Crested Caracara
A new year, a new location and a new bird list started.
We traveled north along the Gulf Coast to Newport Campground where we will be until March 31st. We are right across the road from St. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge and a beautiful 10 mile auto tour to the Lighthouse on the Gulf.
On the way we found this fabulous Crested Caracara that looks like he just had a big lunch, (notice the full crop protruding through the breast feathers).
Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture looking for roadkill lunch
Black-crowned Night-heron along a stream
The Lighthouse at St. Mark's. The fresh water pond is full of wintering ducks
Great Egret runs with his fish away from the Snowy Egrets
Salt Marsh on the refuge
Red-bellied Woodpecker in one of the hammocks
Dahoon Holly - good bird food
Marsh Wren in Spartina
Hundreds of mostly Redheads and 12 other species of ducks
Ring-necked drake
Redhead in front of Canvasback drake
Redhead with American Coot escort
Bufflehead drake
Hooded Merganser drake
Hooded Merganser hen with great coif
Wakulla Springs - the spring is 186 feet deep with 260,000 gallons of water a minute
forming the Wakulla River
The warm 69 degree water provides a winter haven for Manatees
Seen from the two level viewing deck above the Spring
Exhaling (blowing bubbles)
Cow Manatee with her calf
Bald Cypress Trees with Spanish Moss along the boat tour
We first came here in 1980 with our 2 sons and it hasn't changed.
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Male Anhinga drying off his wings after underwater fishing
Two year old baby alligators, we counted 25, still guarded by Mom
Part of the "jungle" area where Tazran was filmed in the 1940's
Back at St. Mark's, a 12 foot monster Alligator sunning
Part of the Pineland habitat interspersed with ponds and wetlands
Prairie Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
Male Boat-tailed Grackle with three females
Brown headed Nuthatch, a southern specialty, nice flock came close
Hundreds of American Robins feeding on palm fruit
They will be heading north soon
Female Anhinga
A rare find in Florida, an Iceland Gull, many birders came to view it.
Looking forward to many more days on the refuge especially during the coming migration.
Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann
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