More from Florida…birds of Ding Darling!
It’s been so much fun for me that I’m continuing the Florida bird theme! These are all pictures from a previous trip to Ft Myers and Sanibel. More specifically, they are all from a day at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. It’s a tremendous place for viewing all sorts of Florida birds and animals. If you go, bring your binoculars and go early or late in the day for best viewing. It’s a great thing to do as a family (those are my parents along with my wife and son below). My grandparents always loved going here, and my cousin Jason was an especially big fan. They also have a great visitor center with lots of hands-on activities and kid-friendly exhibits. I can’t recommend the park highly enough!
The pink birds up top are roseate spoonbills, a rarity to see, it seems, except at Ding Darling. Egrets and herons are here in abundance. That’s a snowy egret on the left (the same bird my son was scouting in the picture at the very bottom). He’s becoming more and more interested in birds and photography (shock…but he does differ greatly from his dad in football team preference; I’m a big Dallas Cowboys fan, but he likes the Giants and Redskins best). The other photos below are a little blue heron (long pic under the spoonbill closeup), green heron (just below the little blue), and an anhinga preening itself. You don’t typically see the blue feathers on it’s back; usually they’re more of a silver color.
I’m planning one last Florida blog entry for Friday, so I’ll see you then!
Dave
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Comments
Dave, One of the best things you are doing is training your son in the importance of God’s beautiful world. So many kids sit by the TV or their video games all day… I love it when I see kids interested in nature!!!! Great pictures! Makes me want to go to Florida also!
On another subject, Dave, I got excited today since our bluebirds were BACK. Two of them–male and female came back to their old nest box. I got so excited!!!! Didn’t get any pictures yet though. AND–since we’re going to Buffalo, I’ll miss your blogs and my birds ’til Tuesday!!!! Have a great weekend.
These are great, Dave! You have a nice family and a great hobby with your photography. Now I’m with Tina…I have to Florida and it’s all your fault ;-)
Thanks everyone! Just call me your official Florida travel planner. :-)
Tina, I do like the Panthers, but I grew up loving the Cowboys. Of course, right now they’re playing lousy and battling injuries. They could be 4-5 when Romo finally returns. Do you follow football? Steelers or Eagles maybe?
Betsy, glad you have the bluebirds again! Ours are battling right now against a territorial mockingbird…beat it, mockingbird! Hope you have fun in Buffalo. Maybe you’ll see some snow! By the way, I totally agree with you on the TV and video games. We’re a book family. Right now we’re reading together through the Little House on the Prairie series.
BG, to Florida or not to Florida, that is the question! You would have a field day at Ding Darling with your skills…I really do think you should go sometime!
Hi Dave,
Yea, I am an NFL follower. Nothing better than a cold blustery day here in Pa. and it is Sunday afternoon and football. We are Eagles fans, but actually I’m usually for the underdog, as I just really like a good game! My hubby and I just happen to get in an an elevator at our hotel while in Maui, several yrs ago, and who is standing there but Troy Aikman and his body guard. Talk about being a big guy..but then we saw the body guard! Omg! Anyhow good luck with Dallas and Romo’s little finger! Sorry you have to put up with T O!!
(but then someone has to! he he):)
It’s amazing how big those guys really are. I met Joe Montana last year, and I was shocked at his size. He always seemed small to me on TV, but he’s big in person. Those linemen and linebackers must be HUGE! You can have T.O. back, by the way. He’s too much drama. The Eagles may be better than Dallas once the season is over.
i love your journal…and all the wonderful bird pix! the pelicans are one of my favorites, i think, but all are so very good. i see the young lad is gaining an appreciation for bird watching and nature at a very young age. :) way to go!!
Thanks for visiting, Gina! He is indeed, and we have another young bird-watcher, nature-lover arriving soon!
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ah now ya did it! Looks like I now have Sanibel envy!! lol This might be the first yr in many that Sanibel won’t be on our travel list. I’ll just have to pull out those ole scrap
books and remember all those days of doing the Sanibel stoop!! Very nice photos, Dave. (as usual) LOVE the Roseate Spoonbills pics and seeing the blueish feathers on the Anhinga! hmmm Dallas?? not Panthers?