ROOST OF BLACK VULTURES, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

SAVANNAH SPARROW, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

   We have identified this sparrow as a Savannah Sparrow because of the yellowish lores, the eye-ring, the boldly streaked back and the pinkish tinge to the bill.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

   The male Blue-winged Teal is on the left and the female on the right.  On both the male and female you can see the powder-blue shoulder patches on the front of the wing.

REFLECTIONS OF A LIMPKIN, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

SANDHILL CRANE, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

RING-NECKED DUCK, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

   The first photo shows a male Ring-necked Duck (on right) and two females (on left).  The second photo is of a female Ring-necked Duck and the third photo is an interesting heads-on view of a male.

   We can identify the male Ring-necked Duck by the white outline at the base of the bill, the white ring on the dark bill, the black back and gray flank, the white "spur" in front of the flank and the red eye.  The female Ring-necked Duck is identified by the white eye-ring, dark cap, gray face and faint pale "spur" in front of the flank, faint ring on the bill and faint but wider white at base of bill.

SNAIL KITE, HARNS MARSH PRESERVE, LEHIGH ACRES, FL

   We have identified this bird as a Snail Kite because of its deeply hooked bill and its short tail.  The bill is the most deeply hooked of all the species in the family Accipitridae.  It is specifically adapted to remove the snail from the the shell of its primary prey, the Applesnail.

   The Snail Kite is probably a female, as its wings are brownish, rather than the gray of the male.

   The Snail Kite is a new species to our Life List, which now stands at 268.