Wildflowers

The goal is to get better at identifying wildflowers. So I’m starting to use my bird routine on flowers: photograph, go home, and identify. Yesterday, KT and Peanut and I went for a drive around the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest, south of LaBelle, off Hwy 29. I was hoping for an afternoon shower, but it was clear and hot with plenty of flying insects. (Maybe insect IDs will be next.)

By far, the most plentiful, showiest blooms were the swamp rose-mallows.

The swamp rose-mallow flowers close by by mid-day.

Hibiscus moscheutos, swamp rose-mallow, later in the evening.

Pluchea odorata, saltmarsh fleabane

Two sandhill cranes in a wet field dotted with saltmarsh fleabane.

Migration

In one of my bird guides I read that about 50 percent of all birds migrate. If you think about it, that’s a huge number of birds. I hadn’t considered that I might see many migrating birds locally until the local Audubon chapter started to e-mail notices about outings to spot them. Happened that I was working or had other plans during most of the trip times. But the e-mails mentioned that the mulberry trees at Ft. DeSoto were an important stop for the birds. And… the e-mail also included a PDF map pointing out where to find those mulberry trees.

Bonnie and I took a ride over on a Thursday morning. There’s a well worn path from the parking lot around the ranger’s house to an area with mulberry trees, nice benches, and a fountain with fresh water for the birds. Almost every day, people who love the birds stock the feeders with orange halves. Posted signs warn birders never to use recorded bird calls or pick the mulberries. The best thing to do is sit quietly on a bench and the birds will come out.

I’ve gone back once or twice a week since then. Each time I saw something new that drove me back again. The first time it was a glimpse of a shy Ovenbird venturing out from the scrub oak. Then a bright blue Indigo Bunting at the fountain. Then a pretty yellow female Orchard Oriole. Then, last weekend, a storm blew through and the park exploded with Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers and multitudes of warblers. Late one evening I sat on the ground in a field as dozens of deep blue and rust barn swallows swooped inches away, picking insects from the air. This is what I’ll remember about the spring migration.

Baltimore Oriole enjoys an orange

Blue Grossbeak  in tall grass

Operation Migration

Operation Migration was held up in Alabama as the FAA investigated whether the organization had violated pilot compensation rules.  The group is trying to resurrect the tiny population of Whooping Cranes by establishing an Eastern migratory flock that breeds in Wisconsin and winters in Florida. This year, nine young cranes are following the ultralights to the wintering ground in Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. Bonnie and I photographed the 2009 Whooping Crane flyover at the Dunnellon Airport.

Waiting for the flyover

Cranes in the distance

Whooping Cranes

Whooping Cranes

Ultralight

Landing