Cormorant day on the Gulf Coast!

 

We drove out to the Gulf Coast AGAIN this week and hiked the Withlacoochee Bay Trail! 

Remember, this isn't the sandy beaches that people walk on and pick up seashells.

These beaches are lined with oyster shells and vegetation....

and Oystercatchers!

It's only 30 miles from our house and fast becoming our favorite place to go. We drive past Halpata Tastanaki Perserve AND Blue Run Park to get there though so we feel the pull to stop and hike there too.

But that will be for another day. 

We timed our arrival to coincide with low tide.

That way there are more exposed sandbars.....

and more birds like this Cormorant in the sand.

Pelicans and Cormorants

Great White Egret

Little Blue Heron

At the end of the day when I was writing in our hiking journal....

the cormorants won the day. We saw at least 100 Cormorants!

I always end up with a few mystery birds so I'll ask for help with this one. 

My first thought was Red Tailed Hawk for this bird,

until he landed. Is he a dark morph or a juvenile?

He sure looked amazing with the sun shining through his feathers.

I hope you are able to get out and enjoy nature this weekend. 

We'll be 'out and about', cameras at hand enjoying Florida in February!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Bird Sightings on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail

 

As we walked on the Withlacoochee Bay Trail we were snapping our necks side to side and up and down.

There were SO many birds to see!

We didn't get good photos of them all but at least we could make an ID and write a list when we got home.

The very first bird we saw was an American Bald Eagle.

We photographed another one at the end of the trail so it was quite exciting.

Lots of Cormorants flying low just above the canal and others high in the sky.

Cormorant on sand bar

Osprey

Anhinga

And then there are those we don't see here in the forest.

American Oystercatcher

Hooded Merganser

White Pelican

American Oystercatcher and Ring-billed Gull

A few comical critters too. The Brown Pelican.

I caught a fish THIS BIG!

Oh, and I have him in my pouch to snack on later! lol

I hope you've had a chance to get out in nature! 

Wish you could all join me for a hike this week!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.