One Red-shouldered Hawk Makes it 1,000

Wow. I just noticed that this is post Number 1,000 for Drew's Birds! A couple of nice photos for this landmark, too. It has actually been a pretty slow year, birding-wise, and who knows when the next opportunity might come along. So...

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I was heading home from the store not expecting much along the way. There was little around the lakes and this stretch I take through a neighborhood is basically void of bird life even when we walk it for high school fund-raising. To my surprise, a Red-shouldered Hawk was perched on a lamp post at the end of a driveway smack in the center of the block.

I figured I had no chance of a photo since I was close and hawks tend to take off if you slow and back up to get at a good angle. But this bird was so intent on scanning for a meal it couldn't have cared less if I was there mere feet away.



The Red-shouldered Hawk swiveled its head left to right and back again several times hoping to catch anything in the open. Even small lizards are fair game for these birds but nothing seemed to be coming out into the open.



I got a few more shots in as the fading sunlight glided a few feathers and then I headed on my way. By the time I reached the end of the block it was still on patrol.



Those little surprises alway make a quiet drive so much more special. Now into June and the really quiet birding months.

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.



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.



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.



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.



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



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



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



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



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...



...and then head back in short order.



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



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.



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



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.



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



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.



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.



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.



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...

Greenwood Eagle Update

I finally got a couple of Bald Eagle shots. I was beginning to think I might not get any good shots as it always seems that I have been there at the wrong time. No birds at the nest, lousy weather, little sunlight, etc. Being a Saturday where I didn't have anything else pending for once, I finally can relax.

There is only one juvenile this season. It fledged a while ago but is now coming back to the nest for food and then to hang out on the branches.



Mom wasn't too happy that I was walking around. Probably since there have been a lot of folks trying for close-ups lately. I took the hint and headed to check the lakes for other birds.



I am glad I got those shots and glad our juvenile eagle is looking nice and healthy after a shaky beginning. It is also the end of our bird banding season so I can take a break for a couple of months.

Baby Eagle and Starlings

I read that the baby Bald Eagle fledged the other day but I didn't locate it anywhere then. Today it was back up in the nest chowing down on something (probably fish) while the parents sat nearby.



I was actually more interested in another baby in the area. A few birds flew in next to the car and I could tell they were European Starlings. I knew they nested around this area because I see them going in and out of nest holes but I can't recall ever seeing a fledgling before.



Kind of like how you never see baby Rock Doves (pigeons), European Starling chicks seem to stay out of sight. This young one was busy following its Dad as he foraged all around the cemetery grasses.



The whole neighborhood is teeming with baby birds this season!

Baby Tutfted Titmouse

In yesterday's post I mentioned the juvenile Tutfted Titmouses have been here in the yard. As I headed out to the store again the Cardinals were off in the back behind the house so the Titmice had plenty of time to grab seed out front. There were several young Titmice but this was the one that decided to eat next to me.



Young Tutfted Titmice always amuse me. They are like their parents but with a more smushed in face.



They are also pretty inquisitive.



Just like the Cardinals, the Titmice have 3 young ones this year. Add in the 4 Carolina Wrens and we have a pretty bustling area. I'll keep filling the feeder, kids!

Baby Birds are Here

I was heading out to the store and heard the familiar calls of fledgling Northern Cardinals. Glancing out the front window I could see 2 young birds but the adult male was also heading to the ground feeding another one. Three babies out there this year! I tried to get a shot through the screen but the sun being where it was made for a difficult exposure.



I had to slip out the front door and try for a better angle but the babies retreated deeper into the foliage while Dad continued to gather seeds to feed the kids.



Waiting above me for a turn at the sunflower seed was an adult Tutfted Titmouse. I have been hearing juveniles of that species out here, too.



No time to try for more shots. Next time.

Out for a Concert

The family headed out to the East a bit to watch our oldest play in the final concert of the season. As we approached the school I noticed a very large congregation of Black Vultures interested in something across the way. We are talkin' over 50 vultures and more were flying in. My camera trigger finger twitched but I didn't have much time to wander off as I am wont to do.

I tried to divert my attention back toward the school and noticed another bird flying behind the high school and then emerged off to the left. A Bald Eagle was soaring by high over head, reflecting light from the setting Sun.



Then I noticed another bird on a light pole right next to us in the parking lot. One of the incoming Black Vultures was checking out the feast across the street before joining in. At least I got one vulture shot.



