We are not serious bird watchers. We can recognize many of the species that we see locally, and we casually keep track of those we’ve seen and identified, but it’s hardly a hobby. But when we went to one of our favorite local parks, Green Cay Wetlands and Nature Center, this morning, we saw so many birds that our nature wall was definitely avian oriented.
Green Cay is a beautiful spot with an interesting background. The land—100 acres— was formerly farmland, and was sold to the county for about a third of its value on the condition that it be turned into a wetland. It has become a haven for birds and other wildlife, and its boardwalk trails are very popular. There are always photographers there with fancy telephoto equipment that makes me envious, and also people who walk the trails for exercise. They tend to look at those of us looking at the scenery or the wildlife as impediments as they trek around us.
This morning was gray and cool by South Florida standards, and I truly didn’t expect to see much wildlife. And, except for the birds and one ginormous iguana (which I refuse to count as wildlife; it’s an invasive and a pest), we didn’t. Usually there are butterflies and dragonflies in evidence, as well as turtles and the occasional gator. But we saw birds in abundance. They put on quite a show.
It was a wonderful walk, and I took dozens of pictures. We even had one green heron perch on the railing and pose while several of us took photos. He had quite a personality:
As you can see, it was a wonderful morning, and I hope we go again before the weather gets warm and many of the birds migrate north. In the meantime, being in the cool, fresh air made us both hungry. Time to get back to cooking!
So Many Dishes 
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