Harn's Marsh and Indian Creek farewell

 

We took an early morning trip to Harn's Marsh to the east of Fort Myers,  a new area to explore.

The first treat was a Purple Gallinule crawling over the Alligator Flag plants.

Harn's Marsh, 4 miles of dike trails

Limpkins seen and heard closeup

Limpkin with big Apple Snail

Sandhill Cranes, one napping

Crane lifting grass looking for breakfast underneath

Sandhill Crane dancing, feels like Spring here?

Aren't you impressed?

Pishing brought this Barred Owl 

Cocking head to study the pisher

Two blocks later, a second Barred Owl comes out

Wintering Blue-winged Teal flocks

Purple Swamp Hens, unusual call we hadn't heard before

Another Purple Gallinule

Hundreds of Black Vultures use this marsh for roosting, resting and feeding

White Ibis Adult and Juvenile

Tricolored Heron

Anhinga

Little Blue Heron Juvenile captures a frog

 

Back at the RV Park, it's our local Pileated Woodpecker

Fish hatch at one of the "lakes" attracted over a hundred wading birds: Great & Snowy Egrets, Wood Storks, Great Blue, Little Blue, Tricolored, & Green Herons, plus a Roseate Spoonbill, Brown Pelicans, and Cormorants.

Great Blue Heron issues loud croak

Female Belted Kingfisher landing over the creek

Green Heron watches Bald Eagle overhead

River Otter crosses the roads between the ponds

Crunching the "Catch of the Day"

The Otter is very curious about the cameraman pishing

He ended up crawling under one of the empty houses.

Bath time for the male Bald Eagle

The water flies

Eagle pair together, note larger female in back

Now it's her turn to bathe and shake

Eagle continues to line the nest

She has been incubating for seven days

Our pair of Eagles send us on the road with a hardy good-bye.

January 1st we drive 6 hours north to St. Mark's, Florida

Wishing you all a blessed and healthy NEW YEAR!

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann