It was a beautiful Saturday for President’s Day weekend on the island. This weekend is the official start of tourist season. On top of that, we have a popular arts festival on the Island this weekend. So, it was a pleasure to enjoy the solitude of a drive through Ding Wildlife Refuge. Anytime I can get a chance to photograph white birds against a gorgeous blue sky, it’s a win in my book!
We came across several Blue-Winged Teals on the Indigo Trail.
We also saw a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, a Tri-Colored Heron, and an Anhinga.
This Black-Crowned Night Heron was hard to catch for a photo. He kept hiding behind some twigs. Finally, he stretched and yawned a couple of times, so I could grab a couple of pics.
During his next yawn, his third eyelid came across. It’s called a nictitating membrane. it protects the eye and also keeps it from drying out. They can still see through it, but it gives birds a spooky look.