Memorial Day Birds

Time for our Memorial Day get together. Time to remember those that fight for our freedom and spend some family activities. Flags were flying all over the neighborhood.



Most of the boys wanted to hit the local swimming pool and I was asked tag along.



Of course, I was going along to check out the local birds. A Great Blue Heron was first spotted at the water's edge.



Just before the pool, a male Anhinga dried out just beyond the reeds.



I could hear baby Downy Woodpeckers in a tree nearby. The adults were out gathering food so I couldn't get a shot of them. Soon, I discovered a Red-bellied Woodpecker using another nest hole near the Downy nest.



Back under the oaks, a juvenile Red-bellied Woodpecker called to an adult that quickly flew in and delivered a meal.



Out at the dock, a Four-spotted Pennant rested just over the water.



Not too far away, I attempted a shot of Pickerel Weed and a Bee.



I staked out a spot to sit and try for a Downy Woodpecker shot. Instead, a Great Egret flew in and began the hunt. Eventually, it nabbed a snack.



I walked closer to get a better view of the Egret but it flew off. I was left with a view of a Two-striped Forceptail.



Back near the dock, a Sulpher Butterfly sampled the muddy areas.



A single stalk of Water Hyacinth was in bloom in the full sunlight.



I was getting shots of a Needham's Skimmer when I heard a familiar sound. A Barred Owl adult was calling back past the dock. Had to abandon my dragonflies. Had too...



While searching the branches for the owl, a Great-crested Flycatcher flew by in hot pursuit of some tasty insects and then flew off.



I knew I was in the right spot for the owl but it was difficult to find. I soon heard the raspy call of a young Barred Owl. I changed my path and just then the adult flew out past me and landed in a nearby tree.



It only took a couple more minutes to find the baby. It was deeper in the trees.



The kids were done swimming and we had to get back to fire up the grill. Not a bad tally for a fairly short time of birding.