Guesses anyone? (1 Viewer)

[IDidiot]

Let me apologize for the quality of these. It was a very windy day with a heavy current on the Gulf of Mexico. I'd appreciate any help you are willing to give!

1. I've not seen this bird before. It is very small - 4-5" (10-13cm) beak to tail. Bluer than this picture. It was hopping around on a mangrove tree by the canal. It may be a migrating bird due to the time of the year in Central West Florida.
2. This one is probably impossible to ID. Same area. A little smaller than a robin. Soooo fast and shy. Was hopping on sandy bank.
3. Another tough one for me. It was doing a lot of diving under the water for long periods in the canal.
4. I'm thinking a non-breeding adult morph reddish egret.
5. And a tri-colored heron... maybe someone can tell the age.

It was just a day at the zoo on the water today! All the normal characters. Found that there are two juvenile yellow-crowned night-herons on my canal! Yay! Greats (egrets & blue herons), bald eagle, osprey, and dolphins, OH MY!

Thanks for your help. I'm hoping my birding in this area (I seem to be the only one), will be helpful in preserving the area.

SMW

 

[mummymonkey]

3 is a red-breasted merganser

 

[KC Foggin]

I believe you are correct on 1,4 & 5. Not sure on the other 2

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Palm Warbler for 2?

1 is a Gnatcatcher, don't know offhand which one(s) you'd get there.

 

[jmepler]

1. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2. Palm Warbler
3. Red-breasted Merganser
4. Reddish Egret
5. Tricolored Heron (adult)

 

[HeadWest]

1. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
2. Palm Warbler
3. Red-breasted Merganser
4. Reddish Egret
5. Tricolored Heron (adult)

I agree with this.

 

[Microtus]

I agree with this.

As do I

 

[IDidiot]

Thank you everyone! The first three are life species for me. Now I'll be able to spot them better. I love this forum.