Lake Berry Pelicans

A loud dawn chorus gave way to a pretty quiet banding day. If you want to check out those results you can head there by clicking on the photo below (page will open in a new window).



Back home I saw a few warblers around like a couple of Black-throated Blue Warblers. They were moving like crazy so I was lucky enough to get a clear shot as one grabbed something on the ground before taking to the mid-story again.



It was time to head to the in-laws for dinner. Their home is near the shore of Lake Berry in Winter Park which occasionally holds some nice birds. Today would be no different, but I had to search the oak trees first. There were Parulas, Cardinals, Blackpoll Warblers, and another warbler I could not ID. Fortunately, I managed to snap one photo in its direction and managed a pretty clear shot. Later, I could tell it was a Cape May Warbler.



I turned my attention to the lake and made my way to the aluminum dock to scan the area. As soon as I got to the end of the dock I flushed a Green Heron I could not see from the walk out. Dang. That would have been a good shot. I then got semi-obsessed with getting a shot of that bird. It was not long before I got another shock. A Brown Pelican was gliding toward and past me out of nowhere.



This nice looking adult was a great surprise. Brown Pelicans are sea birds and seldom found inland on freshwater lakes but it does happen at times during the Winter months. This seems really late in the year for such a sighting. This bird was making high dives from one end of the lake to the other in between gulping breaks to swallow its catches. Here is one example of a fishing run. First, the prey is sighted and the bird breaks from its cruise to turn for the dive.



Then it appears the landing gear are coming down. A slide into the water and scoop around for dinner?



Nope! Head first at full speed!!



Finally, a massive splash as the rest of its body catches up with its head where it settles in before tossing its head back to swallow the fish it has trapped in that pouch.



The adult takes to the air again.



There was also a juvenile that joined the adult. Note the overall brown where the adult has the white cap.



The juvenile had a different fishing method. It would do more wading and dipping, often stealing fish from the feeding Double-crested Cormorants. Sometimes, it would make some lower glides before stabbing the water on the way down. I caught one such moment.



Being called to dinner. Oh, I did get my Green Heron shot just before I left the shore.



Brown Pelicans in Winter Park in the late Spring. Go figure.

Lake Lancaster Variety

So, yesterday's dearth of birds at the gardens means I need a fix at a place I know has the birds right now. Back to Lake Lancaster. The usual birds were there and today I had a small flock of White Ibis right on the shore so I could get some great shots. All of the adult birds were in breeding plumage. In White Ibis it expresses itself with bright red facial skin.



You gotta love those blue eyes, too.



There was one juvenile in the mix. They begin their life a brown-ish gray and molt into bright white.



My favorite shot was this bird apparently looking for something on the ground.



Out on the recently exposed sandbar was one of the adult Great-blue Herons from the rookery group.



There was another heron to the right and it took me a few seconds to realize that this was one of the juveniles! Compare the two and you will see the subtle differences.



I was looking for the Spotted Sandpiper over at Lake Emerald the last couple days but it was not there. Too much human activity. Seems that made it fly the few blocks over here!



One of the Muscovy Ducks wandered out by the shore. A lot of folks really dislike Muscovys. I think they can be quite pretty at times. Their chicks are flat out adorable. Yeah, I said it.



Winds were picking up and the light was right for watching the shorebirds like the increasing number of Solitary Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs.



They were weary of me but actually got closer to me than the past couple weeks. Nice when they come to you.



Over on the far side of the lake Snowy Egrets wade through the water and pluck fish from the waves. Love these birds in breeding plumage, too. It was those fluffy feathers of breeding egrets that almost led to their demise back in the day. All for fashion...



Our last bird of the day is yet another Solitary Sandpiper. This is the bigger concentration of this species in Orlando that I have seen over the years. They won't be here much longer.



Tomorrow is banding and a trip to Winter Park for dinner. What surprises await?

Mead Garden and Leu Gardens

Took a while but I finally made it to Mead Garden hoping for some good bird sightings. Things seemed a bit too quiet as I stepped out of the van, though. Some birds did pop out fairly quickly but these were local species, Cardinals and Parula. But it was odd. They are were swarming down to the van once I walked away. From what I could tell, these birds have now developed a new feeding technique. Once a vehicle pulls into the parking lot they swoop down to inspect it for bugs stuck to it. I am assuming this because they only checked out the windshield, rear view mirrors, and the grill. Weird. It did make for an easy shot of a Northern Parula which is fine by me.



Right after that I headed toward the amphitheater and the creek but I was already getting the feeling that this would be a sparse birding experience. Nothing in the trees but Parulas and only and Egret and a Great-blue Heron in the creek. Cardinals called. A few Chimney Swifts, but nothing else stirring.

Over one the boardwalk a Cat Bird and more Parulas until a Swainson's Thrush jumped out of the wetland and watched me from the rails.



A Blackpoll Warbler zoomed out from the willows and back again for a brief view and I scared up some Blue Grosbeaks but there were no other birds until a Red-bellied Woodpecker can out for a grocery run. Ya take what ya can get.



