Lake Davis Walk

Well, the van is in the shop. Again. At least the nice folks we use offer to take me home to wait instead of sitting in their tiny office for too long. I have them drop me off at the lake so I can at least get in a little birding before going all the way home. Today turned out to be well worth it.

I was just speaking to Gail, a fellow local birder, earlier in the morning that I was surprised by how few shorebirds were around this season. I had only seen one Solitary Sandpiper and one Lesser Yellowlegs a month ago. I remembered there were a couple Black-necked Stilts and there are always Killdeer but that was it. As I walked around the lake I finally found a Spotted Sandpiper.



There were a couple Spotted Sandpipers last year but this is the only one so far. Unfortunately, it was very twitchy and would just begin flying anytime anyone walked down the sidewalk before finally heading to the far side of the lake. A welcome sight, nonetheless.



I continued walking and soon discovered a Mallard and her ducklings.



A few yards away, a male Wood Duck prepared to settle in for a nap in the sunshine.



Nearby, a remaining Mute Swan preened in the swallow water. What was a few yards away, however, really captured my attention.



A juvenile American White Pelican was also preening in mostly shade. I was not expecting that! We have had a lot of pelicans this season. Last year we had one briefly and this year has seen as many as 16 at a time. Weird.



Finally, a female Wood Duck guarded her ducklings down near the reeds. Baby ducks are all over the place right now.



Despite the stress over the van, I can take a little joy home with me. After all, if the problem was not there I would have missed some awesome birds.

Roseate Spoonbill Surprise

As I was headed home last night I drove through my usual lake loops. It wasn't too difficult to spot the bright spot of pink standing in the middle of Lake Lancaster. A Roseate Spoonbill was settling in for the night! The last time I had seen a Spoonbill downtown was almost exactly 5 years ago and that was at Lake Davis in a pouring rainstorm.

I took a quick ID shot and headed home. The following morning, I dropped off the youngest at school and drove back to see if the bird was still there. It was. Though a bit farther away from the roadside.



I walked out onto the exposed lake bottom (man, we need rain) and headed toward the Spoonbill. I stopped once it spotted me. I didn't want to spook it into leaving. I took a shot and retreated and the Spoonbill settled back into its resting posture.



I turned to find a Great Egret dropping in behind me. Pretty close for a landing egret. Not like it didn't see me. Photo, it is.



On the way back to the van I noticed that one of the Mallard families was actually swimming toward me quite quickly. They must be getting some hand-outs.



I had nothing but my camera and binoculars so they would have to settle for a little stardom on the web.



I headed to work and about my day and when I got back to Lake Lancaster I could not relocated the Spoonbill. It must have moved on. Indeed, it had. Over to Lake Davis where I found it to be a much more willing subject along the shoreline.



The last Spoonbill took off pretty quickly all those years ago. Maybe this one will stay a while longer.

Daily Spin Around Lancaster

Just winding my may around the lake today. Got there just in time to watch one of the juvenile Great-blue Herons zoom in for a landing. With I had my exposure set quicker but time was ticking.



A female Mallard watched the landing as well.



Of to the left, a few Wood Storks wandered around wondering where all the water was going.



A quick flash bolted out of the reeds. A male Common Yellowthroat zipped into the Cedars and refused to come back out.



What I found the most attractive, however, was a juvenile Little Blue Heron. I am always amazed by how they look almost like chalk drawings along the shoreline.



Not much out today but it was a nice spin around the lake. Tomorrow I plan on a trip to a nearby haunt I have not been to in a while. Hope some migrants are still left to find.

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.

Lake Lotus Recon

I headed over to Lake Lotus to do a little recon before tomorrow's Earth Day event to make sure we had clear areas for the mist nets and to get in some plain old bird watching in the park for once. It didn't disappoint. On my walk from the tram lot I happened upon a Mexican Poppy in a disturbed spot along the way. These poppies are not originally natives but do occur from time to time and are in most Florida flower guides.



Along the boardwalk I found a caterpillar. It looked pure white in the overcast light but when I got home the photos definitely show a more green cast. Anyone have a clue?



As I made it out to the lake, I found a Great-blue Heron in an interesting pose.



The lone American Coot is still near the pier. Not really 'lone'. I found 5 more on the far side of the lake later on.



I had heard that the Limpkins had a successful brood and found them near the heron. First Mom and a chick.



Then I heard another sounding off a few yards away.



When I took that shot I did not realize that there were actually a small group of alligators a few feet away! I heard from another birder that momma Limpkin was busy pecking at the baby gators after one made a move toward one of the chicks.



But Ms. Limpkin should take care. 20 yards away was Ms. Gator.



On the other side of the pier, a Common Gallinule wades through the vegetation.



Just before I exited the pier, I noticed a white figure soaring behind the treetops. Moments later, a Swallow-tail Kite came into view against the darkening skies.



Making my way around the boardwalk I made a surprise discovery near the "Window on the Lake' observation area. A big female gator resting on the shore.



Time for a close-up! Probably the most beautiful gator I have seen in a long while.



Farther along, at the entrance to the back cove, Purple Gallinules foraged through the lily pads across the way.



Leaving the boardwalk I found a Northern Parula singing and preening near the parking lot.



I made a few more detours on the way home and found a few more birds. Near a restaurant, I found a Common Grackle but it was not too ready for a good shot.



Around the corner, an American Crow posed for one of the best shots of this species I have ever gotten. Nice.



Finally, a family of Mallards feeds in Lake Mendsen. I was looking for some other surprises, but...



Not bad. Storms are on the horizon and hopefully we can get the Earth Day events in without a wash out!