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The birds are coming back. I've seen several warblers and kingfishers in and around Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge; which means that these birds are already starting make their way south from their northern nesting grounds. It's still very difficult to get pictures of these early migrants, but there's plenty of activity from our summer regulars. Here's what you can find at Loxahatchee:

 

 

The early morning is a great time to find butterflies at Loxahatchee. You can usually find Queen, White Peacock, Red Admiral, Gulf Fritillary, and Palamedes Swallowtail butterflies around the edges of the Marsh Trail.

 

Green Heron (juvenile)

 

Some of the birds hatched earlier this year, still have their first year or juvenile plumage.

 

 

Two successful nests this year have made these hawks abundant at Loxahatchee.

 

 

 

 

 

While I was busy taking pictures of birds at one corner of the Marsh Trail, this Alligator approached. She stopped just in front of me, and lifted her head and tail out of the water for a brief moment, and then slammed them back down making a big splash. That's a territorial display and it means get out. So I walked down the trail a bit more to keep from agitating her any further; when I found what she was protecting...

 

American Alligator (hatchlings)

 

An entire group of newly hatched Alligators. There were about 20 of them just behind some reeds on the side of the trail.

 

 

Snail Kite (juvenile)

 

My favorite summer visitor at Loxahatchee is the Snail Kite. If you're patient enough, these birds will reward you by slowly gliding over the marsh hunting for apple snails.

 

Snail Kite (male) with Apple Snail

 

Snail Kite (juvenile male)

 

 

This lizard is native to Grand Bahama Island. It was introduced to Florida.

 

 

White Ibis (juvenile)