12/29/25 St. Marks NWR, FL: A brief few hours were spent checking out St. Marks – always a great place. The pond was filled with interesting shorebirds (though most were rather far away for photography). Below: It was fun to see a Cooper’s Hawk , Sedge Wren , Brown Pelican individuals in various poses , a half gray Reddish Egret , and Anhinga . Also: Marbled Godwit , Hooded Merganser (m) , Short-billed Dowitcher , Snowy Egret , Bald Eagle pair at nest , Boat-tailed Grackle (f), and a scene of gulls/shorebirds. It was certainly lively.
12/27/25 Conservation Park, Laguna Beach, and a Fort Walton water treatment plant, FL: On a rather foggy day, we caught Wilson’s Snipe , American Kestrel , Kildeer , Mourning Dove , Pine Warbler , Song Sparrow , Yellow-rumped Warbler in berries, and Bonaparte’s Gull flock (ad, imm.).
12/14/25 Huguenot and Jacksonville area, FL: The reported Ash-throated Flycatcher came out to a sunny forest edge for us to see it. So obliging! Also: Piping Plover and Red Knot ! Then: Wood Stork , Dunlin , Black-bellied Plover , Sanderling , and Spotted Sandpiper , all on a beautiful morning .
12/12/25 Amelia Island area, FL: Pileated Woodpecker party – such beauties! We also sighted a Spotted Sandpiper hunting along a rocky shore. Then a puddle drew Savannah Sparrow and Palm Warbler for a bath. We also saw: Double-crested Cormorant with fish , Great Blue Heron , Brown Pelican , Wood Stork , Northern Mockingbird , and Red-bellied Woodpecker .
12/11/25 Amelia Island, FL: What is better in the middle of December than to have a little love fest with a Painted Bunting? Such a beautiful bird and quite unafraid. Also, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a White-throated Sparrow paused to say hello as well!
12/11/25 Amelia Island, FL: A few more birds on island: Osprey , Northern Cardinal (m,f), Black Vulture , Song Sparrow , and Wood Stork .
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