(Header image: American White Pelicans)
Sunrise will happen in about 45 minutes. I’m on the way to a spot where there have been reports of a couple of uncommon winter migratory waterfowl. As darkness gives way to the early morning light, I approach the target area and search for a place to park. I have calculated where the sun will rise in order to have it behind me as I hope for a decent photograph of the visiting ducks. There! The perfect spot to park, at the – public library??
Our hometown, Lakeland, Florida, has a population of a little over 100,000 and is situated almost half-way between Tampa and Orlando. Similar to many cities, at some point planners were convinced to “enhance” urban lakes with exotic waterfowl. In the early 20th century, the tale is told of swans which took up residence at Lake Morton near the center of downtown. They were promptly eaten by alligators. Some enterprising citizen wrote to Queen Elizabeth (no, really) who authorized the donation of a pair of royal swans in the 1950’s. With proper management, swans have proliferated here ever since.
With a vibrant population of swans, exotic geese, the ubiquitous mallard, a steady source of food (albeit not necessarily healthy food, tossed by a well-meaning public) and protection from predators (the city learned its lesson and keeps the urban lakes ‘gator free) – many migratory species now visit these watery oases during the winter months. Occasionally, a few less-common birds show up and cause a ruckus among local birders. (Hey, that would be me!)
It was too easy. The two ducks I went searching for were waiting as I got out of the car. Just as the sun’s rays streaked over the library, a small female Bufflehead swam from the lily pads near the shore toward open water. A few steps to the north and there was the Northern Shoveler, feeding and paddling and totally ignoring me. Mission accomplished. Time for coffee. Well, maybe a few shots of the locals. Since I’m already here.
“We can forget all our troubles, forget all our cares … So go downtown …” (Downtown, written by Tony Hatch, recorded in 1964 by Petula Clark.)
Each winter, we usually see a couple of Bufflehead at the downtown lakes. Usually it’s females, like this pretty one.
A Northern Shoveler or two also pay us a visit. Soon, this male will be sporting his breeding plumage with all-green head, white chest and rusty brown sides.
Other migrants, very common and numerous during the winter, Ring-necked ducks can be found on many of our smaller lakes and ponds.
Similar in size and appearance to the Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup show up in small groups on city lakes but can occur in flocks of several hundred on our larger bodies of water. If you visit the coast you may encounter thousands in a single area!
A smaller wintering duck, this male Ruddy Duck will soon have a fairly bright blue bill and chestnut sides as it heads north to its breeding grounds in the north-central United States and Canada.
Not lacking in the bright color department, Wood Ducks are residents here and have already begun courtship and mating as they get a head start on spring.
Within the city’s parks and lakes, Mallards abound. In all sorts of configurations. All white to all black and everything in between. I managed to find a “normal-looking” male flying by. This bird is in “eclipse” plumage and is a bit scruffy looking as it molts into full breeding color.
But wait – there’s more! We not only have ducks, but many other water-loving fowl as well. Such as the Tricolored Heron. Beautiful, as the morning sun highlighted the subtle colors on its back. Impressive, as it sprang into action chasing breakfast!
The pure white of the Snowy Egret is interrupted by those golden eyes concentrating on a fish under a lily pad. The equally golden feet suddenly seemed to be walking on water as said fish was swallowed faster than the camera could click.
Several dozen American White Pelicans normally roost at Lake Morton (I counted 42 this morning). They spend a little time preening (like in the header image) and take off in small groups, circling high over the town center and head for nearby feeding areas before returning at dark. One was curious about me.
Brown Pelicans are found locally in our area also but in smaller groups than the American White Pelicans. They are just as curious as their cousins.
Overhead, a Wood Stork lumbered toward shore where a couple of his friends were waiting. Looked like a morning meeting of the chamber of commerce.
Always stately in appearance, a Great Blue Heron passed nearby.
Lake Morton is currently host to about 80 Mute Swans. Too many for this size lake. Every couple of years, some birds are sold to maintain a more balanced population. Is this one a descendant of royalty?
Could be …
Ahhh, a bird to which I can relate! Despite the hustle and bustle of a city awakening to a new day, the Limpkin is unperturbed. “Wake me when the coffee is ready.” I hear ya!
At times, in our rush to reach the “wilderness”, we forget to look in the other direction. Admittedly, a sunrise within the “concrete canyon” of an urban center may not have the same impact as dawn in the forest, swamp or shore, but a short drive might reveal unexpected rewards once we arrive – Downtown.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
(Header image: Red-winged Blackbird)
The sun is hiding just below the tree line. It will make its grand entrance in about ten minutes. A cloudless blue sky is beginning to have that pre-dawn glow. It’s going to be a gorgeous day!
Glad I wore the boots. There is more dew on the grass than I expected and my regular walking shoes would be soaked by now. So would my feet. It’s just cool enough this morning that cold and wet feet would be uncomfortable.
Early morning commuters are already jamming the skyway. Sandhill Cranes with their loud trumpeting head across the marsh. A trio of male Wood Ducks add a splash of color to the scene. Ancient-looking Wood Storks lumber along and settle in on the bank of an open water area. An Osprey circles above as she tries to decide which menu item to select from her favorite dive-in spot.
Itchepackesassa Creek Wetlands is a man-made impoundment designed to help control periodic flooding. It has only been partially successful. The geology of this area is simply prone to flooding. The creek flows northwest from a lake about five miles away, travels about 12 miles and joins with the Hillsborough River. A study of about 50 square miles here by the Army Corps of Engineers several years ago determined there was essentially nothing to be done to alter the landscape which could halt seasonal flooding. They recommended homeowners raise their existing foundations by at least five feet. The current effort here at the wetlands helps a bit, but once a tropical storm dumps a foot of water over the area, flooding is common.
