Another Day at Mead Garden

Took a morning stroll over at Mead Botanical Gardens again today. Yeah, I end up here a lot in the Fall. For good reason. It is a magnet for migrating birds in the urban edges of Winter Park.

Things were interesting as soon as I stepped out of the van today. Over near the restrooms, Tufted Titmice were calling so I headed over to see if any other species might be feeding with them. There was a flash of some almost orange bird and I tried to get around the trees to get a better view. I could not refind that bird but up against the glare was a female Summer Tanager.



Turns out this was also the first weekend of the Mead bird walks so I met up with all my old friends. We headed toward the pond and watched thrushes and other birds. Soon, that orange bird flew in over head. A young Baltimore Oriole! I have always missed this species on my years of visits. Glad to have that off my shoulders.



The group kind of split up and I ended up wandering over to the back of the park and I went into the wooded edge of the creek. Yellow Warblers, Parulas, and Common Yellowthroats were feeding on the insects. Up in a tall Cypress tree I found a couple of Magnolia Warblers.



At the first turn of the creek I scared off a Great Egret. The Snowy Egret, however, did not perceive me as a threat at all.



Heading back toward the garden club building I paused to make an attempt at getting a shot of one of the many Red-eyed Vireos feeding all over the park. Not too bad.



Under the shade behind the amphitheater I searched for the flycatcher we saw last time out. Alas, all I could manage was a female American Redstart. At least, this time she dropped down to about eye level.



Back out in the sunlight I found more thrushes feeding up in the Virginia Creeper vines. Another bird flew in, too, and I almost dismissed it. Then I realized it was a juvenile. Mourning Doves have scaly looking feathers when they are young.



I made my way along the creek to head around the boardwalk on the way out. It was very quiet as I made my way under the Cypress stand but I was glad to get a view of a male American Redstart actively feeding. Like the female earlier, he came down low enough for a pretty good angle even if it was in the deep shade.



He bounced back and forth in from of me for a couple of minutes before taking off to the treetops.



The tour around the boardwalk was uneventful. All I could find moving was a dragonfly. It did stop for a couple seconds for a photo, though.



I walked through the butterfly garden and toward the education building. A strange sound came from the marsh and I quickly searched the vegetation. A bird flew under some leaves and I soon realized it was a Blue Grosbeak! haven't seen one of them in a long time.



The last bird of my day was a Red-shouldered Hawk surveying the property from tall trees over the old clay pit area.



A fun walk with some nice species. I couldn't get a photo of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird but that can wait until next time.

Mute Swan

A little filler. I forgot to post this on the 1st. While driving to the store before sun down I spotted one of the Mute Swans heading toward me on Lake Davis. I could not get it in proper light so I settled for a more backlit view. Like it most for the drops of water.

Yellow, Anyone?

Finally! Some birds out in the open!!

As I rounded the curve at Lake Lancaster around 5 PM I could tell it was going to be fun. Every few seconds little bursts of yellow emerged from the oak branches, hovered in the air for a moment and returned to cover. A nice flock of warblers was feeding big time. Might be my best chance to get a descent shot of a Yellow Warbler.

I could see them pretty much perching in the open as I exited the van.



Yellow Warblers were definitely at the top of my list for trying to get a good photo but I was also distracted by the equally large numbers of Prairie Warblers. How can I pass them up?



The birds zipped in and out of the oaks and sometime moved down to different sets of trees. I had to walk back and forth along the street but the birds were more interested in grabbing bugs than worrying about me. Which was good because I started getting the best shots of these warblers for me...ever.



So much yellow. At times I had to force myself to chase a singular bird so I wouldn't loose a potentially good shot.



Besides the oaks, the birds were taking turns jumping over to the magnolias across the street. They swooped over my head and went to work on the leaves once there.



Soon, I noticed one other species lurking in the lakeside of the trees which had its own patch of yellow. A Yellow-throated Warbler.



The only other thing I wish I could add here would be the sharp calls and the snapping sound of bills the birds made as they fed all around me.



Even if I never get this opportunity again with Yellow Warblers I can just sit back and stare at this photo and everything will be right with the world...

Saturday Cruising

Just going to a couple spots I haven't stopped by in a while. First, I need to check on the Yellow Warblers I found yesterday near the lake. They are still there but still in the shade. Just can't get them out on the edges and my flash just won't work for now.



Last month I posted about a Muscovy family walking between the lakes. Looks like the predators have been busy. Where there were once nine ducklings then I can only find one remaining. It is getting pretty big, though, so maybe it will make it to adulthood.



I decided to head over to Demetree Park to see if any warbler were enjoying the short boardwalk they have there. Seemed pretty quiet when I arrived but I did chat with an Anole for a quick minute before heading on.



Next to the main lake stood a Wood Stork who was not too sure about my intentions.



There were a few warblers along the boardwalk like Common Yellowthroats and I did find my first Black-throated Blue Warbler of the season. Red-eyed Vireos called along the treetops. However, I was a tad more interested in another bird down in the creek. A wind-blown Green Heron.



Hard as I tried, I could not get a side angle on this bird that did not include those pesky branches. It was so intent on hunting that even when I walked back and forth, crouched down low, or leaned out over the rail it did not even pay me one second of thought. I can live with the branches in the way. Love that stare.



Off to La Costa Wetlands to see if any ducks had found a resting spot there. There was not much around, actually. Even the locals were scarce here. A few Chimney Swifts chirped overhead and a Cooper's Hawk was chattering in the Cypress trees. But ducks? Not yet.

