dragon49

Not a bad checklist for a mid-afternoon walk in the 86° F sun: https://ebird.org/checklist/S110264825

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/449069641

Ty - I did and saw that Ebird said it was hiding it from all views except my own. Looks like they are just catching up with their database, as the last time I checked while logged in as myself, one of the entries showed up from the hotspot, and another one just showed the county.

I spotted Painted Buntings a number of times earlier in the year, however, Ebird classified the sightings as "sensitive," so I honored their wishes and didn't brag about it on those days, as this could have given away the location based on my checklists for those days. I wasn't too worried about any forum member or anybody else coming across the post showing up to the location and stealing or harassing the birds, but I had to honor the site's wishes.

I'm reposting to fix the link, since I moved the bird into the correct Great Blue Heron media section: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/448652821

Thanks - I moved the media on Ebird.

The original plan was to take an ocean view walk to get some shorebird lifers, but there was nowhere to park, so I headed to a hotspot I haven't visited in a long time. The timing worked out perfectly as I got my 21st lifer of the year, a Least Bittern. With my reported 350 Wood Storks, this set my record for the most reported birds on a checklist. This place is a shorter walk than the hotspot I normally frequent, but it has a different character and I'll be back. It was a great day! https://ebird.org/checklist/S110070084

Would have been 13 lifers for me.

Least Bittern, my 21st lifer of the year: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/448505181

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/448504821

I went ahead and reported Duck sp. Probably hard to responsibly report anything more specific.

Lots of Blue-winged Teals in South Florida. I've reported 60 this year. I have seen Muscovy ducklings with that funky head stripe, but not too many Muscovy ducks in these types of preserves, although they are reported. Unlikely they are pure Mallards. I've never seen one in the state. I mostly see Mottled Ducks here, and some Mallard x Mottled hybrids.

Just noticing the birds now. They were in the distance when I was photographing a Cattle Egret. The head patterns make my suspicion come to mind. Taken this afternoon in Delray Beach, Florida:

LIFER! Ty, Can you please describe what features separate this from a Green Heron?

Hoping for Least Bittern, as it would be a lifer. I got excited when a fellow photographer identified this as a Least Bittern. iBird Photo Sleuth agrees with 94% certainty, but Merlin gives Green Heron without other possibilities. Talken this afternoon in Delray Beach, Florida: