Bird Sunday!

We saw lots of different birds today, some at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge and some in our own backyard.  I love this time of year on the island!  The weather is great and the birds are plentiful! 

This osprey flew overhead with his lunch.

I don't get many chances to photograph a Wood Stork.  Not that they aren't around, just that I am not lucky enough to be where they are.  This one flew in circles overhead at Ding today.

This hawk appeared to be searching for food!

We saw several Blue-Winged Teals today.  They have such a distinctive face.

This Reddish Egret is one that has been tagged on his leg and also has a transmitter on his back.  The refuge is able to track it.

It's Cormorant bath time!!  He should have been clean when he was done.  This went on for quite a while!

There have been a couple of male Mallards visiting the lake behind our house.  One looks a little worse for wear!  They hang with the huge flock of mottled ducks.  To be honest, I don't think I can tell the difference between the mottled duck and the female mallard.  There can be 25 or more ducks out there every day.

The male Mallard below is a little prettier than the one above!