Dry Tortugas - Day 1

Took an awesome trip to the Dry Tortugas with HFC David. Technically this wasn't really a DeeMotivation trip, but we sure GOOBs! If you didn't come with us, here's what you missed on day 1 of the trip (click photos to enlarge):

We started out the trip with the traditional stop at Starbucks for fuel.

After much driving around in circles, we finally found the boat. Here is David in front of it.

Before the boat left the doc, we went out to dinner with Larry and a few other folks from the boat. This is us at the Hogfish restaurant. Really yummy seared tuna.

This was the first critter I saw, a big dolphin playing in front of the boat. There were some pretty big waves, and I really didn't want to barf my first day on the boat, so I took a nap for a while after I took this picture.

 We made it to the Dry Tortugas National park, shown here behind a bunch of brown boobies.

There were lots of warblers on the island. Shown here is a female cape may warbler. This was a lifer for me.

 Tennessee warbler, also a lifer for me.

Palm warbler, looking all fluffy.

Female black-throated blue warbler. Another lifer for me.

Male redstart.

One of my favorite warblers, the common yellowthroat.

I thought I had gotten a picture of two frigate birds mating. David pointed out to me that it is in fact one frigate bird, apparently mating with his own wing.

The water is just an unbelievable color there.

 Grey king bird.

Rock pigeons. Notice that one of them is chewing with his mouth open. Ew.

Lesser yellow legs.

Another one of my favorite warblers, the northern parula.

Prairie warbler.

Blackpoll warbler.

Some lacy coral that was on the beach.

Eurasian collared dove.

Ruddy turnstone, mooning.

My favorite critter of the weekend, a hermit crab. He just has such a happy little face.

An antilean nighthawk, taking a nap. This was a lifer for me.

Palm warbler.

 Magnolia warbler, another lifer for me.

Rose-breasted grossbeak, another lifer for me.

The boat, from shore.

The Dry Tortugas are really the main resting stop between here and Cuba. Many birds don't make it and many who do are weak and easy prey. This was a shore bird of some kind who was predated by something.

There was a blue grossbeak (forefront) hanging out with an indigo bunting. I like this picture cause it shows how despite both being blue, they aren't even close to being in the same color palette.

A close up of the blue grossbeak.

This was kind of a weird looking white winged dove, with a blue face.

That was the last bird we saw on day 1 on the island. After birding we returned to the boat for noms and much needed sleep.

SOS - April 22 A1A near Jungle Trail

Well, it was a windy day with threat of rain. I didn't get many pictures but we did get our 6 miles in and as always had lots of fun. If y ou didn't GOYB this weekend, here's what you missed:

 This was a lizard who lost his tail recently. It was just starting to come back.

 Strangely, there were not many birds at all out there today.

 One of my favorite critters, the giant land crab. We watched as he played chicken with a car. He made it across the street.

 This freaked me out. We saw this lizard who by all accounts appeared to be dead. But apparently he had just been hit by a bike or something cause when I bent over to look at him he raised his head. Really freaked me out. Felt sorry for the poor little bugger.

This was a wolf spider. Haven't seen a lot of spiders this year, not sure why.

Ok, I know what you are thinking, you are saying to yourself,  EWWW if that's what you see when you are out walking, why the hell would I want to leave my couch? And the answer is, because we see both pretty and ugly things, but the important part is that we are experiencing LIFE which you will never EVER do just sitting on your couch!

Be sure to join us on a walk soon,  you will know what we mean.

SOS at Circle B Bar Ranch

Many moons ago, David and went out to this new park, Circle B Bar Ranch. It was quiet, and beautiful, and other than us, there was just a herd of Red Hat Society ladies. Really nice place, and I've been wanting to go back for a while now. 

So this week, joined by the lovely cousin Amy, we finally made it back there. Since we were there last, they have put in a visitor's center, and apparently advertised, cause there were hundreds of people, all of them with at least 15 screaming horrible children. We saw quite a few birds, but I really didn't enjoy the first mile or so of the walk as it was wall-to-wall people. Once we got out into the open area though, it was just like I remembered it. If you didn't GOYB this weekend, here's what you missed:

We were welcomed to the park by a pretty red-bellied
woodpecker.

This was a red-shouldered hawk
sitting on a nest, right along the path.

A raccoon getting a drink.

A solitary sandpiper. He was singing, "All byyyy myself. don't wanna live, allllll byyy myseeeeelf" So sad.

This was really cool. It was a baby alligator who hadn't lost his stripes yet. I've never seen one this young in the wild before.

A glossy ibis, who despite having a white face, was not a white faced ibis.

Amy spotted this - a big turtle who I think thought he was hiding.

This was Amy's favorite bird of the day. Check out those HUGE green feet!

I mean really, those feet are ENORMOUS!

HCF David and Amy looking at the
yellow crowned night heron.

Yellow crowned night heron, checking out
HFC David and Amy.

There were some really photogenic
Limpkin out there today.

This was a Limpkin performing
some personal maintenance.

He wasn't just pretty good, he was a great blue heron!

There was a bunch of smashed eggs. Not sure if something
hatched, or if this is left over from when the easter
bunny went on a bender.

Purple galinule. Check out his bright white butt and
big feet. 

I felt bad for this anhinga. I was taking
pictures of the bright flashy gallinule, and this guy
just sat there waiting patiently for me to take his
picture.

HFC David's butt.

An armadillo, or a "mouse wearing armor" as my mom
used to say.

Wrapping up te day, Amy, David  and me.

As always, it was an awesome day outside. Remember, even if it's a bad day outside, it's still better than a day sitting in front of the TV or computer. GOYB and join us for a walk!