February 21, 2009
Florida trip day 3: Cedar Key
The last full day of the trip was spent relaxing in the coastal town of Cedar Key, a small archipelago on the west coast. The good birding habitat started at the back porch!
Among the wading birds taking advantage of the mangrove-lined tidal inlet were this Little Blue Heron...
... and several Wood Storks.
Landbirds included Gray Catbird and Common Ground Dove.
This female Red-bellied Woodpecker was busy caching acorns in the tree directly behind the balcony.
The real highlight was watching the nightly fly-past of herons heading out to roost on the offshore islands.
In the harbour area we enjoyed fabulous views of a hunting Tricolored Heron.
Brown Pelicans perch unconcernedly among the fishermen on the pier.
Equally good views can be obtained of the irridescent blue Boat-tailed Grackles.
Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls allow close approach...
... though it helps to bring bait!
Ospreys were abundant, with at least 5 different nesting pairs noted.
A couple of Bald Eagles flew by.
We took the short trip out to the Cedar Key Scrub reserve, hoping for Florida Scrub Jay - no joy, but Eastern Kingbirds and Purple Martins hawking over the palmettos offered some evidence that spring is on the way.
A brief stop at the midge-filled Shell Mound was good for a variety of roosting shorebirds, skimmers and terns.
An evening drive around Way Key yielded fleeting views of a Clapper Rail and a small pod of Bottlenose Dolphins just offshore.
