Missing my MDR of twenty species

Although I do not keep a running total of species seen as I enter them into the eBird app, I usually reach my Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR) of  20 without trying very hard. I just noticed that my last eight eBird checklists (since May 18) never got above 21 species: 20, 19, 19, 16, 20, 21, 13, 14. 

Warblers and vireos (even a couple of locally breeding species), egrets, Killdeer, and Common Nighthawks have been scarce or absent from the Wounded Wetlands. Some birds are less conspicuous because they are tending to nests and young. Cardinals and Carolina Wrens are singing less often or are silent, but doves and mockingbirds do fill the air with their songs. 

On one of those dull mornings this past week, standing vigil lakeside just after sunrise, I heard the call of a Green Heron. "Heard only" birds are accepted by eBird, but I tried unsuccessfully to find it-- until it walked out into the open:

A shaggy immature Great Blue Heron cast a reflection:

A Loggerhead Shrike hunted for grasshoppers from a low perch and a hungry youngster waited:

A singing Northern Cardinal was only visible with my flashlight:

An Osprey flew low overhead:

This adult Mourning Dove allowed a close approach:

Nearby, an immature of its species eyed me with suspicion:

A Little Blue Heron foraged along the canal:

Overhead, Purple Martins dined on mosquitoes:   

Sunlight brought out the iridescence in the plumage of a male Boat-tailed Grackle:

A venomous Cottonmouth Water Moccasin lounged near shore:

Close look at its black mask and slit pupil:

This curious Gray Squirrel was far from any trees and dashed off to find one as I approached:

At sunrise, a sunburst:

The sky was brightening up, but the Pine Bank had not yet been touched by the sun's rays:

UPDATE (MAY 26): Sad news about the youngest Bald Eaglet P Piney 27

The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida released this statement about P Piney 27, the first eaglet to fall from the nest, at the age of about 5 weeks on April 18:

“The Audubon Center For Birds of Prey is saddened to report that the first eaglet rescued from the Pembroke Pines nest had to be humanely euthanized due to the severity of her injuries and lack of response to treatment. These difficult decisions are not made lightly and are discussed with a consulting vet and US Fish and Wildlife to determine what is best for the bird and their future quality of life. While this is not the outcome we all hoped for, we are grateful to those who watched this nest and helped rescue this young bird when her nest collapsed. The prognosis for the sibling who also has a wing fracture is still uncertain, but we are doing our best to give it every opportunity to heal and get a second chance at life. We appreciate your support and understanding.”

This was my first photo of P Piney 27, on March 18, exactly one month before he (we assumed a male because of its slower growth and passive behavior in the nest) fell from the damaged nest. He was probably a little over one week old at this time: 

This was my last photo of him with P Piney 26, his older and larger (presumed) sister in the nest, on April 7: 

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Linking to:

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

Bird D'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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Crops & Clips: Flashback three years to March, 2018

Going through the archived photos from past years excites fond memories and often gives me an idea of what may again be out there in the wild this year. March is a month of transition, as winter residents depart and spring migrants start arriving. During February my daily bird sightings can become a bit monotonous as the same twenty or so species seem tp show up every morning. However, by late March there is greater diversity. I look for favorite themes and memes in the monthly collection-- critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and reflections, flowers and fences. 

We spent the entire month at home in south Florida. Our morning walk on March 1st yielded nice photos of a Green Heron in subdued morning light:

Red-wing Blackbirds males had returned earlier to set up territories and now were rounding up harems: 

Females were present in greater numbers:

A male Boat-tailed Grackle seemed to be checking his reflection:

Overhead on the first day of March were Bald Eagles, one carrying a small fish...

...and a Wood Stork:

A male Bobcat crossed in front of us on March 2. Males occupy a very large territory (in roadless wilderness habitat, up to 30 square miles vs about 6 square miles for females) and visit several females during the breeding season, which peaks in February and March:

This Tricolored Heron's bill was turning blue, an indication that it is approaching breeding condition:

Although streaky and dull for most of the year, the head of this male Yellow-crowned Night-Heron turns clear with a yellow wash and its legs turn from gray to red as spring approaches:

Later in the month, a male extended his scapular plumes in a courtship display.

Pileated Woodpeckers had become more vocal and conspicuous. This is a female. The male has a red "mustache:":

A Northern Harrier male "Gray Ghost" searched for prey over the wetlands:

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers would soon be migrating back to their northern breeding range:

Northern Cardinals were in full breeding plumage:

Great Crested Flycatchers would soon be breeding:

At the local nest, the adult Bald Eagle (Pride) was tending to the one surviving eaglet

Still present on March 17th, the Yellow-rumped Warblers will have migrated far to the north before the month's end:

American Kestrels would also soon abandon their winter range:

Killdeer were courting:

Prairie Warblers were with us most of the year but would soon undertake a "lateral" migration to nest in the coastal mangroves:

The prior year, for the first time ever, Wood Storks were recorded breeding on an island in a city park to our north. They had returned. On March 27 I counted over 100 adults:

Great Blue Heron on March 28:

A pregnant White-tailed doe was a sure sign of spring:

Sunlight breaking through the fog on March 17:

Up North, the ground was beginning to thaw, hence the Farmer's Almanac name for March's full Moon-- the Worm Moon.

Full Worm Moon on March 3:

Waning crescent on March 13:

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Linking to:

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

________________________________________________

Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
________________________________________________