H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Hello my friends! I’m back from my vacation to Florida in company of my wife Lucy and son Tyler. In very few words I can say: We had a wonderful time!

My first stop in Florida was Clearwater, we went to visit our good friend Tiny. She’s the sweetest person in the world and we love her. We had a great photo shooting at the Sand Key salt marsh and of course we conversed about cameras and Photography in general and as much we did about birds.

Tiny and HJ at a restaurant

Tiny and Lucy

Tyler (Raining hard!)

We continued our trip, driving toward Sarasota where we met my cousin that lives there. After we visited my cousin we went to several other places known for excellent beaches and enjoyed the ocean as well as the white sands of Florida. The Florida sun is the best for a deep tan. However, all wasn’t just beach enjoyment, I had to work with the camera! My good fortune allowed me to make a productive list of 22 different species!

1. Black Skimmer
2. Snowy Egret
3. Great Blue Heron
4. Tricolored Heron
5. Roseate Spoonbill
6. Reddish Egret
7. American Ibis
8. Osprey
9. Boat-tailed
10. Mottled Duck
11. Great Egret
12. Laughing Gull
13. Common Gallinule
14. Swallowtail Kite * New lifer
15. Loggerhead Shrike* New lifer
16. Little Blue Heron
17. Glossy Iris
18. Red-winger Blackbird
19. Limpkin
20. Anhinga
21. Turkey Vulture
22. Neotropic Cormorant

The coming days I will be posting about the new lifers and the rest of the birds from the list. I’m completely satisfied with my vacation with my family and the photos I shot all throughout the trip. Thank you to all my friends for your support and loyalty to my blog.

© HJ Ruiz