Out on a Limb

Gosh...this handsome little fellow was tough to shoot!  Flitting from limb to limb, it barely sat still for two seconds. I could have spent hours chasing it!  Not 100 percent sure, but I believe it's a prairie warbler. Spotted at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary -- with all kinds of other songbirds zipping through the trees.  Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Palm Warbler

This cute little songbird is a palm warbler.  Lots of warblers exist out there in the bird world, and from what the SDP research assistant has learned, a telltale sign that one is a palm warbler is the chestnut patch on its crown.  These birds like to move around a lot, so I was rather pleased when I was able to snap this shot while one paused briefly on a branch at the birdwalk at Myakka River State Park.  Warblers are especially prevalent here in the spring.  But, with the mercury starting to rise, I suspect these guys will be migrating north soon (along with many of our two legged visitors -- the snowbirds).  By the way, while reviewing materials for this post, the SDP researcher stumbled across a niceAudubon Society webpage with terrific audio of the palm warbler's song.  Check it out here.

Palm Warbler

The entire SDP staff took a day trip recently down to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary near Naples. What an absolute treasure!  In the spring, birds migrate there from all over.  If you're a birder or nature lover, this is the place to go in March or early April during migration season. Almost from the moment we stepped foot onto the 2.25-mile boardwalk, which winds through five habitats including grasslands and woods, we could hear and see an assortment of birds flitting around including this palm warbler. Isn't he handsome? The Audubon Society purchased 14,000 acres of land in 1954 and set it aside as a wildlife sanctuary. Volunteers stroll around pointing out birds and other critters to visitors and answering questions, which is how I was able to identify this little feathered beast.  (I'm not that good of an ornithologist yet.)  Since we had such a good time (and snapped so many photos), we're going to take you on a virtual tour of Corkscrew Swamp over the next few days and share some of our wildlife encounters.  No need for hiking boots...or binoculars.  Warning:  watch your mouse...there could be snakes on this adventure.