SOLITARY SANDPIPER, EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FL

   We can ID this sandpiper as a Solitary Sandpiper as follows:

• Dull greenish legs.
• Bold white eyering.
• White spotting on back.
• White underneath.

   The Solitary Sandpiper is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 278A.

SOME FLOWERS AT NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN, NAPLES, FL

BURROWING OWL, HERNANDO DR. & KENDALL DR., MARCO ISLAND, FL

   This Burrowing Owl nests in  burrow in a vacant lot at the corner of Hernando Dr. and Kendall Drive.  This is near to Tigertail Beach.  Part of the lot is roped off for the owls.  You can see the roped off area in the fourth photo, with the Do Not Disturb sign in the third photo.

OSPREYS FEEDING THEIR YOUNG, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

WILSON'S PLOVER, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We can ID these plovers as Wilson's Plovers by their black, thick, relatively long (for a plover) bill.  This bill is unique amog the plovers and thus is a great field mark for Wilson's Plovers.

   In the first photo the plover on the right is in nonbreeding plumage, while the plover on the left is in breeding plumage.  In breeding plumage the neck ring becomes black.  In the second photo the plover is in nonbreeding plumage, while in the third and fourth photos the plover is in breeding plumage.

BARN SWALLOW, TIGERTAIL BEACH, MARCO ISLAND, FL

   We can ID these birds as Barn Swallows as follows:

• Blue-black above and orange below.
• Dark rufous throat and forehead. 
• Long tail.

   These Barn Swallows are probably migrating from South or Central America to the north.

GREEN HERON, EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK, NAPLES, FL