Mute Swans

About a month ago my son said that he saw a single cygnet Mute Swan on his walk home. I kept checking but could never rewind it. This morning, as did my usual lake check, I saw the swans over by Lake Cherokee. Papa was on watch by the sidewalk.



Down in the shade were Mama...and TWO large cygnets! Seems they have been back and forth and hiding out in the reeds when I have been cruising by.



They appear to be the only young of this year's brood. Last year there were seven. Fun to see a couple of them around, at least.

On a Breezy Saturday

Drove out early this windy morning to clear my stuffy nose. It was gray and a bit chilly but just enough to wake me up quickly. I headed to Lake Cherokee first and quickly spot white spots circling over the wavy water. One bird was a Bonaparte's Gull. Don't often see them around here.



Flying around with it was a Forster's Tern. We do see a few of them every Winter but nice to see both of these in one morning.



Nothing of note on neighboring Lake Davis or the other lakes so I ended my spin by heading through the cemetery. Finally, the eagles were around this time. As I got in focus Momma began calling as something passed overhead.



Ah, it was Poppa on his way to the roost tree with no food.



He seemed to be listening to instructions from the nest for a minute.



Message understood. Back off into the sky to pick up breakfast.



Meanwhile, Momma sat patiently. We should be seeing chicks in the not too distant future.



At least I got to see them for once. They are always away when I come by. But since we probably have eggs or newly hatched birds there it should be a lot busier.

Back to the Lake Cherokee Mute Swans

I was searching for the main group of seven Mute Swans but they were hiding in the reeds for a while. I finally relocated them resting at a corner of Lake Cherokee, just across the street from where they nested at Lake Lotus. We are still at seven birds and the signets all look plenty healthy. I only had my zoom on board so I had to take two shots and made a composite to show all of them. Unfortunately, that image is so large it turns out pretty small on the blog layout.



A close-up of one of the resting gray forms is a bit more interesting.



This seems to be their new hangout right on the edge of the roundabout. Now I need some migrants!

Mute Swans Half-way There

The Mute Swan family finally came out into the open and on the easier side of the lake so I could get some pictures.



They drifted toward me and Dad quickly took the point between me and the young brood which is quickly getting near full size.



Hard to believe that back in May this bird looked like this...



...and is already grown to this.



I was checking on the facts about Mute Swans and it appears that there are often different colors in the young, either gray or white. Doesn't seem to be any reason. They all turn out pure white when grown.



Nice to see then looking big and healthy. I will be continuing to follow their progress when I can.

Mute Swans Growing Fast

Been a while since I have seen the Mute Swans out on the lakes. I was beginning to think they had left us. I finally spotted them the other day but they were deep in the reeds. Today, as I was headed to the store, I drove by the far side of the lake and found them all under the shade resting and preening.



I only counted five babies which means another was lost since I last counted. These remaining birds are getting pretty big and pretty quickly. I didn't want to bother them so I shot these photos from the car.



If they ever get back out in the open I will stop for better pictures.

Mute Swans Relocated

I got used to seeing the Mute Swans paddling around the lake but one day I could not see them lately. I began to worry. Then it hit me. Maybe they moved over to the next lake over. Hadn't be there in a while but as soon as I pulled around the corner...



Yep. They moved the kids during the night a while ago. They seem happier in this quieter spot. Most of the birds were busy feeding all except this little one.



Others were looking for morsels to snap up while I took photos.



Soon, a young Wood Duck swam by to see if I was offering any handouts.



Daddy Swan kept a close look, protecting his brood. At least I know where to look for them now.



Next, I swung through the cemetery to check on the Bald Eagles. One of the chicks was testing its wings while Momma stood guard.



Down below, I finally got a shot of a bird on a headstone. I keep wanting to get one of the eagles down low but I will take a Fish Crow for now.



So, the swans are safe and the young Bald Eagles are getting ready to leave the nest. All is right in the neighborhood today.

Lust Road

I had to head over to Apopka to check on banding a Cooper's Hawk before it was going to be released after rehab. I didn't take any photos there but then I decided to stop over at Lust Road to see if I could find a rare bird being reported over there. A Western Tanager. A few birders were already there and reported seeing the bird a few minutes before. Just missed it.

Since I have now struck out on 3 Life birds of late, I wandered up and down the road looking for anything else to photograph. We could hear sparrows all around but most birds were staying low. Finally, a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow popped up onto the fence.



One of the other birders screamed out that there was an Ash-throated Flycatcher 100 yards from me. By the time I got there it had flown of. Now 4 Life Bird misses. All I got was a Northern Mockingbird on that walk back.



Back down by the gate I could see a Bald Eagle resting on one of the telephone poles.



The one good surprise was a pretty early male Prairie Warbler that flew in for a few seconds and then departed. A nice splash of yellow against a cold morning blue sky.



We hoped the Tanager would return but it was not to be. Other birds flew by and eventually Red-tailed Hawks took to the sky. The first in view was a darker morph adult.



It was soon joined by another individual.



This one is a very light morph variety. They decided to ride the increasing thermals instead of gracing us with closer views.



Time to head home. Over at Lake Weldona, a Great Blue Heron was wading in to search for prey.



Then a surprise at Lake Cherokee. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a large bird. By the time I rounded the corner I could see that it was a Brown Pelican but it decided to fly off before I could get a good shot. We don't get a lot of Brown Pelicans in the neighborhood but they occasionally can be found in Orlando lakes in the Winter.



Last stop before the house is almost always the cemetery. Bald Eagles were nowhere in sight but I did find the Coyote again.



Turned out to be an interesting Saturday spin but I really would have liked to get those other Lifers on my Lust Road stop. Maybe next time.

Swans are Back

Took the circular route home to see if the Ring-necked Ducks were still around (they are, in smaller numbers) and noticed the unmistakable white blobs of swan shapes on a far shore. I swung by to see if I could get some shots.

Two of the many local swans had returned and were looking for a handout but all I had was goodwill and my camera. So they fed off of the bottom of the lake and preened.



I just love watching them dip and rise and trying to get some shots of water dripping off of their bills.



The day was closing fast but the light was nice. The shutter kept clicking away for a few more minutes. The swans just fed and posed.



Just as I was heading back to the car another white shape swooped in and landed nearby. It was a Great Egret with something for dinner. Couldn't tell from where I was so I slowly approached the bird to get a better look.



To my surprise, it looked like it had snatched up a young soft-shelled turtle! It kept try to figure out how to swallow it whole. Before it could do that, though, it flew off to the other side of the lake. Hope it didn't choke!

Scaup On Cherokee

Finally getting back into the blog zone for the new year. Not a lot happening but I did notice a new duck out on Lake Cherokee. Much like a Ring-necked but a bit darker.

Turns out to be a female Lesser Scaup. Not entirely uncommon but scarce enough for me.



She was way out on the lake but not too far to be unrecognizable.

Later, just before dark, there were a few dozen Scaup out on Lake Davis, 2 blocks over.

In these quiet times, I will take it.