A couple weeks ago I went on a birding trip to Roosevelt Wetlands up in Clearwater. The wetlands are actually retention ponds that were constructed as part of Pinellas County’s watershed management plan to help control flooding from the densely developed area nearby. As with most urban areas, if you set aside land, wildlife will soon flock there.

This new-to-me birding hotspot attracts a lot of birds during migration, some of which end up staying for the winter season. We tallied 53 species which was pretty good for a two hour stroll. We were a fairly large group of birders, so it was difficult to get good photos. As you can see from above, the birds left for quieter spots right when I raised my camera. Not my best shots but I can’t complain about spending time outside on a beautiful day.

My favorite part of the morning was watching a Banded Watersnake move across the top of the water. Unlike the birds, this snake was in seemingly no hurry. I wasn’t in a hurry to leave either, though I had to keep up with the group. Next time I visit I’ll linger longer…