Alabama into Florida

 

We traveled into Alabama south through the highest point in the the state, then south to Wind Creek State Park where we spent the night.  We had a beautiful site on the flowage and this Red-headed Woodpecker was busy stashing food right next to the RV.

Great Blue Heron high in the pine over our RV site.

Our first sighting of the Brown-headed Nuthatch

 

Carolina Wrens were singing and active everywhere

Eastern Bluebird

We then drove into the Panhandle of Florida and stayed a night at Ochlochonee River State Park.

We found this Long-tailed Skipper on the many flowers in the Pine Forest understory.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Summer Tanager

Pied-bald White-tailed deer - still here from when we saw her three years ago.

Tiny (1/2 inch) Gray Tree Frog

Buckeye Butterfly

We then drove to St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge and as we drove south on the seven mile

auto tour we encounted a wonderful surprise.  In flight, a circling American Flamingo!!!

Our first opportunity to see this bird within distant photo range.  The local birders said "Pinkie" arrived in the refuge in 2018 on Halloween Day brought in by a hurricane.  The bird returned every October for the last three years.

Local media coverage and ebird brought in many birders to get this bird on their North American Bird List.

Ty walked around the dike to get some even closer photos

No trip to Florida would be complete without the photo of an Alligator

Yellow Water Lily (Banana Water Lily)

Common Gallinule

Common Green Darner

Zebra Haliconian

Gulf Fritillary

Very common Osprey

We will be coming back to St. Mark's for January-March and will look forward to seeing these Bald Eagles add to the nest and bring offspring into the world.

We are now in Fort Myers Beach visiting our dear friend Patti.  Plus taking birding trips to many area birding spots.

Always wonderful to see God's creation wherever we go.

Love & Prayers,

Ty & Ida Baumann