Blessings on the Broward..
I never tire of watching the variety of birds that inhabit the marshlands and river I am blessed to live on. Each day is a new gift, a new photo opportunity, a new arrival, or just an old familiar one there to greet me. The Editor and I can now both share the mornings and coffee together on the porch. But like a certain presidential candidate who experienced a protest this week, our three spoiled wiener dogs staged a protest too. They want a soft cushion on the porch so they can enjoy it too!
What signs of spring have you seen lately? Some birds are showing breeding colors. A Great Egret winged by sporting green eye and beak feathers of the breeding season. Recent photos from other photographers throughout Florida show them with breeding plumage and displays and even hatchlings already. (Note to self, it is time to visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and rookery soon). A Bald Eagle picked up a huge dead catfish from the low tidal flats and carried it off, a sure sign it’s mate is nearby on a nest with hungry beaks to feed. Brown and white pelicans in breeding plumage are on the Broward. Yesterday I saw my friend Tommy put his crab traps back in the Broward (a sign the blue crabs are in season again). When the blue crabs are in season one can expect to see ole George, the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron return also. Lo and behold this morning, the Editor and I saw George (and Georgia his mate) show up on the dock. Spring has definitely arrived now on the Broward.
With the blessings of spring also come trials. Texas and Louisiana are experiencing record flooding. Friends and neighbors have had some health scares. But the Good Lord is faithful and watching over us all. Remember that when your trials seem overwhelming. Blessings...Harry
Signs of Spring when the birds begin to show breeding colors. Note the bright green around the Great Egret's eye..
The Brown Pelicans are also beginning to show breeding colors..note the yellow head feathers ..
This Bald Eagle is bringing catfish to feed the hungry beaks at it's nearby nest.
Tandom Flight..Breeding sails are showing on the beaks of this pair of male White Pelicans
Bright blue green eyes on this male Double Crested Cormorant and bright orange on the beak are indicative of breeding plumage also..
This male Eastern Bluebird's mate is sitting on eggs already..
This Black Crowned Night Heron taking the "Red-eye" flight home in the early morning has its white breeding plume also..
Another male White Pelican with its Breeding sail on the beak flies by my Wavewalk Kayak..
But the surest sign of spring on the Broward...George, the Yellow-crowned Night Heron and his mate Georgia are back!