Bird Rookery Swamp

We drove to the CREW Bird Rookery on a beautiful blue-sky day last week. 

 

 

We couldn't have had a better day for a nature walk.  Perfect walking temperature, not too hot, not too bright …. and lots and lots of birds.   There can never be too many birds.

 

?

There were birds in trees.  

(I would have guessed this was a snowy egret but I couldn't see the yellow feet.  So maybe an immature great blue heron?  Or ???)

 

Cormorant, snowy egret …. 

Different species shared the same branches.  I always like to see this.

 

Wood Stork

Storks shared the same trees, but the other birds gave them more room.  They're pretty big compared to everybody else.  

And then there were birds in the water:

 

Snowy Egret (I think) and Immature Ibis

 

 

And there were Great Egrets everywhere. 

Including the one in the center photo who owned that path and was not afraid to let everyone know it.  He walked back and forth several times while the humans who were using his path waited patiently on both sides.   That beautiful green color around the eye is part of the bird's  breeding plumage.

 

 Tri-colored Heron

And  there were other birds in the wetlands.   

We used to see Great Blue Herons all the time but the Tri-Colored seems to be more common this season.  I think I've seen at least one on every nature walk we've taken.    

And then there were the other guys — more than a few sightings of wingless wildlife:  

 

Hard-shelled turtle, soft-shelled turtle, and  … Ta-Da:

Our first Alligator of the season  (you know I have to do it!).  Doesn't he look happy?

We are grateful to CREW (Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed) Land and Water Trust for what they do to save  some spaces in our State for earth and wildlife –  and for making parts of it available for the rest of us to visit.   Click to enlarge the informational poster below:

 

 

… and then look at that map on the right.   So many places to explore.  Thank you CREW!  

 

Linking to the following sharing opportunities, with thanks to the hosts who provide them: 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; WILD BIRD Wednesday;  SIGNS SIGNS;     THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS;  SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING