Green Cay

At the start of our vacation week we went to Boynton Beach, FL to visit some of the wildlife areas that are a little too far from our home to day trip to. The first spot we went to was Green Cay. In the middle of all of the development in the area is a nature preserve with a lot of Green Heron, Anhinga and Cormorant among others. A boardwalk takes you on a loop around the park.

As we walked into the park, there was a female Painted Bunting in the low trees

Not far into the park was a pair of juvenile Red Shoulder Hawks that have not yet fledged

This unusual colored Pigeon was named “Larry” by one of the local photographers

This Anhinga was trying to eat a big fish it caught

Down the hatch!

Immature Anhingas playing in the nest

Playtime is all day long for these two

Wild Iguanas are everywhere in South Florida

This Anhinga was preening. Notice the breeding coloration around the eye

A surprised looking female Anhing

Female Anhinga calling out as she flys away

Green Heron hiding in the weeds

This lone Limpkin was being very loud on the other side of a marshy area

And then the Limpkin flew off

I thought it was funny seeing the Great Blue Heron sticking its head up through the tall grass like a periscope

A lone Mottled Duck on a grassy strip

One of the juvenile Red Shouldered Hawks keeping an eye on me

On the way out as the sun was going down, there were several Painted Buntings in the low trees.

Male Painted Bunting

Male Painted Bunting

Female (left) and Male Painted Buntings

The female Painted Buntings are not colorful like the males. They blend in much better and are harder to find

Male Painted Bunting waving goodbye!

Green Cay is always a fun place to observe nature. We’ll be back again before we head home…