Showing posts with label White Ibis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label White Ibis. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2016

2016 St. Pete CBC, Part 1

That time of year again! Time to head to St. Pete to count as many birds as we can in our selected count circle for the Christmas Bird Count. This year I was assigned to Area #5 in the very urban St. Pete area near Tropicana Field. Being so city like, we didn't get some species I would have expected nearly anywhere else (no Carolina Wren?) but we managed to get some nice birds along the way.

We began at Crescent Lake before dawn searching for owls in the neighborhoods. No luck. Right at dawn we returned to the lake park and started counting every thing we could see. Besides the huge number of Muscovy and Domestic duck all over the Northern side, we had a Wood Stork on a tree as the Sun rose just behind the treetops.

Wood Stork

Nearby, a few Green Herons lurked in the shadows.

Green Heron

As we tried to ID a warbler in the underbrush we flushed a Black-crowned Night Heron that flew out to rest next to the stork.

Black-crowned Night Heron

There were other species added to the list but this little Gray Squirrel insisted on getting its photo taken. Fine...

TK

Small flock of wintering duck were scattered around but we decided to come back later when the light was better for some photos. They will appear in the next post. For now, we headed to Coffee Pot Bayou to the roosting spot of Brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants. There were a lot but I enjoyed having a couple right next to the road for some good shots.

Brown Pelican

We also spotted a Roseate Spoonbill trying to hide in the mangrove roost and numerous Anhinga.

Brown Pelican

Next, we headed to the beach as the tide was low and we hoped to get some good shorebirds to add to the list. Killian took up a spot on the end of a jetty to record bird numbers as Jim called them out while peering through his scope.

Killian

Many birds, like this Dunlin, were close enough to not need a scope.

Dunlin

There were a lot of Least Sandpipers in the close flock. I can't recall having so many shorebirds stay so close to me. They usually scatter upon approach. I guess this area is so full of visitors that the birds take little notice.

Least Sandpiper

If something else would startle the flock they would quickly return right next to us.

Least Sandpiper

There was a nice gathering of birds loafing farther down the beach so we headed in that direction. Along the way, a Eurasian Collared-Dove strolled the beach as a Loggerhead Shrike sat atop a light pole.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Our main target was counting the 65 American White Pelican jammed at the edge of the sand spit. There were also scores of terns and Black Skimmers behind them.

American White Pelican

A Reddish Egret soon flew in and began its dancing through the shallow water in search of a meal.

Reddish Egret

We also spotted a single Herring Gull resting with a few Laughing Gulls and some Royal Terns.

Herring Gull

We were hearing Monk Parakeets near the parking lot and Killian found them on our second trip out here. They were in a tree right over a few folks getting in some training. Not a care in the world.

Monk Parakeet

Most of the Monk Parakeets were by themselves but I liked this cute pair getting their feathers blown about in the breeze.

Monk Parakeet

Then they would snuggle and preen one another.

Monk Parakeet

But, we needed to head to our next stop which was a small park by a boat slip. Not too much around but a Northern Mockingbird, some Mytle Warblers, and few White Ibis.

White Ibis

Finishing up our first areas so quickly, we decided to head to the golf course a little early. We were told to return later, however, as a lot of golfers were still arriving and they thought it would be better for us to return in the afternoon. OK. Time for lunch and then back to look for a Sapsucker and other birds at the lake.

We thought the golf course might not hold that many birds, though, so we weren't totally enthused about it anyway. Boy, would we be in for a surprise. All that in the next post!

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Maitland Center

Wow. October went by quickly! Not much birding but very busy at the bird banding site. In fact, these shots were taken on the way home from a banding session.

It is that time of year when I start checking for Hooded Mergansers that return to a couple of retention ponds in Maitland Center every year. They weren't back yet but the fist bird I found was a Pied-billed Grebe feeding close to shore. It surfaced a few times, giving me a brief chance to take a snap.

Pied-billed Grebe

On the railings leaving the parking lot, a few birds were just perched. I thought for sure they would fly off as I got nearer but they stayed put and just stared at me. A pair of White Ibis were on the left side of the road. I am always mesmerized by those icy blue eyes.

White Ibis

On the righthand side of the road was a Little Blue Heron panting in the warming morning air. We have been having a lot of temperatures in the 80s and it doesn't appear that it will cool down any time soon.

Little Blue Heron

No Hoodies but an interesting jaunt through a parking lot.

Saturday, July 04, 2015

Lake Apopka North Shore Drive, Pt. 2

Time for pass Number 2! Back at the first jog, I stopped to get another family shot to the Black-necked Stilts still feeding in the marsh.

Black-necked Stilt

My second American Alligator of the day was a tiny guy. Maybe 2-years-old.

American Alligator

Nearby, I had a nice surprise by spotting an American Coot in the canal. This species typically is found only in Winter in these parts though I have had one stay in Orlando through one Summer a few years ago.

American Coot

I hurried down the first stretch realizing I hadn't taken a good shot of the Pump House the first time around.

Pump House

Common Gallinules in all age ranges are present right now along the Drive. This little newborn reminded me of a tiny dinosaur just up and walking through the reeds.

