Largo Birding

Where to go the day after Christmas? I couldn't decide so I visited several spots all around Largo. First stop: War Veteran's Memorial Park where I have spent time during Christmas Bird Counts. It was not too birdy, but the Brown Pelicans feeding out in the channel.



I was taken aback by the lack of other birds in the park. The only other fun bird of note was a male Black and White Warbler moving at high speed near the point. Very little other activity in all of my hiking this morning.



Since it was pretty quiet at that park I headed over to Largo Central Park Nature Preserve. Things were a bit more interesting here. I walked around the back side of the park and found a number of Black-hooded Parakeets up in the power station.



I started through a recently cut portion leading back to the park and noticed some small birds darting into some brush. It took me a bit to nail it down but was pleasantly surprised to discover it was a House Finch.



Down in the freshly cut grass and brush were several Western Palm Warblers hopping around and feeding.



Halfway along the boardwalk in the woods a Downy Woodpecker dropped next to me and began pounding away on a tree. I took many, many photos just wanting the bird to look my direction at least once but he would not cooperate so I ended up with most of the shots becoming blurry.



One of my presents was a wide angle lens. It should be fun to play around with from time to time. Have to practice some exposure times, for sure.



Heading back to the parking lot I spotted a Pied-billed Grebe swimming down the creek toward me.



Just beyond that was a juvenile Little Blue Heron feeding so intently that it never paid attention to me as I took a couple dozen shots.



Just nearing the restrooms I saw a bird flash out and back to the trees. It was an Eastern Phoebe plucking insects from the air and returning to its perch.



I turned toward the car and had a Northern Mockingbird pop up out of a bush. Who can resist that shot?



I then headed over to John S. Taylor Park. It is a park that is hidden in plain sight, almost. It is surrounded by office buildings and homes but is fairly large and holds different birds than the other parks. Like Ring-billed Gulls which were relaxing all along the shoreline and atop signs. Which profile do you prefer? To the right...



...or to the left?



I love how this Common Gallinule looks like it was carved out of wax and the color scheme really works for me, too.



Up in the pines was a lone Anhinga just relaxing.



There wasn't too much more to look find so I had to take more shots of the gulls on the way out. This one seems a little younger than the others around.



This one is definitely an older bird



Not a bad way to spend a long morning of birding. However, it will soon be time to head back to Orlando and home.

Barber Park

I often drive past Barber Park or drive through the parking lot in case anything is sitting in the front pond but today I decided to stop and take a walk out to the lake and see what I could find out in the fields.

A train of Muscovy ducks were hiking toward the marsh in the center of the parking areas and Eastern Phoebes and several Western Palm Warbler were snatching insects. This Palm hopped right over to me.



There is a retention pond between the parking areas and the lake just off to the side of the soccer fields. They have planted some native plants in here to make it look nice and it attracts some nice birds from time to time. There were Phoebes, a Belted Kingfisher, and a Great Blue Heron keeping an eye on me as I made my way around toward the lake.



I could hear Yellow-rumped Warblers all along the tree lines but they were not making themselves seen for more than a second. I circled back around the opposite side of the canal and posted up for a few minutes. Eventually, a single bird pause just in front of me for a few seconds.



The Western Palm Warblers were much more conspicuous as they flitted out into the open, fed in the grasses, and perched on shrubby branches just about everywhere.



One more close-up. How can I resist?



On the way out I spotted a White-winged Dove trying to hide in the shadows. Did not expect that here. I took a look high overhead and spotted a Bald Eagle soaring over the lake.



I headed back to the car and had a single Muscovy Duck just coming back out of the marsh. Usually they are mostly black. I can't recall a silver one. Much less with a Mohawk!



I did not have as many species as I had hoped for but it was a nice walk. Where are all the birds this season? Seems thin.

Florida Lifer

I was just at Mead Botanical Garden and really wasn't in a hurry to get back but then the word got out that a rare bird was seen for more than a day in a row. So, there was a good chance it would still be there this morning. Guess I have to drag my self outta bed. Sigh.

Just after I got there I ran into Ian. He used to band birds with us out at Wekiwa Springs back in the day and we hung out for a bit and searched for birds. When I first saw him he was training his lens on one of the resident Barred Owls resting over the creek.



Once we arrived at the spot where the rare bird was being seen there were several photographers canvasing the area. They were all jockeying for position, sticking their lens into branches and clicking and flashing constantly. Just the kind of scene I don't like. They weren't even sure the bird they taking photos of was even the bird being sought. Just clicking and flashing at anything moving.

I saw the bird with my binoculars. I still decided to take a walk and let the human activity die down and come back later for a photo. Glad I did. Just behind the Education Center was a Blue Grosbeak feeding on seeds. Sweet.



Not much around the perimeter of the property so I wandered back to the bridge. It was down to just two over-active photogs so I posted up on the bridge and waited. I had 6 Magnolia Warblers today. That is the most I have ever seen on one day. They were not in the mood to pose for a very pretty shot.



