To Westminster Woods to see Gram.  Before we even got out to the lake, I spotted this (unbanded) Wood Stork in a pine tree:

Wood Stork

We also saw four Wood Ducks swimming on the far side of the lake, and I saw (and heard!) a Belted Kingfisher.

At Nathan Krestul Park a young White Ibis struck a pose:

White Ibis

White Ibis

It was following a Little Blue Heron around.  Here, the Little Blue found space of its own:

Other birds spotted at Nathan Krestul include a Great Blue Heron, a Palm Warbler, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, and an Eastern Bluebird.

Back at home, I’ve had several visitors to the bubbler:  a Hermit Thrush (routinely, at dusk), as well as an Orange-crowned Warbler and a Brown Thrasher.

Several birds are helping themselves to the peanut feeder, including a Red-bellied Woodpecker (male), Tufted Titmice, and a Gray Catbird (today was the first time I’d ever seen a Gray Catbird at the peanut feeder).

Finally, in the early morning, when we walk the dog, we hear Barred Owls.  On Christmas morning, we heard a duet.

Little Blue Heron at Nathan Krestul Park today:

Little Blue Heron Squawking

Little Blue Heron

As darkness fell tonight, I spotted a Hermit Thrush taking an energetic bath in our backyard bubbler.  As it was standing on the edge of the bubbler, shaking off water, a second Hermit Thrush flew into the oleander next to the bubbler.  For weeks, few birds have been visible in our backyard.  Seed and nuts go uneaten.  I hear the birds–today, a Red-bellied Woodpecker and Tufted Titmice–but they remain out of sight.

Today I stopped by Nathan Krestul Park twice.  The first time, around 2:00 p.m., I saw this American Kestrel:

It was snacking on dragonflies:

There were also a couple of juvenile White Ibises, a Tricolored Heron,  a Little Blue Heron, an Anhinga, and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  A couple of hours later, the Little Blue Heron,  the Tricolored Heron, and the Yellow-rumped Warblers were still there, along with a Northern Flicker, an Eastern Phoebe, and a Belted Kingfisher.  Here are two views of the Tricolored Heron in a tree:

View of Tricolored Heron from the Shore

View of Tricolored Heron from the Bridge

A little later it flew down to the shoreline:

Finally, a Pie-billed Grebe in the fading light: