New Year's Hike

I have used New Year's Day a hiking day for the past several years. Usually I choose a place I haven't been to before but today I decided to go back to Clay Island since there was a report of a pair of Groove-billed Ani hanging out by an observation tower. Not sure which direction to head (there was only one tower I knew of from years ago) I headed West. I only found a flock of Tree Swallows in the air after walking the first 15 minutes.



There were zero birds in the water. Not even a Common Gallinule. Just one American Alligator tucked back in the reeds.



I eventually came upon an observation tower. A Red-shouldered Hawk was calling across the canal. A few Palm Warblers were scattered just past the tower. Nothing else was in view.



I got to the top of the tower and was soon at eye level with a single Turkey Vulture drifting by. The rest of the area was clear and still. I was getting bored. I also just realized that I should have gone to the next turn than the one I took. Now I couldn't get to the original tower which was across the canal. Sigh.



I follow the path in the only direction I could travel and eventually got to the observation tower where others had reported the Anis. They were a no-show for me. Really bored. I decided to head home. Up on the wires on the way back was a lone American Kestrel.



I climbed back into the car feeling defeated. These first of the year hikes are usually teaming with birds. I rounded the curve and had a Sandhill Crane feeding in a yard.



90 minutes of hiking. 4 bird photos. At least I know where some birds are. Back in my neighborhood. Happy New Year.

Lake Apopka North Shore Drive, Pt. 1

I have been waiting to get out to the new Lake Apopka North Shore Drive. Folks have been reporting fun birds but the drive is only open Friday-Sunday and my weekends have been a bit too crazy. Today I finally got my chance to head out.

I wanted to get there as soon as it opened and was greeted by a nice bright Moon before dawn in downtown Orlando on the way to the drive.



The beginning of the drive is at the end of Lust Road where many birders have gone for years but as far as you could go was the gate which is now open and has a new sign welcoming visitors.



Many carloads of birders were already on the Drive ahead of me. At the first little job was a very boisterous Black-necked Stilt family. Every time the chick would wander a bit too far, Mom would start calling loudly for all to stay away.



Eventually, the Black-necked Stilt chick would return to a parent's side to feed closer. I tried to get some shots of the parents attempting to shoo off a Glossy Ibis to no avail. The Ibis didn't seem to care too much about the fuss.



The best thing about the Lake Apopka North Shore Drive is that it heads due West for most of the time so the lighting is perfect in the early morning.



Dragonflies were all over at daybreak. Occasionally one would light atop a swaying grassy stalk.



Green Herons were flying across the drive all morning but never settled in for a photo. Tricolored Herons were a bit more cooperative.



Common Gallinules were also abundant but you don't often see one sitting up on an exposed branch!



Looking over the edge of the road I spotted an Anhinga making a catch and had to strain over the passenger seat to get a snap.



I was actually surprised I didn't see too many American Alligators out today. I have seen more hiking the North Shore in the past. Some BIG ones in some of the canals.



Great Blue Herons prowled the edges of the water but I didn't see any score a breakfast on my rounds.



Red-winged Blackbirds were beyond counting. They were all over with most males calling and defending territories.



Not a lot of vultures around this morning but I did have a nice close fly-by of an adult Turkey Vulture.



This early in the morning the Ospreys were feeding and feasting all up and down the Drive. I will devote another post exclusively about Ospreys soon.



Most of the vegetation is weedy shrubs, grasses, and Cattails but every now and then a splash of color would appear like the white Moon Glory blossoms.



Down by the Pump House turn a female Anhinga rested on a structure across the water.



I decided to take the righthand turn past the Pump House not knowing there was another stretch closer to the lake. I would take that portion of the drive next time around. This lane was fairly bird free and the only big bird I spotted first was a Limpkin. Too bad I could only get a shot through the wind shield.



On the opposite side, a wet male Anhinga tried to stay out of view.



At the end of this northerly drive I started to see Barn Swallows swooping over the canal at the bend. As I turned to head toward a flock sitting on wires ahead I noticed a Great Blue Heron sunning in the roadway. It is always fun to see this behavior.



Just past the heron, a pair of Roseate Spoonbills were crossing to reach the canal and fields to the North.



The Barn Swallows here were copious with only a few resting on the wires. Many more were feeding and returning to nests under a small bridge over the canal. I ended up with a lot of swallow photos (with a rather interesting discovery) that warrant them their own post in the future, as well.



The final bird shot on this pass was a female Red-winged Blackbird that was searching through the grasses for a snack.



I thought of just heading home then but, as mentioned earlier, I found that there was another spur of the Drive so I swung back around to take one more pass and hoped for some interesting shot. Glad I did. Stay tuned...

