Utah and Florida wrap-up…

Before I wound up in Florida, my sister and I had one more opportunity to look for wildlife in Utah, at the Sullivan Virgin River Park in Washington City, but I haven’t had a chance to tell you about it until now, and “yes,” that’s the same Virgin River into which we saw the dipper dipping.

I was thrilled to get a picture finally of this Lucy’s warbler (Leiothlypis luciae), and that hint of a “rusty cap” on the top of his head marks him as an adult male. We heard them on our hike into the Grand Canyon, and I managed to spot one in a tree beside the Colorado River, but I forgot to haul my camera along on that trip.

There were also several verdins around, and this one was too busy singing to worry about li’l ol’ me for a change.

The highlight of the morning, however, was finally getting eyes on what ended up being a whole flock of Gambel’s quail. I had seen them before, but my sister hadn’t, so we followed their calls several times in hopes of a glimpse, and it finally paid off.

Then we drove to Vegas to catch our flights, my sister flew home, and Spirit Airlines took me to Orlando. Even better, they let me have 5+ hours of layover, so I had time to look up the nearest park with a water feature and get an Uber driver to take me there. It was the lovely Airport Lakes Park, and it was just 2 miles away from the terminal, as the crow flies, but I’m not a crow, and I’ve learned that Florida does not like me walking on their highways.

Anyway, as soon as I entered the park, I could hear the familiar call of an Osprey, and it didn’t take me long to find the source. Here it is, high atop the lights over the soccer field feeding its chicks.

The park does not provide much access to Lake Warren, which it abuts, other than a pier which is currently closed because of “storm damage,” but looks more like it has simply been out in the elements for a few years without much if any maintenance. Luckily, it seems that I am not the first person to arrive at that conclusion, so side access was pretty easy to find, and my reward for that little bit of rule-breaking was my first glimpse of an anhinga since Brazil. I read that “the word anhinga comes from a’ñinga in the Brazilian Tupi language and means ‘devil bird’ or ‘snake bird’,” so I guess it is fitting that I saw one there first.

The woods between the soccer fields and the lake were full of birds, including black and turkey vultures, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, titmice, gnatcatchers, and even a pileated woodpecker, but my favorite picture is of this singing northern parula, whom I hope to see again in Estabrook Park tomorrow. Since I’m looking up the etymology of unusual bird names now, I read that “the common name “parula” ultimately derives from Latin parrula, Tit (bird),” or “a diminutive form of parus, meaning little titmouse.”

As happens, from time to time, the woods weren’t full only of birds. There were also squirrels, a racoon, and plenty of dragonflies. My favorite of the latter has got to be this stunning, roseate skimmer (Orthemis ferruginea).

Finally, your blossom of the day is this beauty, specifically a Virginia meadowbeauty (Rhexia virginica), as far as I can tell.

Lastly, now that I’m back home, I will be able to join you on our weekly wildlife walk in Estabrook Park tomorrow (Monday) morning. Come on out if you can.