Stick Marsh and Kissimmee Prairie

Thanks to everyone who came out with us on tours this weekend.  As aways, it was super fun and both the birds and people were amazing. Here are a few shots from the weekend.

Stick Marsh, Fellsmere. The bird on the right is out of focus, but it made me laugh that it looks like the bird on the left was trying to kick him out of the tree.

Stick Marsh, Fellsmere. Immature Roseate Spoonbills. If they were mature, they would be in breeding plumage (i.e., they would have a bright yellow/orange patch on their tail and flaming pink/orange patch on the wings.)

Stick Marsh, Fellsmere. Terribly out of focus mom Roseate Spoonbill with babies.

Stick Marsh, Fellsmere. I used a different picture of this guy for my blog of the day on Saturday.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. I almost used this one for my blog of the day today, but he had some shmutz on his face, and I didn't want to confuse anyone who might be trying to use the picture for identification.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. I used a different photo of this Wild Turkey for my blog of the day today.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Meadowlark. Hard to take a bad picture of these guys, they are so gorgeous.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. A very slightly horny White Tailed Deer.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. A slightly more horny White Tailed Deer.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. One of my favorite warblers, the incredibly appropriately named Black and White Warbler.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. White-tailed Kite. I thought at first this was a lifer for me, but I did already have it. I have no recollection whatsoever of seeing it before, but there is a picture on my life list so clearly I must have! It sucks getting old. Some days if I didn't have my license, I wouldn't know who the hell I am!

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Northern Bobwhite. This was a (seen, previously just heard) lifer for our friends Mary and Jason, who joined us on the trip today.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. This is one of my favorite photos from today. An enormous Hognose snake! This is only the first 1/4 of him, I couldn't fit him all in in the frame!

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Awwwww. A widdle baby raccoon and his mom.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. I call this one, "Three Raccoon Butts"

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. Ok, this was my favorite picture from today. There were TEN baby alligators. But that's not the cool part. Make sure you click to enlarge this one - when I enlarged it, I noticed in the bottom right hand quadrant, there is also a FROG! I cannot imagine how uncomfortable he must have been!

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. I presume this was the mom of the above babies. I wasn't going to get off the buggy to ask her for ID!

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park. The White-tailed Kite has a mate!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to play with us this weekend. Yesterday was our last Ditch 13 trip until the fall. I cannot thank Nick at Ditch 13 Gallery and Gifts enough for her support and help getting these trips going. Be sure to stop into her shop (right next to Marsh Landing) the next time you are in Fellsmere.