This is a Boat tailed Grackle female, it was feeding on a small piece of fish that it had picked up from the dock in the Haulover Marina. Female's are brown, males are iridescent black. I have to report that birds are not as plentiful here at this time of year. It seems that migration has yet to get fully underway. The photo opportunities are still good however and I am massively enjoying the experience here as usual.
I went out on a party fishing boat again this morning. I wanted to photograph Frigate Birds. The weather patterns have changed this last few days and out at sea the birds were not behaving the same as last Monday. Frigate birds were around but they seemed to be finding natural food rather than coming to the boat for the free offerings. It was quite disappointing but I am pleased that I managed some decent photos of them last week.
These Frigate birds are quite a spectacle, they are massive with a wing span of almost 8 feet, that's immense. They breed in the Dry Tortugas and Long Key in the Florida Keys, they must roost somewhere near to Miami as they are always seen around that area and there is a possibility that they breed somewhere near here too.
In the evening just at dusk, I was lucky enough to see a hawk, I think it is a Coopers Hawk but as yet I am not sure. It was attacking an American Kestrel, (the first one I have seen this trip). At one time I really did think it was going to catch the falcon, it made a real attempt but then it flew down and landed on the golf course and from quite a distance I took a quick picture just for the record.
With the bright light yesterday lunchtime, it was possible to get some great views of the massive Tarpon that cruise around the dock feeding on the fish carcasses. These fish weigh as much as 50lb and some here are 5 feet long, very impressive and a good opportunity to see this "celebrity" species close up. They are truly wild but choose to hang around for the free offerings.
Even though South Florida is a very built up, some would say crowded, it can still have the feel of being in the wilds, it depends in which direction you are looking. As we came back in to the inlet towards the dock yesterday, there was a group of Brown Pelicans feeding in the surf, it was quite a picture. Then if you looked to the left there was a guy in his Boston Skiff …… thats a boat……lazing back and fishing just a few yards off shore, a great way to spend the day if you ask me. It looks as though he is miles from anywhere but in fact, to the right and left but out of shot, there are are skyscaper condominium towers and a very busy main road runs behind.
As we went through the inlet I could see that there was a run of small sardines and finger mullet. Fishermen were using casting nets to catch them for bait and I think this illustrates how alive the waters are around here.
Then once we turned the corner and approached the dock, the view in front of us, looking in to Biscayne Bay was really beautiful. I have photographed little Blue Herons on the rocks to the right of the picture and have seen Bottle Nose Dolphin here as well.
The dock is just to the right and behind the point, you get a real impression of the lifestyle here in the next photograph.
Water, water everwhere and all kinds of boats to enjoy it. I thought that this blog post gives a real incite in to the lifestyle here in South Florida.
Wildlife in a Suburban Garden 
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