The Bird Sanctuary

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 -- This evening, in hopes of a good sunset and some wildlife photos,  we decided to go at sunset to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center.  It's just down the road from us, in the direction of Key Largo.

There's no admission, but a donation of five dollars per person is requested.  At the beginning there are a number of birds in screened cages, many of them rescues who suffered injuries and now live out their lives at the Center. They included several kinds of owls.  An enormous cage the size of a couple of tennis courts housed pelicans, turkey vultures and some other birds.  

We were more interested in the outdoor birds who might visit the bay shore behind the Center.  

I think this guy sitting on a rock, motionless, watching the water for something to catch, is a Baird's Sandpiper.  He was absolutely still until he struck for something.

Baird's Sandpiper

We had a big pelican who sat in a tree and dried his wings for quite a while in front of us.  He was lit by the setting sun, so he was easy to photograph clearly.

Florida Brown Pelican

We also a little red-bellied woodpecker who was working on a tree nearby.  He was a jittery little guy, and thus very hard to photograph clearly because he kept moving.  But a pretty bird....

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Toward sunset, a tri-colored heron came into the water just off shore, clearing thinking this might be a good dinner spot.  

Tri Colored Heron

As the sun was setting, he took off across the bay.  Lifting gently into the air and leaving us with a lovely image.

Lift off

And, at last we had a perfect sunset at 6:18 p.m.