I went birding yesterday in farm country west of Fort Myers. I found two farm fields side by side which yielded dramatically different bird species. The difference between the two fields was habitat. The first field was quite wet, bordering on wetlands qualities, which encourage Limpkins to forage in search of Apple Snails. The next field over was much dryer and had both Long Horned Cattle and Cattle Egrets. While the cattle ate the field’s grasses, the Cattle Egrets stayed close to their larger bovine friends. The cattle scared up tasty morsels for the egrets … insects and other food upon taking steps to new locations.

Cattle Egrets and their Partners in Foraging Crime!

Limpkins Looking for Apple Snails

As I got ready to leave the backroads, I drove along a drainage ditch which I assume is full of water most of the year. In this sequence of images in addition to all the Woodstorks, you will be able to spot Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons. This was obviously where breakfast was being served!