YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON IN THE BUSH, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

   While driving along Wildlife Drive at Ding Darling we saw a group of people along the road with cameras and binoculars trying to find something in the bush.  Low and behold it was a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.  It was very difficult to see in the thick bush, but finally we managed to get good photos of it.

   In the photo you can see the red eye, the stripped appearing face and the yellow near the base of the bill.  These are the typical field markings of a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS & SHOREBIRDS ON SANDBAR, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

   On this sandbar were hundreds of American White Pelicans and shorebirds.  The shorebirds were mostly Willets, athough there were other species present.  Also scattered on the sandbar were a few Double-crested Cormorants.

GREAT EGRETS IN WATER & IN FLIGHT, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

FLOCK OF WILLETS PLUS, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

   In addition to this large flock of Willets you can also see Ring-billed Gulls, a Double-crested Cormorant and the two Black-bellied Plovers shown in the previous post.

NONBREEDING BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

   These two Black-bellied plovers were with a large flock of Willets, which will be shown in the next post.

DANCE OF THE REDDISH EGRET, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL

   The dance of the Reddish Egret is part of its foraging technique.  It runs, jumps, spins and spreads its wings in pursuit of fish.  Schools of fish instinctively seek shelter in the shaded area created by the egret's antics, which make them easier pickings for the egret.  It is fascinating to watch the Reddish Egret dance around like this.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL FLYING, LANDING & FORAGING, DING DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SANIBEL, FL