I ran into a couple other birding friends but they weren't seeing too much on the other side of the garden, either. I decided to head to the nearby Leu Gardens to try my luck there. Again, too quiet. Some Northern Waterthrushes skittered through the underbrush along the stream and a few birds were out around the lake. The Osprey caught my eye before I headed deeper into the gardens.



I spent another 30 minutes or so at Leu but, honestly, I may have taken 3 other photos and those were landscape. Sigh. So much for my day off finding birds. There was more activity at the house before I left. In fact, when I got back home I looked out back and saw a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on the back feeder. The only shot I could get was a blurry shot as she got scared of me stepping outside.



Like I say, birds go where they wanna go. Today it was far from where I was. Think I need to head back to the lakes soon.

Some Migrants Found

My one day off. The winds have shifted from North to South meaning I bet most migrants took off already but I need to do some checking. First stop? You know. Lake Lancaster. The Limpkin family I reported about a while ago have moved down to the bend toward the lake since their original home is even more dried out and snails are more plentiful in the new spot.



The area has the same birds as yesterday but I like this Solitary Sandpiper shot better than yesterday's.



The Mallards are also looking a bit more colorful today.



Unlike yesterday, I can hear a loud noise over at the Great-blue Heron rookery. An adult was flying in and now I can see the young birds. They aren't little at all! I was looking at juveniles but they were already almost as tall as the adults. I completely missed the newly-hatched stage. Now they fight with each other as the adult keeps its food in its belly, for now.



Once I snapped out of that revelation I began looking for warblers in the oaks. The were several Western Palm Warblers but I was looking for what I saw as I left my house. Moments later I spotted one. A Blackpoll Warbler. This one has a nice juicy spider.



Unfortunately, this is how we see most Blackpoll Warblers this time of year. From below. When they do come out they aren't there long. At least they are easily recognized by their bright yellow legs.



I wanted to get over to Mead Garden so I didn't try to wait all morning for a clearer shot. I was hoping for more warblers over there. I did have to swing by Lake Emerald on the way and quickly came to a halt as I was driving past. Could that be? Yep. My first Spotted Sandpiper of the year!



It caught my eye immediately for some reason. It was feeding near one of the many Little Blue Herons like this immature bird. Little Blue Herons are born white and then get mottled before turning solid blue. Looks almost like it got splattered with paint.



I was trying to get some closer shots of the sandpiper while the herons in the water stayed statue still. What's a boy to do? Click. I have the entire reflection in the shot but wanted to get more detail in the bird for you, dear readers.



The Sandpiper was very jumpy and stayed exactly the same distance from me until it decided to fly back across the lake (OK, barely a pond by now) and landed on an exposed log. Not a bad mix after a million shoreline shots.



I get carried away. It is a nice new migrant, after all. But I need to get to other spots! I will try again for the closer shot of the sandpiper at another time.

Looking for More Migrants

By now, you can tell I have been spending a lot of time around Lake Lancaster. Still there every morning on the way to work and most evenings on the way home. Will be until the migrants clear out. Need to keep track on things like the fact that I once had the one Solitary Sandpiper but now there are at least 3. This guy wasn't here yesterday.



The different Yellowlegs are still in the same location, striding back and forth.



Across the lake is the Great-blue Heron rookery. I keep trying to see any young birds in there but I can't tell.



Scanning down back to the closer shore I find the Mallard family relaxing in the shallow water. Ducklings are getting more grown up.



Moving to the left revealed a Killdeer walking the shoreline in the golden morning sunshine.



Another leftward shift and I find another Yellowlegs in the shadows trying to be invisible.



Suddenly, a rapid movement to the right sent me spinning around and taking aim. A Muscovy Duck wings its way underneath the heron rookery.



Panning back to the left and I find a pair of Wood Duck zooming along in the opposite direction.



On the way out of the neighborhood I found one more Solitary Sandpiper. This one displayed its distinctive barred tail as it fed around the now exposed fish beds.



Back home in the afternoon I stepped out back to see if anything was around. Not too much but I did find a female Black-throated Blue Warbler sneaking around in the branches.



Nice. Haven't had one of them in the yard in a long time. I get a day off and should take a ton more photos. I am sure my first stop will be Lake Lancaster, again.

More Birds in the "Woods".

Another morning trip to find some birds. I headed over a little earlier in the day hoping the morning feeders would be more numerous. They were. The first bird I found was a Prairie Warbler in the shadows of an Ear Tree (Enterolobium contortisiliquum).



Soon, a family of Northern Cardinals arrived with the adults grabbing insects and seeds for the young ones. I followed the tree line to my trail entrance and had a Veery pop out and then fly off. A nice migrant in this area.

Moments later I saw the Cardinals drop into the grasses and begin gathering seeds. But there was another bird down there, as well. A smaller bird. What I saw through my binoculars startled me. A Blue Grosbeak! Definitely wasn't expecting that. Then another popped up nearby.



I tried to get a closer view but they flew off toward the telephone wires that cross the grassy field toward a subdivision. Fortunately, one of the birds decided to land and pose in the morning light.



They then flew off toward the woods and off into the distance. Glad I got one good shot. Not too much else in the woods. A few Pine Warblers, a Gray Catbird, and a Swainson's Thrush. Migration is definitely on. Maybe we can catch some remaining birds next Sunday at the banding site.