January 24, 2011

John left with the group for a 53 mile bike ride at 9:00 a.m.

I decided to wait until it warmed up a bit, so went birdwatching. Stopped at Shamrock Park. Very few birds were flying around. Drove the roads in that part of the city, South Venice to Englewood. New species for the trip at a pond on Tarpon Road, Gadwalls(Ducks), Northern Flicker, and Common Moorhens.

At the Venice Rookery, which is owned by the Venice Audubon Society, a few Great Blue Heron

pairs were building nests on the little island in the pond. The male collects a stick, passes it to the female with its bill, and the female pokes it into the nest she is constructing. There were several Black-bellied Whistling Ducks on the slopes of the pond, Fish Crows, Eastern Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Wren, and Willets.

Came back to the room for lunch, then headed out to the Intercoastal Waterway Trail and rode

5 miles on the south side. A Florida Scrub Jay hopped out of a bush and landed right next to me at the side of the trail. Unfortunately I didn't get his picture.

Playing cribbage tonight after dinner.