Rain was moving in so I picked up my step and moved back toward the van. Just before the last bridge, a family of Northern Mockingbirds chased one another around the palms and holly trees. I managed to get a juvenile peeking around its lunch. Birds love these berries and I hope to find a lot of species in this park this Fall and Winter.



A small mix today. Fronts are still deciding where to go. Not complaining as they have been responsible for guiding tropical storms away from us this year. Counting down to Fall.

Birthday Birds

My special day so I took leave of work in hopes of finding some new birds. Maybe that Sandpiper will still be around. Nope. Oh, well. Still have time to do some bird watching after getting the kids to school.

Fortunately, I found a nice feeding flock of Yellow Warblers on the way home. Got a decent shot of one up in the shade of the branches.



I was just mentioning to a friend a few days ago that I hardly ever see Yellow Warblers for any period of time during migration. They seem to swing through quickly and then disappear. Today must be a lucky day as they are feeding all along a local lake.



I was happy enough to have those shots to add to the collection and headed home to start processing other shots and settle in for a little relaxing. I almost put the camera away on the way back but I had to get it quickly as I rounded the curve at Lake Emerald and saw that the light was perfect and a couple of nice subjects came into view along the stand of Cypress.



Not sure if I like that vertical view of these Wood Ducks or the horizontal crop. Either way, it is nice to have them in a tree (thus, their name) instead of just on the water.



Backing up just a bit, I was able to get a full shot of the female. Sweet.



Not a bad start to my birthday. A lot of things to do before the day is over. Maybe I can grab a few more views before dark.

Solitary Sandpiper. Really?

Time to count the birds. Again. "Don't you ever get tired of it?" Not really. Over a the church pond I was greeted by a Little Blue Heron in the parking lot. I different angle for once.



I tallied the usual suspects and was about to leave as the sun was setting and I needed to head home. Then something caught my eye hiding behind a tiny branch. A Solitary Sandpiper!



I can't recall ever seeing this species on their way south. They usually stay on the coast going down Florida. I do expect Solitary's in the Spring on the way home when they stop by our local lakes.



We have had a lot of rain and the lakes are full so there is not a lot of shoreline of flat areas that sandpipers like. Good for the arriving ducks. Just wasn't expecting this fella.



I will check to see if it is still around in the morning but I bet it heads out overnight. Nice that it gave me a little bit of its time this evening.

Common Yellowthroat

The weather is beginning to change. I can feel it deep down. Even a few points off the humidity make the outdoors in Central Florida tolerable. Either that or the pull of migrating birds makes me think that.

I have been staring at my computer at work pretty intently for the past few days. The humidity is really down a bit and my legs could use a stretch. Time to reinstate the lunchtime walk over to the trees.

The fresh air was nice but there weren't a lot of birds around here at midday. I searched the wooded edges of the buildings and heard Mockingbirds and Cardinals but not much else. Finally, I did have a nice surprise when a female Common Yellowthroat hopped up out of the palmettos and onto a branch right in front of me.



Pretty little thing. I used to see Common Yellowthroats all over Central Florida nearly year round. Now it seems that they are in decline as it usually takes migration to bring any of these small warblers into view.



However, I have seen several in this little patch of woods and suspect they might be living here. That would be nice. But kind of weird as you usually find them closer to water and this spot is landlocked. The closest water in half a mile away. In all directions.



So, I will keep an eye out as we move along. Maybe I can find signs of breeding next Spring. Thanks for the photos, Ms. Yellowthroat!

Blackburnian and More at Mead

Despite the lackluster day yesterday, I decided to return to Mead primarily because there was a sighting of a Black-billed Cuckoo a few times in the past few days. I need that one for my collection.

We have been having rain off and on but I guessed I might have enough time before the next round after our banding morning. Rain has been good for the lakes, THey are way up and about back to normal levels.



No luck on that bird today but things were a bit more birdy and gave me many opportunities for photos. Once I arrived, I headed into the wooded area near the parking lot but only managed to find some Carolina Wrens and a pair of Cardinals. The male posed nicely in the shade.



I spent some time behind the amphitheater to see if the Cuckoo might be hiding there where it was last seen. Instead, all I found were some Redstarts. Then, another bird flashed through the branches but kept to the back of the oaks. It was an Acadian Flycatcher!



I swung down the river's edge and onto the boardwalk. No birds here so I stopped to get a shot of the Primrose Willow blossoms. They are invasives but I do love these flowers.



Fairly quiet until I approached the butterfly garden. There I found the Mockingbirds in the trees and flying about.



Many of the younger birds were grabbing berries when they could but I was more interested in the adult perched up in the watch tower.



As I admired the Mockers, a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher drifted in and gave me a gaze before heading on.



This was followed quickly by a female Cardinal who brought her own food to snack on. She was a bit damp and undergoing some molting but I still found her pretty. In a birdy kind of way...



Besides the Flycatcher earlier, the most interesting birds were found as I made my back to the parking lot and found a few fellow birders staring at the trees. Turned out a feeding flock was moving through there and there were many Blackburnian Warblers in the flock.



I haven't seen too many Blackburnian Warblers in my life so it was nice to have this bunch around for some photos. Even though the sky was fully overcast and the light was poor.



Even got a pair together in one shot.



Here is that same scene cropped to show the lower bird better.



We tried to follow the flock but they dispersed. I got to end the day with a cuddly moment before heading home. A Rabbit was out on the grass, nibbling away.



Not a bad walk in the park, eh?