Indian River Birding and Nature Festival

David and I had a blast leading trips and teaching classes at the Indian River Birding and Nature Festival this weekend. Here are some of our highlights!

Our first trip was an owl prowl. We didn't see any owls. Our second trip was to Jungle Trail and Sebastian Inlet. This was a much more productive trip. This was a Phoebe.

We got great looks at some Reddish Egrets at the beach.

The Reddish Egret, looking poised.

It's amazing to me how much their color changes with the light. The Reddish Egret almost looks grey here.

The Wood Stork was looking particularly handsome today.

Definitely a little poser.

Kind of like the Snowy Egret, the Wood Stork's shoes and sox don't match.

If you see a linebacker standing with a bunch of gulls, that is the Herring Gull.

A Willet photobombing my Herring Gull.

A Palm Warbler. You can't tell from this picture, but you can identify them by the way they constantly wag their tail up and down.

A Blue-grey Gnatcatcher.

The moon looking all picturesque in daytime.

Me, teaching our Introduction to Birding class (Photo by Heather.)

A few years ago, I took a course to become a certified interpretive guide. I passed the class, but the one critique I got is that flail about wildly when I speak. Unfortunately, I still do. Someone suggested today that I join Toastmasters, I might look into it.

Ok, now here, I am supposed to be flailing about wildly, I am demonstrating the flight pattern of the woodpecker (for those who have taken the class, you will remember it's swoop-swoop-weeeeeeeeee!)

Here is David, explaining a birding concept quite intensely.

Today we led a trip out to the Stick Marsh and Goodwin WMA. This is still one of my favorite places. We were greeted in the parking lot by this Black Vulture.

I don't know that I've ever actually captured a Green Heron with any green on it before. But here you go.

A Little Blue Heron, looking particularly colorful this morning. It was a chilly morning but it was beautiful out there.

Cattle Egrets in flight.

For those who took the class, you will remember we talk about how pointy the Anhinga is in flight. I think they look like an arrow being shot from a bow.

A Night Heron with an Anhinga.

So, I was trying to remember who the Great Egret in flight reminds me of. Then I remembered.

Grackles are still one of my favorites. I love how they look dull from one angle but then when the light hits them just right they just burst into color.

A particularly picturesque Mockingbird.

A Turkey Vulture.

Ok, this is a series of 3 that tell a story:

Turkey Vulture: Wow, what is that awful smell??

Black Vulture: I have no idea what you are talking about, I don't smell anything at all!

Black Vulture: HAHAHAHAHA Just kidding! I farted!
Turkey Vulture: Get off my fence.

A White Peacock, getting up there in years . He was pretty, but his edges are torn and his color is pretty faded, both of which are signs of aging.

An Osprey getting a take out meal.

A bunch of Cowbirds. Not a particularly interesting bird, I just thought there was something interesting about the array of them on the wires.

And finally, a posing Little Blue Heron.


Thanks so much to everyone who came out to play with us at the festival this weekend. We hope to see you out there, and look forward to hearing about your birding adventures! And don't forget, if you want to join us, check out David's blog for our upcoming events, including trips out of Ditch 13 Gallery and Gifts.