J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR

This morning we went over to Sanibel Island to J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR. We’ve never been here before an figured the 4 mile driving road through the refuge would be fun. While it was a quiet morning there, we saw a couple of Bald Eagles, a Yellow Crowned Night Heron and even a jumping fish!

As the sun was coming up, we saw this Bald Eagle resting on an old snag

Bald Eagle doing some preening

Even at 300 feet away, the Bald Eagle can very clearly see me

Tri-colored Heron flying past just over the water

Belted Kingfisher was perched above the water waiting for breakfast to swim underneath

Osprey sitting in a tree having a bad hair day

Grey-headed Catbird diving for a bug

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Yellow Crowned Night Heron taking off

Yellow Crowned Night Heron in flight

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Fish jumping out of the water. These are VERY hard to photograph since you can’t see where they’re going to jump and they go pretty fast.

Roseate Spoonbill flew directly overhead. We didn’t see any standing in the water so I don’t know where it was going

Bald Eagle hanging out in a tree above its nest