Bird Watch New Years Day

You may know about the Christmas Bird Count, where folks pick a day around Christmas and count the different species they can find.   We didn't do that.  But for the past few days, we've been watching the bird action in our neighborhood. Next door (Port Royal) has two large ponds in their front. We of course have ponds on both sided of the house, as well as ponds across the street.

These photos are all taken through our windows from inside in the nice dry warm environment.

 There have been an assortment of birds ranging from gulls, and grackles, common moorhen, assorted ducks, cormorants, tricolored, little blue,and great blue heron,snowy and great egrets, bittern, white ibis, and roseate spoonbills.  The different species seem to have no problem co-existing, but sometimes there's a conflict between birds of the same species.

 We also have a kestrel that likes to hang out on the telephone wire or a-top of the light pole to watch for prey, but it and a hawk that has thus far defied identification, haven't been out and about much with the cold, rainy, and windy weather we've been experiencing.

Here, from left to right: great egret (back to camera), two roseat spoonbills, flock of ducks.