There were a couple of warblers flying back and forth that had me confused for a awhile. Once I got the photos on the screen I came to the conclusion that they were simply Pine Warblers and nothing as exotic as I was hoping.



I finally decided it was time to get a shot of the rare bird since the other guys drifted off, still clicking and flashing at everything. It took me a couple of minutes but I found the bird again and it soon darted out of the gloom and out toward the creek. There was my first Florida Wilson's Warbler.



The Wilson's Warbler looked around the air for another bug, tilting its head from side to side before bounding back into the bamboo.



A juvenile male Black-throated Blue Warbler was oblivious to us humans and flitted around feeding for 30 minutes, at least. Juvenile males are told by the white on their throats.



The Wilson's Warbler made one more quick advance toward the edge of the bamboo and, although I don't like the small branch traversing the shot, I was happy to get a full ID shot showing the darker hood before it vanished again.



Blackpoll Warblers are easier to see in the Spring but they are all over these past few weeks but still hard to get shots of. Those legs don't lie, though.



I headed home by walking near the creek again but all I could see was several Western Palm Warblers that are flowing into the state. They are grabbing all the low flying bugs in the muck and landing around everyone who happens to be walking by.



It is always fun to bird watch during the peak of migration but we have had some amazing warblers all over Mead this month. they are not showing up in closer locations, like my banding site, but it is nice to have them so close on a regular basis and are giving many birders new Life Birds and others something fun to keep track of. For me, it will be back to banding on Sunday.

First Palm Warbler of the Season

You know we are settling in for the good birding when the first Palm Warbler of the season shows up.



Next up will be buntings and wintering ducks. Let the games begin!

Traveling Around the Neighborhood

Have hardly had a chance to bird since the first of the year. If it weren't for space related things my January would be pretty vacant, blog-wise. I was going to go out to help round up sparrows on the west coast but a forecast of bad weather lead them to cancel the event. So, on this gloomy morning I decided to at least drive around the neighborhood.

This season has been so quiet I was wondering if I would find much but it actually was pretty bird. I was watching a small flock of Ring-necked Ducks at Lake Weldona when I saw a Tricolored Heron out of the corner of my eye spearing a fish. I edged the car up slowly but hoping fast enough to get some snack time shots.



It took several tries to get the fish off of the bill before the bird was able to swing the prey around and gulp it down.



While I was snapping shots of the heron a feeding flock of Western Palm Warblers were flying just above ground level to snatch up insects. Only one would stop long enough for a portrait.



I discovered another little retention pond between a local church and some homes up the road and add it to my loop check from time to time. As the rain creeped back over I noticed a wet Belted Kingfisher. Usually they fly off on any sort of approach but this one just stared through the chainlink fence.



On the other edge of the pond, a Pied-billed Grebe dove and bobbed near the shore.



I then remembered a few ponds near a hotel toward the airport and headed over to check for any ducks. Total disappointment. Nothing in the ponds. However, when I got back onto the road to head back home I noticed some large shapes along the sidewalk. I turned toward them and tried to figure out what they were. I was almost up to them before I realized they were Wild Turkey!



I was not expecting them here closer to the airport but here they were. Four females grabbing seeds along the roadway before disappearing into the bushes.



On the way home I made my way around the high school to check the feeders at a home I have checked over the years. There was a bit of activity around but what made me stop in my tracks was the color blue. There shouldn't be any birds with blue feathers except for Blue Jays. I could never get them in better focus in this low light.



I raced home to do some research and found they were Blue Waxbills, a member of the cordon-bleu finches from Africa. They most likely escaped form some home but it was weird to see 6 of them in one flock. I tried to refind them when the clouds cleared but I never saw them again.



Not a bad morning check. Quite full of little surprises. Hoping I can get out more but we are getting into festival season so my weekends are pretty booked for a while. At least those involve birds.

Cemetery Palm Warblers

Still pretty quiet around Central Florida but we are getting so me Western Palm Warblers from time to time. I was checking if the Bald Eagles were back yet but I have yet to see them. On the edge of that territory I did find a small flock of birds, including a few Western Palm Warblers. This one was busy gobbling up a caterpillar.



Not much else but I will take what I can this year. Sigh.

Not that I don't love Palm Warblers...

Barber Park While Waiting

Our oldest had a practice session near Barber Park and instead of driving back and forth too much I decided to search any close water ways. However, there is not much in the way of lakes to cruise in this area. I did spot some Shrikes up along the road so I tried to get some shots there but they flew off before I could get in position. I had to settle for a Western Palm Warbler in bad light.



I circled the small pond in the park looking for birds. A Gray Squirrel was playing hide and seek. I won.



In the pond, a Slider kept a careful lookout for trouble.



The only birds besides the resident Mallards was a flock of Ring-billed Gulls.



I searched the entire group hoping there might be a different gull in there. Nope. All Ring-bills.



Time to go. Better than nothing, I guess.