Walking the Lakes

The kids were off for the holiday so I took the chance to wander Lake Davis since I didn't have to drive back and forth to schools. I also wanted to see if anything of interest was out there during this gloomy morning. Nothing new but there are now over 100 Ring-necked Ducks around during the day. I can count many more resting on the lake after dark.



I headed West and found a few Anhinga either in the trees or near the ground. For some reason I can never resist silhouette shots of these diving birds.



A little farther along I spotted a White Ibis. This bird has an injured wing an has been hanging around the lake for several years. One woman even wanted to capture it and take it to rehab but that failed but this bird seems to being doing fine, otherwise.



I rounded the western edge of Lake Davis, avoiding the construction crews, and ended up in a patch filled with warblers. The most numerous were Palm Warblers. This one seemed to be fascinated with finding bugs around the barricades.



There were also a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and I was looking forward to getting my first good shot of one this season but could only get backlit versions. At least it is a start and they will be around for many more months.



Along the lake's edge there were several Eastern Phoebes. They are calling all around the area this year. and we have banded many at our bird banding site this Fall.



Near the Eastern Phoebe was another Palm Warbler on its own which took time preening on a Cypress Tree before beginning to feed again.



Who can refuse a shot of the Mute Swans while walking around? I see folks stopping to get out and take photos of them all the time. Mom and baby drifted out in front of me to rest a bit before going back to foraging.



Later in the day, I headed out to do some shopping which always leads me to go around Lake Terrace to see if any ducks have returned. For some reason they are not hanging out much this year. What did surprise me as I neared the lake was a big flock of Vultures. Most of the ones on the ground were Turkey Vultures feeding on something that may have been bread.



Soon, Black Vultures began circling in, too and I got a few shots of them in flight before they began to compete with the Turkey Vultures.



Not a bad days work of photography but I would sure love some new ducks arriving before too long.

Random Observations

Work is ramping up more and more so all I can do is sit, get books made and watch out of the window every now and then to see what is flying by. Vultures were taking to skies early and I tallied them up on my ever-present notepad along the way. At one point, I glanced out and spied a few Turkey Vultures rising and then noticed that one shape looked a tad different. I almost ignored it but decided to raise my binoculars anyway. Glad I did. My first Swallow-tailed Kite of the season was in the mix!

I fumbled for my camera, nearly tripping over my chair, and ran out the back door of the office. Unfortunately, the bird had found a thermal and began gliding off to the South. I could only grab one distant shot. Very early for this species, which breeds in the area. Glad to have them returning.



I settled back into my chair but soon, a Yellow-rumped Warbler landed in the small oak outside in the parking lot. I would have ignored it but it is a good example that illustrates its name. Shot through the window.



On the drive home, I noticed a Bald Eagle sitting on the edge of Lake Lancaster. I tried to sneak up on it for a nice shot but it saw me first and bolted. Sigh.



Warning: graphic Vulture eating! I did my usual rounds the rest of the way home in search of some interesting ducks. Instead, I found Black and Turkey Vultures working over a dead Soft-shelled Turtle carcass on the lake shore.



More and more vultures were streaming in and this poor turtle would be surely gone by morning.



A great score with the Kite and few interesting finds by days end. Time to start searching for shorebirds in migration.

A Stirring

I settled into work and enjoyed the sunrise when, suddenly, a stranger appeared. Could be the same bird I got photos of last year. I tried to sneak out the first time but it flew off. On the second approach it let me get close in some better light.



I took this new visit from the Shrike as a sign. For my lunch break, I headed back near the lasting wooded area and had a look around. A small puddle was being used by a Catbird and few warblers as a bath but they took off before shots were fired. I did get one of the Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warblers after it retreated to a nearby tree, though.



Today, the warblers and local birds outnumbered the migrating Robins. I was able to get a shot of this pretty bird before I moved on. Again, I love those scales.



A lazy shadow glides across the edge of the woods and every creature looks up to confirm it is a Turkey Vulture and not some raptor.



Then I noticed streaks in the sky. Tree Swallows are flocking to the Tangelo Park edge in large numbers. Having a zoom lens does nothing to capture the spectacle. All I can manage is a few birds in view at once. They were, however, all over the place.



I tried to get some bigger numbers in my frame as they bolted over the woods and then back again.



I even got a shot from directly overhead at one point. Good enough with a sense of scale as this bird glided over the power lines.



I had a bunch of shots from over the next 30 minutes. I was fond of getting the green-ish tints on some of our Winter birds.



No extra Waxwings yet, but I will be looking for them...

The Great Backyard Bird Count for 2013 is February 15-18th.
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