Showing posts with label Blue-winged Teal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue-winged Teal. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Green-winged Teal

Early in the season I found a few female Green-winged Teal in the lake but haven't noticed them lately. This I discovered from a Facebook friend that a male was now out there. I swung by and, sure enough, there he was. I tried for a couple of shots before a jogger flushed it and other teal to the other side of the lake.

Green-winged Teal

For some reason I always thing that Blue-winged Teal and Green-winged Teal are the same size. Looking at this shot you can tell that Green-wings are much smaller.

Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal

The male headed up to shore to join a female. I am starting to see that I have damaged my lens somewhat, Any shots taken at the full 300 mm distance are definitely not in sharp focus any longer. Sigh.

Green-winged Teal

Time for a little drink of water.

Green-winged Teal

Here is a good example why Green-winged Teal are named that. The green really flashes when she turns to the light just right.

Green-winged Teal

One last shot of the male as he picks through the leaf litter.

Green-winged Teal

Despite my slightly crippled optics I finally got some pretty good shots of a male Green-winged Teal. All of my previous opportunities were shrouded in rain and clouds. I will have to check back in with this pair soon!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Winter Ducks Returning

My travels around the lakes is finally paying off as the first of the Wintering waterfowl begin to make it back to Orlando. American Coots are the easiest to spot at a distance as their white bills seem to shine even in the daylight.

American Coot

Blue-winged Teal flocks are trickling in. They are usually the first wintering ducks to arrive.

Blue-winged Teal

I was watching from the street as I first scanned the lake bank and even from a distance could tell there were some different birds mixed in with the Blue-wingeds. My guess was correct that I had spotted Green-winged Teals here, too. The larger bird on the left is a female Green-winged and the bird on the right is a female Blue-winged. Compare the small green feather in the wing with the blue on the bird above.

Green-winged Teal

I usually don't find too many Green-winged Teal here. These are probably the first on Lake Davis for me. They are pretty secretive and I always get them on days with horrible weather and lighting. Especially the males.

Green-winged Teal

Today there were only female Green-winged Teals. But three of them is a good total.

Green-winged Teal

Looking forward to more arrivals. Bring on the ducks!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

American White Pelican Frenzy

My Saturday jaunt around the lakes turned out to be much more eventful than I had ever dreamed. I am used to seeing a few white dots far out on the lake as the Mute Swans are typically around, but as I came up to Lake Cherokee I could see an entire flock of white dots at the far North end. I diverted from my planned route and got to the opposite side of the lake where I discovered a huge flock of American White Pelicans!

American White Pelican

The Pelicans were in there tight formation moving toward the reeds to trap prey to feast upon.

American White Pelican

Once that supply was exhausted they floated away from the shore for a bit. A woman from the neighborhood had also noticed the activity and came out with a point and shoot and asked me about what they were and we chatted for a while. Then I headed closer to the lake to get shots of other species that had gathered to join in.

American White Pelican

Beside the inlet pipe, a Snowy Egret waited for leftovers.

Snowy Egret

Nearby, a Wood Stork stood stoically with a feather stuck to its bill.

Wood Stork

The American White Pelican suddenly changed direction and headed back toward my spot. I count just over 100 in this shot but I never got a full field view with the zoom lens.

American White Pelican

Wading into the reads, a Great Egret watched for a chance to snatch a meal.

Great Egret

The Pelicans went from calm to frenzied as they rounded up the next school of fish.

American White Pelican

The Mute Swan pair are usually kind of the bullies around the lakes but they knew to back off from this mob.

Mute Swan

A Double-crested Cormorant soon surfaced from under the rush having grabbed a bite for itself.

Double-crested Cormorant

Seeing the commotion around the corner, another American White Pelican flew in to join in on the feeding.

American White Pelican

I started to scan the skies and more Pelicans were still coming in from distant locations.

American White Pelican

One after another flew in and I could still see spots up in the air coming in from far away. The biggest flock we had last year was 16 that moved all around the city. This was group approaching 200!

American White Pelican

Appearing sated for the moment, I decided to head to my other planned destinations but I couldn't resist one more shot back toward Orlando proper.

American White Pelican

I circled Lake Davis and found it a bit more calm but still full of interesting birds. The usually fiesty Swan Geese were chilling under the shade.

