across the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. We decided this was our chance and headed out early this morning.

We arrived at the park around 10:30 AM - high tide. It was challenging walking along the beach to where the owl was snuggled in the dunes. It was easy to find the correct location as there was a crowd of birders - most with fancy cameras and lenses that made my camera look like an Instamatic.

Ms. Snowy mostly kept her back to her admirers, but every few minutes turned her head around to make sure everyone was still looking. As soon as she did, you could hear the cameras clicking away. She didn't open her eyes while we were there so I don't have any cool pictures showing her great yellow eyes. Darn.

She is beautiful. I was beyond excited.

I took a short break to watch this cute Sanderling play at the water's edge.

One last picture before we headed further north to look for some other rarities that have been seen in the area - a Harlequin Duck, Black (American) Scoter, Purple Sandpiper and Snow Bunting. We found all but the Snow Bunting.

I will post more pictures after I get a good nights rest.

Out Back

Bill and I are really enjoying our new room. The large windows give us a great view of the bird feeders and all the backyard visitors. One of my favorite is the Northern Cardinal.

We see Coyotes almost daily at dawn and/or dusk.

The Goldfinches have returned in huge numbers but they aren't very pretty yet.

The Killdeer usually stay fairly far out but a small group flew in close enough for some pictures.

We see Red-bellied Woodpeckers daily but this one had an especially red head.

Looks like the feeders need filled! The Goldfinches are little piggys!

I think this is a new visitor - a Northern Harrier. I haven't seen one here at OTOW before.

Rare Visitors to Ocala

Today as Bill and I were heading to Sam's, I saw what I thought was a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher out of the corner of my eye. Bill, being the great sport he is, turned around so we could get a better look. Sure enough, there he was! After a short shopping trip, we headed home for my camera and back we went for pictures.

Oddly, my sister Beth reported seeing one earlier at her winter home on Kure Beach in NC. Check her blog - maybe it's the same lost bird!! (http://quilterb-bethsblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/better-pictures-of-flycatcher-and-phoebe.html)

Not a great shot - but shows markings in flight.

With the rare Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was this equally unusual Kingbird. It looks like a Western Kingbird to me - but there are a couple of others that it might be. I see them all the time in Colorado, so it didn't register at first when I saw it here in Florida.

Finally, a new blog entry!

This is my beautiful new daughter Megan and adorable new grandsons Andrew and Riley. My son did good...

...and he knows it.

The wedding was wonderful and it was obvious they thought through every detail.

The setting was awesome and...

...the guests were even better. My sister, Beth and I posed with 5 of our 6 children. This is the first time the cousins were together in many years.

Meanwhile, the week leading up to the nuptials was spent at the beach. This picture was taken on Thanksgiving. John and Megan were busy washing dishes while Orlando, Pamela & I admired Zachary's fancy head ware
.

We decided grandson Zachary was the baby whisperer.

At the rehearsal, the Ruiz family rested long enough for Bill to get this great picture of daughter Pamela, her husband Orlando and 3 of my grandsons - Sebastian, Leandro and Gabriel.

Daughter Laura and wife Cheryl preparing the turkey.

Another shot of the girls.

Meanwhile back in Ocala, our new lanai is finally completed.

We love it.

My sewing area is my favorite part.

It's great having everything in one area. Before I had my cutting table and design wall in the guest room,  my sewing machine in the master and my ironing board in the garage.

I have plenty of room to host card games and Mah Jongg. Bill has his grill under the birdcage - so no more bugs!

Speaking of bugs, I can't get over how BIG the spiders are down here!

With the new windows, I can take better pictures from inside.

I've been using my new area. This is "Who Let the Dogs Out?"