Sunday Six: February 22nd

Double-crested Cormorant

A six pack of shots taken on my visit to the Everglades last month as I catch up on my sixes. This was taken at the Anhinga Trail on my first evening there.

Osprey Chick

The next morning I headed back into the park. My first stop was the Flamingo area. One of the rangers there told me that this chick and its nest mate had yet to make their first flight. And while they both exercised their wings, they stayed nest bound.

Key Mirage

The view in the other direction form the osprey nest is out over the bay to the Keys. This key appears to be floating over the bay, a type of mirage known as a superior mirage.

Snowy Egrets

I then left Flamingo working my way back through the park. But at one stop I met a fellow visitor who told me of some roseate spoonbills at Eco Pond back at Flamingo. So back I went. These egrets were also enjoying watching the spoonbills.

Spoonbill and Egret

It's easy to see how the spoonbill got its name. I'd seen spoonbills before in the Everglades. But never close enough to photograph. Here they came within 20 meters.

Owl Power

My last stop was at Mahogany Hammock as I had been told of barred owl chicks. I met the woman who had told me about the spoonbills at Eco Pond in the parking lot. And I returned the favor by finding the barred owl chicks for her.

It was a very nice morning in the Everglades.