Eyes of white...

Hubs and I went down to Fort DeSoto early this morning.  As I had hoped, yesterday's stormy weather caused that much-looked-forward-to phenomenon in birding called a "fallout".  This happens during migration when birds are forced down due to weather or simply to rest.  In today's case, a bit of both since many of these tiny passerines (songbirds) have just flown non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico on their journey north.

This beauty is a white-eyed vireo, a fairly common vireo in the eastern states.  It is actually a year-around bird in FL, although the large numbers I saw today (between 30-40) would be migrants who've wintered in Central America or the Caribbean Islands.  They were busy feeding in some low shrubbery and didn't seem to care that I was there.  They breed all up the eastern US so, who knows, maybe this one will even find it's way to NJ!

Anyway, I couldn't resist this as today's shot.  Kind of looks a bit like Angry Bird, doesn't it?

If you'd like to see some other shots of vireos, plus a beautiful Prothonotary Warbler and a few others, Click HERE for the top 8

Hubs and I did some more packing when we got back - getting down to the last minute stuff now.  Kitchen is all packed except for coffee and tea pots.  We'll be eating out the rest of our time here.  Phoebe knows something is up, poor gal.

Tomorrow morning, I am planning to get one more early morning trip to Redington Beach...Feels like time is just racing right now.  

Thank you so very much for stopping by.

Debbi