The winter months are my favorite time of the year since the weather is so mild here in central Florida. But, when April rolls around I always think it’s my favorite month. It’s still cool in the mornings and everything is blooming everywhere. The flowers look fresh and haven’t been fried by the summer sun yet.
Even the pitcher plants were blooming.
The little critters were buzzing around.
Painted buntings were everywhere this year. This couple only stopped at the feeder for a few minutes.
Of course cardinals are always around.
A bunny on the trail at Bok Tower Gardens in early April.
I saw a hawk sitting on the pole holding up the volleyball net. A few minutes later it started to rain. I ducked under cover but he just sat there through the quick shower.
All of the usual birds were at Chesnut Park in early November, including the female common yellowthroat warbler.
Two different female American redstarts came out of hiding for a few seconds.
I think this is a female painted bunting, which is fairly rare to see at this park.
Other critters at the park including that alligator in the top picture with a huge fish hanging out of his mouth.
A female something. I was told this is a female blue grosbeak. It looks like it but it also looks a little like a female indigo bunting.
People were saying this was a blue grosbeak. It looks just like an indigo bunting to me. In my Stokes Birding Guide, the blue grosbeak has brown in his feathers.
Another blue bird. Grosbeak or bunting?
Female blue grosbeak?
This one is easy. A male painted bunting on a rusted fence.
I’m going with indigo bunting on both above and below.
More pictures from spring migration at Fort Desoto. These little blue birds are throwing me off. There was flashes of blue everywhere. Both indigo buntings and blue grosbeak with a few painted buntings thrown in. People were saying this and that was a blue “something”. They all look like indigo buntings now that I have gone back and looked them up. The female indigo doesn’t have the darker brown feathers that the female blue grosbeak has so I’m pretty sure the females are grosbeaks. Way too much work for a hobby. Anyway, most of the migrating birds are gone. Now all we are left with are the usual summer birds.
