A Plover in Florida

I was in north Florida of late and what did I catch but a Plover.  I think it is a Piping Plover, a protected bird that I have never seen.
It was too cute and not very spooked by our presence.

Tiny and busy.

Heron in the morning

Herons are usually seen in singular.  I recently counted 10, yes 10, fly over me in straight line formation (well, a little squiggly) and high up.  The squawk is unmistakable, the shape and wing flap as well.  I have seen four or five together before this sighting.
This morning I shot this photo of a single blue on a perch along my pier.  Once disturbed, three blues went a flying.  The others were out of my sight.

Perhaps they roosted for the night.  They are a winter regular here, so pretty when spotted on the causeway perfectly camouflaged against the marsh grass.

A bird in the hand

Today I had the rare privilege of holding a Pine Warbler in my hands.  I was sweeping away the green and yellow leaves from my door and caught a glimpse of a clump (even got a peep!).  I just swept a bird!  I scooped it up and held it for about 20 minutes.  Most likely stunned from hitting the glass storm door, it did not object to my hands or my cooing.  I couldn't leave it for my camera, I just soaked it in and warmed it.  It did fly from my hands and as I clapped in celebration I realized I needed to wash my hands good.   :)

The photo has nothing to do with my little story, but here is a male Kingfisher from a couple days ago.  The battles for territory have been great this past week.  This shot is closely cropped, these birds are hard to catch with the camera and I could never imagine one in my hands.
The migrants such as the Warblers and the residents such as the Kingfisher are all welcome and every view is new and different.  But a bird in the hand is simply incredible.

The Flycatcher Fledging

The wind has been awful, a north east wind blowing very strong for days.  What is this weather?, I expected it in March not June.  At least it's not raining, and my osprey babies are big enough to handle it.  The water in the Sound is low.
My young peach tree is loaded with fruit, almost ready, and has attracted another eater.  This one eats at night!  While wrapping the peach tree to protect it from whatever, I heard heard the Flycatchers and spotted a fledgling in Crepe Myrtle.  The wind is blowing a gale and they fledge the nest!

Here is the fuzzy little one:

And nearby an adult swinging on a branch in the hard wind:

They had more to fledge so I left them to it.  That wind was too much for me.