Considering all the time I've spent in Florida the last couple years,
 you'd think I'd have seen a snowy plover by now, right? Well, I FINALLY
 got my life snowy at the end of last year when we spent Christmastime 
at Cape San Blas on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Cape San Blas is 
one of my favorite places on the "forgotten coast" - not too many 
people, no condos or hotels, and a 30 minute drive to a decent 
restaurant or grocery store. My kind of place!
I very nearly 
stumbled over this bird! It was so totally camouflaged in its winter 
plumage (and so tame!) that, were it not for its movement, I never would
 have seen it. I wonder how many others I've stumbled past without ever 
seeing...
You might notice in my photo that the bird is banded - 
only one leg is visible - I found out that this bird is a regular winter
 resident at St. Joseph's State Park on Cape San Blas, but that it 
breeds elsewhere.
Snowies are sweet birds - small and plain 
compared to the piping plovers I know so well - but pretty similar in 
their habits. And like other Florida birds, exceptionally tame. I wonder
 why that is?
a return Visit
11 years ago
 
 
 
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