Birds at the downtown Tampa coastline

Willet, laughing gull, oystercatcher, young blue heron and cormorants can all be found along the water at Davis Islands, a small island next to downtown Tampa.

Loggerhead shrikes are most prevalent there. They were in the bushes next to the boat ramp, in the trees that lined the yacht basin and on the fence that lined the airport. The ones on the fence were a parent and young one that was still being feed.

Mangroves line the yacht basin and the sea grapes in were in full bloom.

At first glance, there aren’t a lot of birds at the south end of Davis Islands where the small private airport and yacht basin meet up. There are lots of bicycles, joggers, walkers, and dog walkers along the road, most are not paying attention to the birds. People look at me like “Why is that girl staring up in the tree?” When you look along the shore line and up in the trees you see lots of things.

Linking to Wednesday Around The World.

Birds in the city

DSC_3524 DSC_3527 DSC_3530

Lots of grackles and starlings around the park.

DSC_3546

DSC_3571

DSC_3577

For years, loggerhead shrikes have been hanging out along the fences at the airport on Davis Islands. Maybe they like the view.

DSC_3583

Pano of downtown Tampa, taken from Davis Islands.

DSC_3539

Pretty flowers in the summer heat.

DSC_3626

DSC_3633

DSC_3634

DSC_3647

A juvenile little blue heron creeping down to the water. Then he flew over to the sign to remind everyone to slow down in the manatee zone.

More sights from my walk around Davis Islands in late July.