Church Road Crested Caracara Overload: Part I

As a testament to every visit to Church Road as different, it was exciting to see a dozen and a half Roseate Spoonbill make a flyover to prove the point.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 1) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

This article has been made with an attempt at conclusion to Felda's Church Road with four visits including 12 and 13 December 2014, and 3 and 6 January 2015. I have reviewed images through much of 3 January, but have run out of time to get the blog updated on schedule with the remaining images from the 3rd and 6th with conclusion certain next week for you.

The Crested Caracara above (image 2) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 3) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 4) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Savannah Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Western Kingbird above (image 6) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The sunrise above (image 7) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Western Kingbird above (image 8) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Black Vulture above (image 9) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 10) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 11) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 12) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 13) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 14) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 15) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

So here is much of the observation presented with heavy fog that has routinely been encountered at the venue. It was fun to again meet up with Donna McMurrer whom had earlier been keenly observing the wildlife at Harns Marsh Preserve.

The Crested Caracara above (image 16) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 17) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 18) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 19) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 20) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 21) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 22) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Crested Caracara above (image 23) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Wood Stork above (image 24) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Western Kingbird above (image 25) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Western Kingbird above (image 26) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Roseate Spoonbill above (image 27) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

Donna McMurrer above (image 28) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Western Kingbird above (image 29) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

The Palm Warbler above (image 30) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

There was interesting behavior that occurred through observations presented here which is hopefully interpreted within the images. If you're having difficulty with that, you can seek out the wildlife yourself.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher above (image 31) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Grasshopper Sparrow above (image 32) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Fish Crow above (image 33) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Western Kingbird above (image 34) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The American Kestrel above (image 35) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Wood Stork above (image 36) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above (image 37) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above (image 38) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above (image 39) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Northern Harrier above (image 40) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above (image 41) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above (image 42) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher with Western Kingbird above (image 43) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Crested Caracara above (image 44) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Crested Caracara above (image 45) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

Visits to the wildlife at Church Road were also made in the good company of Frank Constantin and Hemant Kishan.

The Crested Caracara above (image 46) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Crested Caracara above (image 47) was photographed at Church Road in January 2015.

The Crested Caracara above (image 48) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

Church Road must not be overlooked in your Florida wildlife travels with caracaras and the other specialties to be found in this area throughout the year.

The Crested Caracara above (image 49) was photographed at Church Road in December 2014.

Please also see Church Road Crested Caracara Overload: Part II

Florida Birding In Heavy Fog

At no time in my travels have I met someone that has proclaimed to find it desirable to take photographs in foggy conditions.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

With wildlife at fairly close range, the mist can offer a favorable mood. On the morning of 28 January 2014 I made a return trip to Church Road to see the familiar and otherwise.

The Killdeer above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Killdeer above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

It was with great fortune that master birder Vince McGrath mutually made a visit to Church Road this day, and put me on to birds that I would have otherwise missed.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Common Ground Dove above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Scissor-tailed Flycatchers made their appearance early while favoring the wires. These birds disappeared for only a short while.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Eastern Phoebe above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Other species observed this day are presented in this article. Vince's keen observation skills offered Northern Towhee which he noted was a southern bird with its yellow eyes.

The Northern Rough-winged Swallow above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Lark Sparrow above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Vesper Sparrow above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Additionally, a sparrow was pointed out by Vince noting the bird's strong white eye ring. With Vince in tune with the calls of the birds, a female Painted Bunting made an appearance.

The Vesper Sparrow above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The highlight of the morning was without doubt a pair of Lark Sparrow. Vince noted that he observes this species about once to twice a year, with the LASP a lifer for me.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Red-shouldered Hawk above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

The Eastern Towhee above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

Before the morning was over I would meet some wonderful people including Tim Willis who gave me and Vince a tour of his orange grove. Vince also introduced me to Lois and Leon White in Alva.

The Eastern Towhee above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

While I greatly miss beach observations, a return trip to Church Road and Alva will be sooner than later.

The Painted Bunting above was photographed along Church Road in January 2014.

On 13 February 2014, a low pressure system was off the coast of New Jersey with 49 of the 50 United States of America having snow on their ground, save Florida. I took breaks from image processing to ponder that the wicked winds would keep wildlife out of sight this day. However, Vince would report that a Dicksiccel remained at his feeders (for a ninth day). Vince also hosted the very rare Luzuli Bunting in 2012, as did the White's in 2008.