The auditorium doors were just opening when I spotted yet another bird flying to the top of another light pole. Hmmm... I couldn't figure out the ID right away but it was a small bird whose shape seemed foreign to me. Moments later it dropped to the ground to grab something and I caught a flash of blue.

While the rest of the family headed toward the door, I drifted to my right for a closer look. Then, the male Eastern Bluebird hopped to the chain linked fence with its prize. I don't get to see a lot of Bluebirds but with this being father out in the developing east side there are still some around here. I had to go in for the concert but I spotted a female bird just down the fence line before I went in.



As the band filed in I could get a glimpse of Patrick, our oldest, sharing a joke with fellow bandmates before they dove into the first tune.



Patrick had won the solo for the first song. So proud. Not so proud that I messed up my camera settings but we got to enjoy a bunch of well played songs. This was a mixed batch of college kids and they played awesomely! He can't wait to get back to playing for the marching band next Fall.



I am very busy with work lately so I have no idea when I am going to get more birding in but times like this show that you can find birds anywhere you go. If you take only a couple of minutes to look around you.

Bald Eagle Chick in the Open

Yay! Finally saw this year's baby Bald Eagle out in the open today.



Now we just wait until it is a bit older and out on the limbs.

Leading a Hike

Orange Audubon has started holding Spring Migration bird walks in addition to their previous Fall walks out at Mead Garden and I was asked to lead one of the groups today. The attendance has been pretty high this year and we need to split up into two group so no one area is too crowded. My group headed to the Southern side of the gardens while Larry headed toward the Butterfly garden just to the North.

Our first bird was a fast moving Palm Warbler. Most other Palms moved North not long ago. This one busy trying to catch some tiny moths. There is one in its bill.



We headed to the 'ear-trees', (Enterolobium cyclocarpum), and started to find several Warblers but they were so high in the tree it made photos pretty difficult. However, we did record Northern Parula, Black and white Warbler, and Cape May Warblers here.

Barred Owls are out of the nest but the youngsters were tucked in some foliage while one of the adults sat in the bright morning sunlight.



We did not find too many birds out this morning but the Gray Catbirds gathered in large numbers down by the new bridge by the creek. They were eating fruit from the palm trees. Not too far away we entered the boardwalk and were quickly met by a small flock of Cedar Waxwings and a often hidden female Cape May Warbler.



Over in the willows, a Prairie Warbler darted in and out of leaves in search of insects.



Out in the open, a male Black and White Warbler prowled the branches and tree trunks just past the railings.



Before we exited the boardwalk I spied beautiful a Five-lined Skink along the rails.



Folks began to drift apart by the time we got to the Butterfly Garden. Time for a sit down at the benches. I spotted a Great-Crested Flycatchers darting around the back of the lawn so I tried to outflank it for a photo. Success!



Over at the Clay Pit we checked for any migrants in the mulberries. Nope. We instead watched a Great Blue Heron swoop in and do a short bit of hunting before it nabbed a snake.



Upon closer inspection it appeared to be a Banded Water Snake. Yum!



One the way back to the car I stopped by the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest. I didn't look too closely first thing in the morning but now we could clearly see 2 little fuzzy heads bopping around up there.



Finally, I got to see one of the juvenile Barred Owls before I headed home.



Some interesting birds for the day and some warblers even I was wanting to see. Now we settle in for the hot months and dream of Fall migration.

Where is That Baby?

Well, since I saw a tiny bobbing head a while ago I have not seen that Bald Eagle chick again when I swing through the cemetery. Today I found the parents just sitting in the branches. Shouldn't they be out gathering food for their little one?



Hmmmm...

What Happened to Spring?

We had a pretty wet Fall and Winter but were ready for Spring. It was cool for a short while but suddenly it has become warmer than normal. Along with it comes the building cumulous clouds and thunderstorms. I caught this view on the way home.



THe clouds were building in our direction but the big storm was far out East. Might have some lightning to photograph soon enough.

Windsong Peacock

When I come home from work I always take a quick swing through the Winter Park neighborhoods to check retention ponds for bird. However, the draw for most folks are the Peacock flocks that were introduced into the area decades ago. Tonight, one of the big males was perched on a wall near one of the ponds.



A gorgeous bird but I don't know if I could live with their raucous calls all of the time.