Lake Apopka North Shore Drive. Again.

I headed to the North Shore Drive today and got there at sunrise as is my wont. I have made 7 tries to find a reported Gray-headed Swamphen and come up empty overtime. Today it ran across the marsh right toward me! Finally.



The light was rather harsh but I didn't mind. I had my bird. It was carrying what looked like fleshy vegetation.



The Gray-headed Swamphen walked around for a bit and then stopped to eat whatever it was carrying and soon vanished into the reeds. Nemesis no more.



Just ahead, a sleepy Red-shouldered Hawk rested on a telephone pole.



It seems that overtime I get a Northern Harrier next to me they aways keep their backs to me. About time I got a side shot.



Egrets and Herons were feeding in all the swallow water as the Sun continued to climb.



Belted Kingfishers were a little more generous with poses today before flying off.



I stopped for a check on the ponds were the ducks have been lately. Didn't see any today but I did get to watch as the American Coots displayed and chased one another.



I got in the car and began to head down the road when I spotted a Pied-billed Grebe just outside the driver side window. Would have liked more light on my side, but...



An angry looking Great Egret searched for a meal in the canal.



Again with the full framed Great Blue Heron!? Hey, I can't help myself.



A lone Palm Warbler flitted around the small branches poking out of the water next to the car.



Not much on the backstretch today except for another Belted Kingfisher.



On the final turn an American Kestrel hunted and rested next to the sod fields.



A typical day at the Drive but now I have a little more weight off of my shoulders. Thanks, Swamphen!!

Lake Apopka New Year's Drive, Part 2

Made my way back around to the start of the drive and got a shot of the new sign and gate at the entrance. Rather penal-looking. They are now automated and open at sunrise and close by sunset. At the exit gate, you have to stop in a specific spot or it won't open. Should be interesting once the the stormy season begins!



Just past the gate I had another cooperative Eastern Phoebe.



Northern Harriers are difficult to get photos of. At least for me. They are always tilting this way and that and I find it hard to get a shot of their heads. Got this one but wish the light was better and it was pretty far away.



Fulvous Whistling Ducks are often seen flying quickly from one side of the property to another but seldom sitting in the water. In fact, last year was my first official record of them but it was only by hearing them calling just past a clump of reeds. Today I decided to walk out along the back berm to see if I could get a shot. Fortunately, a small flock flew in as I walked so I was able to get some photos.



Exploring further, I spotted a Ruddy Duck drifting along behind some trees.



A lone Ring-necked Duck was a bit more in the back.



A pleasent surprise was a Gadwall resting on a branch.



American Wigeons have been reported so I was hoping to find them. A pair swam out as I headed back to the car.



I now have sightings of American Wigeon from coast to coast in Florida and my first was out in Washington State years ago. The male gave me a nice wave "Goodbye!"



There was also a report of some Northern Shovelers but I missed them the last time. Got one just before getting in the car (and out of the wind) hiding way behind the grasses.



Near the end of the drive I spotted a flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks wandering through the grass.



A final bird of the drive. One of dozens of Belted Kingfisher. This one stared at me for a while instead of darting off like all the others.



Two trips around the drive is a nice way to begin the year. Hoping to make many more journeys out in 2016. Still need to get that Swamphen...

Searching for Flycatchers, Finding Kingbirds

Have been hearing an Ash-throated Flycatcher was haging out at Lust Road for a while. The last time I was there a couple of weeks ago it was getting near dark and I didn't not find it. I had a short window to head back there after banding so off I went. Again, no flycatcher. I did easily locate the reported Western Kingbird, though.



The Kingbird flew off every time I got too close in the van so I parked at the gate and walked the road. A Sharp-shinned Hawk bolted out in front of me along the way and flushed any birds at that end. Halfway down the road, the Kingbird flew over near me and landed on another wire.



Out over the fields I noticed my first Northern Harrier of the year.



A few sparrows, like this Savannah Sparrow, flew around in the low grass and through the chain-link fences.



I completed a full walk up and back but still could not find the Ash-throated Flycatcher. Gray Catbirds were getting loud and feeding on the trees just beyond the gate.



I was about to leave when I saw the Kingbird land nearby again so I decided to take one more shot. Oddly, when I was on foot, the bird was a lot more approachable. Even when I had to make my way through some noisy grasses it stayed and watched.



I got nice and close, in fact. After a few more shots I left the bird to continue its hunting.



On the way out of the area, a Northern Mockingbird said goodbye.



Flycatchers remain a nemesis species for me. Sigh.

The Great Backyard Bird Count for 2013 is February 15-18th.
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St. George Island Vacation, Pt. 3

I had read that a good spot to see some interesting birds was close to the park gate at the Youth Camp. Off I went early in the morning. I stopped at a boat launch along the way.

The tide was out so the oyster beds were exposed. Still not a lot of bird activity. A few Palm Warblers searched through the shrubs along the shore. Out in the channel, way out, there were a couple more Bufflehead and swimming with them were a few Red-breasted Mergansers. At least a new bird for the list today.



I reached the Youth Camp and found the parking lot quite full of birds. Over in the trees on the small incline, dozens of Myrtle Warblers snatched insects from the air while Ruby-crowned Kinglets searched the branches.

I tried to get some shots but the Myrtles did not want to play. The Ruby-crowned Kinglets, however, are pretty easy to watch close up as they are more concerned about finding a meal than worrying about some big mammal staring at them. They have the speed advantage.

So much speed that every time I took a picture of them here I ended up with ghost Kinglets!



I was really after Pine Siskins which were reported a few days ago but I never found them. I searched for a while and headed back to camp. There, a few Chipping Sparrows flitted through the sites.



While Northern Mockingbirds kept a careful watch.



The whole group went out to the Youth Camp later in the day but we still only found the same birds that I did in the morning. On the way back to the campsite I went alone via a side trail that seemed to head back the right way while everyone drove back.

It was a nice walk. There were some birds I could only hear but never see but I did find a good marsh section near a bridge that was being scanned by a Northern Harrier.



Much to my surprise, there were actually two of them. I have only seen them singularly in the past. I kept wanting a closer flyby
but they eventually moved in the direction of the campsite.



I made it back a bit before sunset. Tomorrow we pack up and head home.