A pair of Egyptian Geese, a White Ibis, a Great Blue Heron and a drake Mallard Duck, were spotted today on a hot afternoon here in The Villages, Florida, on and at the shoreline of Paradise Lake at Schwartz Park. Always fun to see the Egyptian Geese! We have probably fifty Canada Geese on the lake so those Egyptian Geese have plenty of company among the waterfowl here. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Tri-colored Heron
Tri-colored Heron
Adult Little Blue Heron
Two Great Egrets were spotted last evening at dusk at our neighborhood small lake in two spots as well as a passing small flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in flight. This was the first time in a very long while I have been out of the house other than to take exercise walks around the block here.
We did stay in our golf cart and were never near other people during this very short bird watching jaunt. I really hope you enjoy seeing these photos of the egrets! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.
Whistlers as these ducks are also known, are charming and beautiful wild ducks. They have a blue bill and feet as ducklings which turn a vivid pink as adults. Black Bellied Whistling ducks are a rich cinnamon brown with black and white feather accents. They actually don’t quack but do emit a whistle sound to communicate.
These whistling ducks sit on the grassy shoreline quite a bit but do venture into the water from time to time and tip down into the shallow water to hunt for aquatic worms, insects, snails and aquatic plants. They also eat seeds, grasses, fruits and terrestrial insects snails and worms they can find fairly close to the water’s edge. Black Bellied Whistling ducks are both migratory and native here in Florida. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Eastern Blue Jay
I enjoy seeing all types of both songbirds and the exotic big birds here in Florid! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Crow
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Pileated Woodpecker
Boat-tailed Grackle (male)
Cedar Waxwings
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons and Tri-colored Herons are all seen here in The Villages, FL. These wading birds all eat fish, frogs, smaller aquatic animals and some insects. Of the three types of herons mentioned here, the Great Blue is the most commonly spotted here in The Villages, and the Tri-colored Heron is the least commonly seen.
I want to wish everyone who celebrates, a very Happy Easter! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Tri-colored Heron and Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Tri-colored Heron
Great Blue Heron
Sandhill Cranes are resident and migratory birds here in The Villages, FL. It is not uncommon to see these large birds around the edges of golf courses, especially those near marshes. Sandhill Cranes often eat grass, seeds, insects, worms, snails and prefer the cut apron areas of fairways. Occasionally the cranes can be seen on people’s front or backyard lawns! We do not fence most lots here. By the way, the photo of the cranes in flight was actually taken at Paynes Prairie overlook on Highway 441 near Gainesville, FL.
These are various photographs I have taken here in the past months of the Sandhill Cranes. Please click on the thumbnail images to see the slightly larger version of the picture.
Here are several Little Blue Herons I have photographed here in Central Florida with most being here in The Villages. The juveniles are the white phase of their coloring and they turn a purple blue as an adult. The Little Blue Herons are wading birds and they eat fish, frogs, small turtles, aquatic snails, and larger aquatic insects. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
I spotted this large gathering of American White Pelicans at the Freedom Pointe Lake here in The Villages, Florida. There also were a few cormorants mixed-in with the pelicans. The pelicans will soon be making their way back up North.
Like many others, I am now staying at home as much as possible these days. I am sharing mostly older photos that have not appeared here before. I hope all of you readers and I, can stay as healthy as possible! Please click not the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
These two Double-crested Cormorants were diving in a local pond for fish. One was successful and the other was out of luck. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
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