Vero Beach

Wed March 2, 2016.  off early for Vero Beach on the east coast.  We stopped at

Got the Florida Scrub Jay

one more stop at

Where we got the Bachman's Sparrow!  2 new birds in one day!!!

We then headed to Vero Beach, Hampton Inn to check in for two nights.  We headed to Sebastian to visit my old co-worker, Dave Burke and his wife, Nan.  Dave and I spent a lot of time traveling the country together.

We had a very fun night, visiting and talking.  We picked up right where we left off 6+  years ago!  It is always good to see old friends and pick up where we left off.  Dinner at a local restaurant.

Thurs Mar 3:  off to West Regional Water Treatment Facility about 4 miles from our hotel.  Great place to walk around.  We got a total of 51 birds for the day.  no new ones..

Snail Kites

snail kite food

otters

mergansers

tri colored heron

 roseate spoonbill

beach time:  

we have yellow and purple warning flags today.. Yellow = med hazard  Purple = dangerous marine life (bait fish in the water which sharks like to eat!)  We did see a large "fish" jump out of the water, do a few turns then back in the water,  it was about 6 feet long, dark on top, white underneath. It did it about 8 times that we seen.  don't think it was a shark but what do we know???

lots of surfers out having fun

Eric trying to show me how to use the boogie board. I did not learn anything

ok.. now time for him to play on the stand up paddle board.

Snowy Egret has yellow slippers

 Herring Gull is soooo much bigger than the laughing gull, he almost looks to be as big as a turkey!

Great day birding and beaching.  this is a very nice area, not too crowded, great beach easy to get around. 

A bit of shopping at the local (walking distance) Outlet Mall.  

Friday Mar 4:   Even though Hampton Inn has free breakfast we walked to Cracker Barrel.  Love the pancakes.  then off to towards camp.  We stopped at two places in Delray Beach.  They were pretty crowded.  Great for photographers and beginning birders.  We don't need to go back but both were fun.  This place has about a 1.5 mile boardwalk.

Gray Headed Swamphen

alligator and his snake friend.  snake is close to the water across from the alligators head.

this about 2 miles from Green Cay this place has about a 3/4 mile boardwalk.

Wood Storks nesting

Anhinga with green eye:

                                      

Anhinga with chicks

                                     

Hungry Anhinga chicks

Fun few days off on the east coast.