Missing Birdmania? 2026 Wetlands have been good for wildlife and birds! (pics)

[zackiedawg]

Some of the abundant wildlife and bird life since Christmas and the beginning of 2026 around the wetlands:

Wilson's snipe:

Roseate spoonbill:

Double-crested cormorant:

Pied-billed grebe with a big fish:

Osprey in a lookout tree:

Green iguana, really close up detail:

Big gator, showing her chompers:

Female northern harrier, on the hunt:

Sora:

Chuck-will's-widow:

 

[zackiedawg]

Looks like Birdmania 2026 is going to be...Scott! We'll be hitting the wetlands this weekend.

The rest of you are going to have to sit up north and miss being in sunny, warm South Florida.

Our freeze last month has dented the greenery of our wetlands - lots of dead or half-dead trees and shrubs around - but the nesting is still going full force with the wood storks completely taking over at Wakodahatchee again, and the other herons and water birds nesting alongside too, wherever they can find a spot. The iguanas that survived, as well as the snakes, have spent the last month in the trees everywhere trying to get warm - can't remember seeing so many snakes out in the open before! Even though we're in the 80s, I think the reptiles are still trying to recover and aren't going to leave the direct sun for quite some time!