Photo Essay: Birds of dusk at Myakka Prairie
This meadowlark landed down in the palmettos at Myakka Prairie, its bright yellow almost blending in. 
Myakka Prairie hike
About two miles into Myakka Prairie, before 9 a.m., it was already getting warm. But the birds were still active — with a red-shouldered hawk on the move above the prairie, and a sandhill crane and yellow-crowned night heron wading one of the small marshes.
Molting little blue heron
This little blue heron scooped a crustacean snack from shore at Red Bug Slough. The little blue heron was going from immature, white phase to its adult, blue plumage.
Pedaling out on Ranch House Trail
This group crossed the tall grass just as the light rain began today, the yearling buck trotting to catch up. 
Swallow-tailed kite high above Myakka
I spotted another of the graceful raptors soaring above the Bee Island trail at Myakka State Park.
Parent red-shouldered hawk bringing breakfast!
As I stopped to take a sip from the coffee thermos, an adult red-shouldered hawk landed down in a nest overhead. Soon the parent was off, gone for several minutes, when suddenly a lone chick peered over, sensing that the parent was coming back in for a landing… 
Eagles at Oscar Scherer State Park
Hiking out at Oscar Scherer we were treated to a surprise above the pine flatwoods.
Swallow-tailed kites above the trail at Myakka
We started out biking Fox’s High Road through the wide, open pines and scrub, where we saw a pair of swallow-tailed kites soaring above.
