VERY LARGE ALLIGATOR, OASIS VISITOR CENTER,BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE,OCHOPEE, FLORIDA, 2/1/2023

 

GREAT BLUE HERON, OASIS VISITOR CENTER,BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE,OCHOPEE, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022

 

MALE COMMON GRACKLE ON WIRE, FROG POND WMA-LUCKY HAMMOCK,STATE HIGHWAY 9336, HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022

 

STAMPEDE OF CATTLE EGRETS, FROG POND WMA-LUCKY HAMMOCK,STATE HIGHWAY 9336(INGRAHAM HIGHWAY),HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022

 

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, L31W CANAL,STATE HIGHWAY 9336(INGRAHAM HIGHWAY), HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022 - NEW SPECIES # 1,011 ON PHOTOGRAPHIC LIFE LIST

   We can ID this Kingbird as a Cassin's Kingbird as follows:

• Gray head with thick bill
• Dark, slightly notched tail with white tip (see second photo of the bird from rear to see white tip).  Of similar Kingbirds (Tropical Kingbird and Western Kingbird) it is the only one that has a white tip on its tail.  The Cassin's Kingbird's tail can be either slightly notched or square. 
• Yellow belly to undertail coverts.  This differentiates it from the Eastern Kingbird which has white underparts. We can't see the breast area in any of the photos.
• White chin, cheek and throat
• Grayish back with brownish wings

   Cassin's Kingbird is native to southwestern U.S. and western Mexico.  However, vagrants have been seen elsewhere in the U.S and Canada, including Florida.

   Cassin's Kingbird is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 1,011.

 

CATTLE EGRET, L31W CANAL,STATE HIGHWAY 9336(INGRAHAM HIGHWAY), HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022

 

EASTERN PHOEBE, L31W CANAL,STATE HIGHWAY 9336(INGRAHAM HIGHWAY), HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA, 2/1/2022