Swan Goose

A wary female Wood Duck decided I was safe enough to swim past toward the geese.

Wood Duck

Convinced I was OK, too, the male Wood Duck soon followed. On another local lake there is a pair with several ducklings. So glad we have breeding Wood Ducks in the neighborhood. One of those birds I wanted to see as a kid and never thought I could almost trip over them in Orlando.

Wood Duck

Tree Swallows were out feeding and, as usual, they are a challenge to photograph as they move so fast and bank and turn in a millisecond.

Tree Swallow

This is the only other shot of 40 that came out OK.

Tree Swallow

While I was shooting the swallows a male Blue-winged Teal floated by to head over to the shade.

Blue-winged Teal

Near the center of the lake, a few Bonaparte's Gulls loafed on the surface. Very few of the more typical Ring-billed Gulls. Nice to have these hanging around for a while.

Bonaparte's Gull

Moving away to the other lakes I had a nice soaring Red-shouldered Hawk over Lake Emerald.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Behind Lake Weldona in the neighborhood was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk perched on the corner.

Red-shouldered Hawk

I headed home and rounded Lake Cherokee again and found the American White Pelican flock feeding again.

American White Pelican

I was ready to get back but got one more shot of the hungry birds still gorging. A nice mix of adults but mostly juveniles. FYI, the adults are the ones with the rounded bump on their bills.

American White Pelican

A productive morning. Let's see how long these birds stick around this year.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Lake Apopka Drive, Part 2

Part 2 starts with me craning out of the driver's window to try and get a shot of a very busy Western Palm Warbler. One out of ten shots coming out is good enough for me.

Western Palm Warbler

Common Gallinules are a lot easier since they tend to cruise and peck.

Common Gallinule

I started down the next stretch when a Bald Eagle flew in and landed on a phone pole. Another photographer was ahead of me so I gave her some space and got the best shot I could before it flew off.

Bald Eagle

We traveled a bit farther down the road and spotted another Bald Eagle on another pole. Suddenly, the male flew in to copulate!

Bald Eagle

Shortly afterward he flew off into the distance while the female remained to preen a bit. I don't see that everyday.

Bald Eagle

I don't often see too many Blue-winged Teal out here so it was a nice surprise to find this pair trying to stay hidden.

Blue-winged Teal

The Snowy Egret, in contrast, was prancing around like crazy.

Snowy Egret

American Coot numbers are on the increase all across the state.

American Coot

OK. I guess I will have to take yet another Great Blue Heron shot since he is just sitting there...

Great Blue Heron

Finally! A Belted Kingfisher that didn't fly away as I got a little closer. Still pretty far out in the marsh but at least it isn't sitting on a wire.

Belted Kingfisher

Across the canal as I made the turn a nice-sized American Alligator was hauled all the way to the top of the berm to catch some sunlight.

American Alligator

Another one down in the water was even bigger.

American Alligator

Hope the Anhinga is paying attention to the gator as much as he was to me.

Anhinga

Not as many Eastern Phoebes around as the last time I was out but a couple posed for me today.

Eastern Phoebe

Third species on a pole today. This time it was a Double-crested Cormorant.

Double-crested Cormorant

While down in the water a very photogenic Pied-billed Grebe glided to a stop just out the window.

Pied-billed Grebe

If I would have been looking the opposite direction I would have missed this bird completely. Fortunately I noticed the Cooper's Hawk shaking while it preened. Thus, that lovely fluffy look.

Cooper's Hawk

I took a bunch more photos until it eventually gained a more refined posture.

Cooper's Hawk

I neared the end of the drive and noticed an American Kestrel flitting around ahead. Kestrels are even more skittish than Kingfisher so I really wasn't expecting a photo. Then it grabbed an insect and circled back to land close to me! I didn't notice until I was editing the pictures at home but I never knew they rested on their tarsus. It would be similar to sitting on your shins.

American Kestrel

Once it finished eating breakfast, it quickly stood in an upright position that we are all use to. Interesting.

American Kestrel

Another fun trip around the top of the lake. Who knows when I will be able to get back out. Maybe New Year's Day. Last year I hiked 14 miles out here, before the drive was open. Don't mind hiking but I think I prefer the car for these longer jaunts. Makes it easier to sneak up on the birds, too.