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!



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



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.



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



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



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.



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



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



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



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



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



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



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!



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.



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.



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



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.



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.



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



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



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.



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



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



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



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.



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

Lake Apopka New Year's Drive, Part 1

Another year, another trip to Lake Apopka. I am really starting to enjoy the fact that I get there right as the gate opens and can be one of the first, and then the first, to be out on the drive. Gives me time to get to birds before others and snag some shots before the traffic scares anything off. Like this American Bittern that strode upon the stage just after sunrise.



The first American Alligator of the morning cruises the canal.



While more begin to hunt near the Pumphouse.



Red-winged Blackbirds are easy to spot through out the drive.



You can see and hear them calling all day long.



Ospreys are busy having breakfast as soon as the Sun has come up and can be found atop most phone poles.



I spotted this Limpkin along the edge of the road and followed it to an open space just up ahead.



There it revealed it had breakfast, too, and tried to position the snail shell to extract the tasty snail inside.



It let me watch the whole time even though it was still weary of my clicking camera.



Around the bend, a Snowy Egret prowled along a branch.



You can never have too many shots of Great Blue Herons. Especially when they let you get right next to them in the early morning light.



Wilson's Snipe are typically very skittish and you usually see them fly off in front of you when you walk through their hiding places. For some reason, I found a pair on the side of the drive that decided staying still was a better choice.



I guess they figured that those few blades of grass were disguise enough.



Common Gallinule are copious and as hard as I try I can't resist a shot now and again.



Another more showy Snowy Egret wades into shallow water in search of a snack.



A Red-shouldered Hawk called from one of the few manmade items on the back part of the drive.



A few Savannah Sparrows can be found flitting through the green grasses right along the road but seldom pause for a good shot.



Most of the Eastern Phoebes I saw today were so busy feeding that I couldn't get many good shots. This one stayed still for a little bit for me.



One final Red-shouldered Hawk was perched in a snag at the last turn out of the drive.



I am still trying to find the reported Gray-headed Swamphen. I have missed it on the previous 5 times around. The day is young so why not have one more try before heading home? Part Two is next!

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.



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



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.



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



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



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.



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



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



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



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.



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.



Another one down in the water was even bigger.



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



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



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



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.