Common Gallinule

I only saw a few grackles during my visit today and only got a shot of a female Boat-tailed Grackle at one spot.

Boat-tailed Grackle

The last American Alligator sighting of the morning was a good one as this fella was basking in the rays of the rising Sun.

American Alligator

I was now back at the Barn Swallow curve and was taking shots of a juvenile calling for food when this bird flew in next to the youngster. My photos made quite a stir on the local forums and I will talk about it in a future posting.

Barn Swallow

You cannot imagine how hard it was to get a shot of any of the Cattle Egrets. They were all over but flushed any time you got close to them. At the swallow curve I had a small flock that let me get close enough for a couple of shots. They look great in breeding plumage.

Cattle Egret

A Common Ground Dove was walking along the roadway and I tried to get a shot of it on the ground but it kept flying ahead of me until finally cruising up to the wires.

Common Ground Dove

Most of the Snowy Egrets were further out in the canals but every now and then I would find one close to the Drive.

Snowy Egret

Same with the Great Egrets.

Great Egret

White Ibis were mostly fly-overs but this one was sitting in the marsh fairly close.

White Ibis

It is fun to see so many local birds in breeding plumage, including the Glossy Ibis.

Glossy Ibis

Usually you could only see their backs as they fed in the grasses so I took a shot to catch some iridescence on one of the birds.

Glossy Ibis

The last bird of the morning was a solitary Osprey up in a snag before the road turns toward the highway. The last mile is pretty quite and more forested. It may be more interesting when the Winter birds come our way but for now...

Osprey

This is a remarkable trail along Lake Apopka and I hope to visit it more in the future. However, I fear it will be a madhouse come Fall/Winter. Could be bumper to bumper. We shall see.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Moss Park

It took me awhile to get through the photos from last weekend so this is posted a few days after the event, but...done. My wife's company picnic was scheduled for this past Saturday and the event was held in Moss Park. Nice place. We have camped there before. Only problem is that it is like dropping a kid in a candy store. Birds are always around here so socializing becomes more of a formality for me once I start seeing and hearing birds. Selfish? Yes. I am working on it.

As soon as we got out of the car I could see scores of birds flying around the lake. I was already twitching. Once we made introductions and had lunch I went off for a little hike. As soon as I neared the edge of the lake the bird sound was raucous. The main species flying by were Wood Storks.

Wood Stork

Turns out that the small island just across from the shoreline was teaming with wading birds nesting. A lot of Wood Storks were there but the edges of the island were covered with White Ibis nests.

Nests

There were also Anhinga and Double-crested Cormorants but I was more pleased to see a Black-crowned Night Heron join in with the crowd. I do recall seeing a lot of these birds the last time we were out here.

Black-crowned Night Heron

I came off the dock and began to head to the North, following the sounds of Boat-tailed Grackles. They would not stay in good light for me but flowers were more accommodating. Right next to the dock was a nice spread of Rhexia.

Rhexia

Just around the bend were a scattering of Yellow-eyed Grass swaying in the light breeze.

Yellow-eyed Grass

Tucked next to the reeds I spotted a clump of Bog Buttons. I did not relocate the Sun Dews I remember from years ago.

Bog Buttons

Standing higher were shocks of a variety of St. John's Wort.

St. John's Wort

Another yellow flower was there but I can't recall the name as of yet.

Yellow flower

Back to the birds! My next goal was to find where the birds from the island were heading for food. They were going to a shallower part of the lake to the North. The storks and Ibis were flying over to gather food for chicks...

Wood Stork

...and then head back in short order.

Wood Stork

The White Ibis are in full breeding plumage and are just as active.

White Ibis

One of the birds we always remembered from our previous camping trip was the Sandhill Cranes that can be quite bold in searches for food. They even try to steal food from your picnic tables! This family was wandering around a large gathering leading their new colt through the pavilions.

Sandhill Crane

The colt took it all in stride as kids tried to follow it around the campgrounds.

Sandhill Crane

I headed back to the company event hearing Pine Warblers near the gathering. I kept seeing them flying high in the pines and finally had a closer look as an adult brought some food down to a juvenile.

Pine Warbler

Once the meal was consumed, the adult Pine Warbler flew off for more and the juvenile fluttered its wings and called for more.

Pine Warbler

Near he table, a family of Tufted Titmouse swooped in and began calling loudly. Was I in the way of something or were they warning of some other danger? I never found out.

Tufted Titmouse

As I was about to put the camera away I noticed another bird flitting through the branches. I couldn't tell exactly what it was immediately but by the time I went through photos and asked for thoughts from a friend I can only conclude that this is a late 1st Spring Blackburnian Warbler! Not a common sight here this time of year.

Blackburnian Warbler

I made one more walk near the parking lot to see what was in a fenced in area and had a pair of Great-Crested Flycatchers hunting around the moss. It is called Moss Park, after all.

Great-Crested Flycatcher

A nice morning of discovery today. Next time, have the company event indoors and I will be all full of meaningful conversation. Until I spot something outside the windows...