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Roger Simmons
Roger Simmons

Birds, Words, Pics + TV

My red, white and blue birds on Memorial Day

Roger Simmons, May 29, 2023June 13, 2023

I spent Memorial Day morning exploring Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County, and I was able to photograph a very patriotic trio of new-to-me birds.

There was…

  • The RED-headed woodpecker
  • The WHITE-eyed Viero
  • And the Eastern BLUEbird.

I didn’t plan it that way, but that’s what happened. And, to be fair, my new birds weren’t discovered in the red-white-blue order.

I decided to check out this wildlife area hoping to see a Bluebird. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, a bright male Bluebird was waiting there to greet me. What a great start! Later I was able to photograph a female Bluebird, too.

A male Eastern Bluebird checks out the scene from a fence post at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.
A female Eastern Bluebird snacks on a grasshopper at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

As I started exploring the area’s pine scrub and forest paths, I came across several Red-bellied Woodpeckers — but it was a different woodpecker that caught my eye.

It was a Red-headed Woodpecker, which is a pretty rare bird. It flew off quickly from a dead pine tree to a perch up high in another dead tree. I wish I had better lighting for my photos, but it was still great bird to see in person.

A Red-headed Woodpecker perches up high in a dead tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.
A Red-headed Woodpecker looks down from a tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

Finally, as I was walking around I kept hearing a somewhat familiar birdsong, and my Merlin app told me it was the White-eyed Vireo.

This shy, little bird hops around a lot in brush and trees, so it too me awhile to locate it and then photograph it.

I certainly understand how it got it’s name — its bright white eyes were mesmerizing.

A White-eyed Vireo, a great little song bird, perches in the branches of a small tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.
A tiny White-eyed Vireo tries to hide out in the branches of a small tree at Fish Hawk Creek Preserve South in Hillsborough County on Memorial Day, May 29, 2023.

But that’s how I ended up with a red, white and blue birding day on Memorial Day.

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Across Florida All Birds Eastern BluebirdFish Hawk Creek SouthRed-headed WoodpeckerWhite-eyed Vireo

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