Great shots Lin I especially like the Blue Jay

Nice rescue Elaine.

It's Folklore Friday from the folks at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary! FYI, Corkscrew is a preserve that was actually bought and is still maintained by the Audubon Society (as opposed to state or local government). So there's a big emphasis on birds, but they are also home to many of Florida's amazing species. In particular, it is known for the Ghost Orchid. People come from all over to see it bloom. I haven't been down there myself, but it's on my list of things to do. And now that the weather is starting to get (relatively) cooler, maybe I should start planning my visit. Now, today's folklore is about Buntings! And I know how much you guys like them!

"Folklore Friday: Many migratory birds return to Corkscrew during the winter months. Our most colorful visitor is the Painted Bunting. They are most often seen at our feeders October-April. According to a Native American legend, when the Great Spirit was giving all the birds their colors, he ran short of dye so he gave the very last one, the Painted Bunting, a coat of many colors made from dabs of whatever was left. As an animal spirit, the Painted Bunting represents knowledge and intelligence with an emphasis on utilizing your voice to “sing” your thoughts and speak from your heart. The bunting is a reminder to add color and vitality to your life. The Indigo Bunting represents goodness, truth and love. The Snow Bunting, of the arctic, is a bringer of light and represents purity, cleansing and healing. The Painted Bunting’s species name, Passerina ciris, comes from the Greek myth of Scylla, who was turned into the bird Keiris. The French name of the Painted Bunting, nonpareil, means “without equal,” and in Spanish, it's a "painted butterfly."

In case you Floridian birders (or Floridian tourists) didn't know, the Great Florida Birding Trail posted this today on Facebook:

WANTED: BANDED BIRDS SIGHTINGS
If you spot a banded bird please take a picture and report it on the Florida Banded Bird Re-sightings page AND/OR visit the Florida Shorebird Alliance website IF you spot a banded shorebird
Florida Banded Bird Resightings Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/group...
Florida Shorebird Alliance Website
http://flshorebirdalliance.org...

Snakes make me jump. Saw a big fat one under the porch the other day, it must have been eating verrry good because I mean it was fat! Probably eating frogs. It was black with a yellow belly but not sure what kind... if it was a racer, it wouldn't be racing anytime soon.

The Audubon Society!

Melanie, Thank you for Folklore Friday, very intersting as usual.

p.s. Today's banner is beautiful!!

Melanie, Thanks from me too for Folklore Friday, very interesting! I too hope to someday get over to the Corkscrew Sanctuary, I bet I could spend the entire day there and still want to go back the following day! http://corkscrew.audubon.org/

Birds from yesterday afternoon ...

Lin, if I recall correctly, admission to Corkscrew is good for two days. I know I was planning on staying the night and going back for more!

Also, what is the second bird? The black and white one? It looks woodpecker-shaped but I don't know that one. Okay, I just checked my book. Is it a Downy Woodpecker? I know that one has been posted on here before. I told you guys I'm trying to learn!

Melanie, yep ... that's the little Downy Woodpecker in the second set of pic's.

Great Egret


Blue Jay

Yay, I'm learning! I love those Great Egrets. Their stalking prowess amazes me. I like to think that's how I look when I'm stalking a butterfly with my net, but I know I'm not nearly that graceful.

From this morning, an Anhinga perched in the Cypress tree drying it's wings:


From a few minutes ago, an Eastern Kingbird:


Mourning Doves and Eastern Kingbird:

I was doing some cleanup in the garden this afternoon and saw a large flock of Cranes heading south, no photo as they were really high in the sky, my camera wouldn't even focus.

I had to go foraging for caterpillar food today. I walked out the patio door and looked up to see the Turkeys again. There were five today. Considering how far away I was, I thought these pictures came out pretty well. As you can see, the main road I live off is in the background. They did cross the road, but I heard a car decelerating instead of a thud. I looked, and they were all walking in the cow pasture across the street. I hope they keep heading east and get themselves in the preserve. Hearing gunshots in my neighborhood is not unusual. It's not gangbangers; it's usually people shooting a snake (or a squirrel in my brother's case). Don't worry, my parents reamed him out about that. FYI, I've said this before, but it really is surprising how fast Turkeys can move when they're motivated.

Way cool, Melanie. I still think you should be feeding the turkeys so they can feed you, later.

Got the young male cardinal on the feeder today, finally:

I'd feel better about eating a free-range turkey knowing what I do about the ones we intentionally breed for consumption.

Yeah, you got that right. Too bad ye'd hafta moider one of yer buddies there . . .

When I came out for breakfast, there was a gang of at least 5 Grackles at the feeder. Some of them had amazing color on the plumage, so although I think in general they're not the most attractive of birds, these are some fine colors on them. Apologies for the blurry shot, that guy with the most blue would not hold still!

Those turkeys sure are looking delicious... I mean getting big.

Handsome cardinal!

REally pretty grackles with their iridescent coats. I don't see those here. They look like characters.

Yes, there was a lot of brawling and noise going on with the Grackle gang. They poof up and squeeze out their squeaky cries, and it really sounds like fingernails down a chalkboard to me. After I took lots of pictures, I went out there and chased them away.

Love those wild gobblers Melanie! Really cool that you get to see so many of them ... and I hope they stay safe these next couple of months leading up to Turkey day!

Elaine, Beautiful Cardinals and wow, it looks like you've got a lot of Grackles over your way! I've seen a couple lately but I hope we don't get large flocks like in the past because they seem to overtake the feeders and keep the smaller songbirds away.