Red-shouldered Hawks, Great Crested Flycatcher and more at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

On Thursday morning we had wanted to travel to Sanibel Island and visit the "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, but got off to a late start, and I therefore decided to explore the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, leaving "Ding Darling" for the next day - big mistake as I would later find out. But the Corkscrew Sanctuary turned it into another exciting day.

The first half of the walk did not yield very many new birds. There were many Yellow-rumped Warblers along the path, also a Blue-headed Vireo.

Finally in open country seen from an observation platform the first Red-tailed Hawk presented itself sitting on top of tree close by. Throughout the walk I would count three more, although I couldn't rule out duplicates.

After a few minutes it flew off,

....circled once and disappeared in the woods.

Later on further down the path two hawks were flying through the trees above and settled on a couple of trees.

The land became more swampy. A Great Crested Flycatcher was sitting on branch just above the water.

A Blue-crowned Night-Heron was resting in a tree half hidden by thick vegetation.

The path opened to a patch of water lettuce, in which an immature Little Blue Heron and a Tricolored Heron were hunting for prey.

A male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was feeding on a fruit tree.

Throughout the walk the drumming of various woodpeckers and the check-check-check of the Red-bellied Woodpecker were ringing through the forest.

Returning to the visitor center I checked out the feeders. They were occupied by Boat-tailed Grackles to the exclusion of all others.This female manages to crouch into the small trough of a hanging feeder meant for smaller birds.

To be continued.....