Cruickshank Sanctuary

The Helen & Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary is a great place for an early morning stroll through the scrubby flatwoods. While weekly visits had been a longstanding tradition for us, we have been on a hiatus for the past few months. The sanctuary is most well known for its optimal Florida Scrub-Jay habitat. The Scrub Jays here aren't hard to find as they often find you before you find them.

Florida Scrub-Jay
Rockledge, Fl

They usually congregate in small groups and can be seen in multiple spots along the one-mile hiking trail. This Scrub-Jay was waiting at the trail head to greet us.

Florida Scrub-Jay
Rockledge, Fl

As we hiked the trail, a very bold Scrub-Jay came out of nowhere and landed on my son's head as I carried him along on my back. Luckily it didn't stay there long as I know my son was quite startled. A short ways up the path we encountered this Scrub-Jay, which I believe was the same one we encountered a few minutes earlier.

Florida Scrub-Jay
Rockledge, Fl

 This Scrub-Jay's bill deformity was immediately apparent. I'm not sure if this bird had been injured or if it was born with this deformity. Another apparent fact was, this guy was very bold!  It made repeated dive bombs onto my head, and followed us for quite a while. (It was easy to recognize!) I've read that Scrub-Jays, like Crows, are attracted to shiny objects, and I did have shiny sunglasses resting on my head, or it may have been looking for a handout, which it definitely would not be getting. (Feeding Scrub-Jays is dangerous to their health!) I'm not sure if this bird's deformity interferes with its ability to forage as Scrub-Jays use their bills to crack acorns against hard objects.

Florida Scrub-Jay
Rockledge, Fl

Close up of bill deformity Florida Scrub-Jay
Rockledge, Fl

A pair of Osprey were carrying on quite a loud conversation in a nearby tree as numerous Red-bellied Woodpeckers were tree hopping in a foraging frenzy. Northern Mockingbirds, Mourning Doves, Grackles, and a Gray Catbird were also in the area.

While I've seen Great Horned Owls here in the past, it was a rather unexpected surprise to see one emerge for the brush with some prey. It flew to a distance tree, so I as unable to see what was for breakfast. Great Horned Owls have always been a favorite bird of mine!

Great Horned Owl
Rockledge, Fl

This Eastern Towhee was perched close to the trail as it spoke with another Towhee that was hiding somewhere among the scrub.

Eastern Towhee
Rockledge, Fl

I spotted a plump bird in the distance perched on a branch of a tall tree. I took a few photos for identification purposes, guessing it would leave as we made our way up the trail. I wasn't quite sure what it  was, thinking it looked somewhat Quail like. I was able to tell it was a Northern Bobwhite upon zooming in on my photo. While these pudgy fellows are known to frequent this sanctuary, this was my first sighting of one here.

Northern Bobwhite
Rockledge, Fl