Orlando

Florida

I think we are the only people who visited Orlando, and did not go to you-know-where. Instead we hiked the Orlando Wetlands which displayed one of the biggest rookeries I ever saw. To be honest, I haven't seen that many.

After trotting by some alligators along the path, you come to a boardwalk which allows you to view the greatest show of nesting Storks, Herons, Egrets, Anhingas, and Roseate Spoonbills. I can't even begin to describe the sounds emanating from these beautiful creatures as they were gathering materials to make their nests.

Merritt Island has many trails and drives. On the first visit we took the driving trail which takes you near all these colorful wading birds. We met so many great people stopping along the way and saw some gorgeous lifers.

One of the birds I was dying to see was the Painted Bunting (pictured above). I have a bird guide and the cover displays the bird in all his glory. I never thought I would be able to see him in person. After patiently waiting for him to appear, we finally saw his striking colors from behind the foliage. It seemed like he had most of the colors of the rainbow!

Patagonia

Arizona

Next stop- Arizona! I was on a mission to add some more Hummingbirds to my list. We flew into Phoenix and on our way to our airbnb stopped at this beautiful park in Fountain Hills. We weren't even there for 20 minutes before a Bald Eagle graced us with his presence!

Hummingbirds were everywhere in Phoenix! A male Costa's hummingbird flirted with a female in close proximity. They were all over the Botanic Gardens along with Verdins, Phainopeplas, and Cactus Wrens.

In Tucson we got to see Roadrunners  and Broad-billed Hummingbirds! We even saw a rattlesnake! Visiting the Saguaro National Park was a real treat. The tall green cacti with the blue background was a sight to see!

From Tucson we drove down south to Patagonia where the Paton Center for Hummingbirds is situated. What an amazing place!! I got to add two more hummingbirds to my list- the Violet-crowned and Black-chinned. What stunners!

Cape May

                             New Jersey

This time we stayed a little closer to home and visited Cape May for the weekend. Everyone knows that Cape May is a birding paradise. In fact the drive down is also a birding Mecca.

We stopped at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This is another huge area dedicated to the preservation of wildlife with lots of trails and an 8 mile drive.

We drove the 8 mile loop and I was amazed at how many different species there were to see! My favorites were the Forster's Terns who were diving non-stop into the water for their catch.

In Cape May we hiked many trails that led to an abundance of sightings. The lighthouse was never far from view on our hikes and added to the already scenic backdrop.