Florida Scrub-Jay

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph this gregarious Florida Scrub Jay at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. These birds are a threatened species that are uncommon and live only in scrublands in Florida with dense growths of low oak, sand pines and palmettos. This Scrub Jay perched on a wooden post with a nut in it's beak. While I watched it proceeded to crack open the nut on the post and then eat the cracked nut.
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I was fortunate to be able to photograph this unusual male masked duck recently in Viera Florida. I'm told this duck normally lives in Mexico and has been in the Viera wetlands for about a month now. He must be lonely....maybe a female masked duck could come join him in Viera.

Masked Duck of Viera Florida

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Northern Parula

This Northern Parula ? landed in my yard just long enough for me to get it's photo. If you can identify this bird as something other than a Northern Parula PLEASE let me know as I'm not sure.

Juvenile Bald Eagle in nest

This juvenile Bald Eagle was in the nest in Yellowstone near the West entrance. The juvenile was visible intermittently during the day but not yet fledged. Here he or she is spreading it's wings while the parents are away fishing.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

This Red-Bellied Woodpecker was perched in a hemlock tree in my yard in Asheville, North Carolina