Sanibel Day 5

Our last ride through Ding Darling Wildlife refuge yesterday afternoon. Tide was rising, wind was cold. But the birds show up anyway.

On our way there, we saw a coyote running along the side of the street in Sanibel. Can't quite figure out how the coyote got to the island. 

The highlight of the visit, for me, was the female Anhinga. Very calm and beautiful.

Enjoy..

Female Anhinga posing..

Brown pelican..they soar all over the island..

Wily coyote..

Grumpy old man..Great Blue Heron..

Snowy egret, all hunkered down in the cold weather..

Yellow-crowned night heron hunting..

 

Sanibel again

 Low tide after the rain brought out a lot of wildlife. Wood storks flying everywhere. Reddish egret fishing - a joy to watch.

Enjoy!

Black-crowned Night heron...they love sitting still..

Black vulture having breakfast..

Great Blue heron..very beautiful feathers and patterns on it's back..

Great Blue flew up top the railing while myself and another photographer stood close by and watched. It showed no fear of us and kept turning around and posing for us..

Little Green heron...

This Reddish egret was quite the poser..it had seen me before and moved further out. I went back to the car and waited. It came back and did various things..

Tri-colored heron..quite colorful..

Wood stork flyby...

Sanibel Day 2

 Another cool and cloudy day here in Sanibel. At least we are not getting snow like northern Florida is. 

A refuge visit produced quite a few photos. From raccoon to a white bird feeding frenzy, lots of opportunities. 

Here's a few shots from yesterday..

A Green heron..a favorite of mine. Small and often hard to find, they are known for using tools to attract food.

Kingfisher - noisy clattering call as it swoops through the lowlands..

Little Blue heron..Its color lives up to its name..

Osprey - adult and a juvenile..in nest..

I wasn't going to photograph this guy...but he insisted and finally flew close to me and hovered. What can you do?

I love the way the raccoons walk..

The Reddish egret performs his hunting ballet while a little blue heron and ibis feed nearby..

Bad hair day for this Tricolored heron..

Wood stork photos..it landed in the tree and stayed for a bit..

Sanibel January 2025

 Kind of cold down here this week as the cold air slides down from the North. But still much warmer and more comfortable than home. 

Wildlife still moving around, interesting happenings seen. From Osprey collecting nest materials to raccoons hunting in the shallows. Spoonbills are minimally present and so far quite far away. No alligators so far..probably too cold.

Here's some shots from the last two visits..Enjoy!

Little blue heron fishing..

Osprey gathering nest making material..

Raccoon hunting on mudflat..

Red-headed vulture

Snowy egret...sky bound...

Roseate spoonbill in flight..

Tri-colored heron I think...

Great white pelicans hanging out..

Yellow-crowned night heron...

Fish circling..mullets I believe..

GBH on the hunt..

Ibis hanging out..

Green iguana giving us the eye..

Juvenile Little blue heron..

Little Blue heron in flight..