In the meantime, here I am, walking around a raised berm, enjoying the view of trees, reeds, marsh, open water and birds galore. Selfish thoughts.
We are very fortunate to have several areas near centers of heavy population such as these mitigation sites, parks and wildlife corridors. They provide important oases for wildlife which otherwise would not survive in an urban environment. More selfish thoughts. They provide important oases for me, too! And you.
This morning, Gini remained home as she is knee-deep in creating gifts for our niece’s upcoming baby shower. I promised to not stay long and to prepare brunch upon returning. That first promise, as she knows, will likely be broken.
According to my eBird tracker, this morning’s walk was 2.25 miles (3.6 km). Plenty of bright blue sky and sunshine. That sun plus a bit of walking ensured I didn’t suffer from the cool temperature. My notes show a total of 46 bird species observed. And a River Otter. I found five Marsh Wrens and a Sedge Wren during the morning but could not manage a single photograph of any of them! They will be here another few weeks before migrating north so perhaps I’ll have another chance.
It was a very comfortable and satisfying morning at my very own oasis.
Bald Eagles look majestic even when they are perched on an extremely ugly utility pole.
About six feet away from the above eagle, a Boat-tailed Grackle yelled at the eagle. Maybe not “majestic”, but still a good-looking bird.
One of our winter visitors, the Swamp Sparrow, has rich brown plumage which helps her blend in nicely with the surrounding dead reeds.
The little tree may not be so attractive, but a Great Egret certainly helps improve its overall appearance.
Another tree-topper, the Little Blue Heron uses the increased altitude to scan for potential breakfast items. All-white plumage indicates this is a juvenile bird and this summer it will begin to show patches of blue and by next spring it will have attained the all blue color of an adult.
We are seeing Tree Swallows frequently these past few weeks and they will soon gather in very large flocks in preparation for spring migration. I don’t often see them perched!
A pair of Sandhill Cranes cross the marsh. Florida has a resident sub-species (Grus Canadensis Pratensis) of the Greater Sandhill Crane which is non-migratory. Each year the state hosts over 30,000 migratory cranes and it’s common to spot groups of several dozen to several hundred of these huge birds in open fields.
“Small birds, big attitudes” is how we usually describe wrens. The Common Yellowthroat also fits that description. This masked male wanted to know what I was doing on his front porch!
Common bird. Uncommonly handsome. The Red-winged Blackbird is one of our most common birds and it is all too easy to take them for granted. The male’s simple black plumage punctuated by the brilliant red and yellow-orange wing patches make this one of the most attractive birds in nature. In my unbiased opinion.
It was another fantastic morning spent wandering around another spectacular oasis! Wish you had been there. Perhaps there is something similar in your neighborhood?
Slices of pear and Florida navel orange, gouda cheese and whole-grain toast topped with fresh avocado. Cup of hot Earl Grey tea. (I knew you would ask what I prepared for Gini when I got home.)
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
“She went down!”
Three minutes passed. It seemed an eternity. Then, Gini let me know, “Here she comes, right at you!” Was three minutes enough to eat a mouse or lizard or frog?
We had come to this lake in the hope of spotting a wintering Horned Grebe. It was about a half-hour before sunset. A rough count showed about 1200 Lesser Scaup had settled onto the lake’s surface for the night. A few dozen Ruddy Ducks were mixed in with the larger Scaup. There! Just passed that group of ducks. A lone Horned Grebe. Mission accomplished!
The golden rays of the waning sun washed in from our right. As we scanned the lake for more Horned Grebes, a Bald Eagle passed in front of us. Apparently not in hunting mode, the big raptor flew straight and fast. Assorted herons, egrets, anhingas, cormorants and gallinules all were gathering in the shallow water near shore and it would soon be dark.
Materializing from the glare of the sun’s last gasp of brightness for the day, flying low along the shore with that lilting, buoyant almost lazy flight – a Northern Harrier appeared. My first impression felt that it was a young female, but with an unstreaked belly and cinnamon wash, it could as easily have been an immature male at this time of year. We shall call her “she”.
Formerly known as a Marsh Hawk (Circus hudsonius), we are fortunate to see these magnificent birds during migration. In a few weeks, they will head back to their breeding territory in the far northern United States and Canada. While they are here, we will watch as long as they allow.
An owl-like head turns left, right and then concentrates directly below her. She initially followed the shoreline, reversed course after a few hundred yards and returned along the same flight path but somewhat inland. The pattern was repeated over the next 30 minutes, each time bringing her farther inland and nearer our position. We could not have wished for better entertainment.
We think when she disappeared into the weeds near the end of her first pass that she scored a meal. She was on the ground about three minutes and as she became airborne she cleaned her talons with her beak as she flew. The aerodynamic display was fascinating! A sudden 90 degree flip of a wing and a quick dive, the constant movement of her head like a radar dish in search mode, the effortless cruising through the tops of the weeds – and then – she was gone.
Gini and I soaked up a few more minutes of the day’s afterglow. A couple of satisfied sighs. A memorable sunset with a beautiful bird.
Yeah. There are pictures. Wish you had been there.
(Photographs were made with a Nikon D750 and Tamron SP AF 150-600mm lens. Most images were at 600mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 and due to the fading light ISO 1000-3200.)
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit.
(Header Image: Roseate Spoonbill)
A brand new year is in full swing and we are celebrating the fact that we are still able to enjoy exploring nature and will be seeking new adventures to share.
As we glanced around the blog workshop the other day, we noticed several images awaiting insertion in a post. Events of the past several months seemed to derail my plans to adhere to some sort of blogging schedule. Okay, let’s face it. I’m not really a “schedule” kind of person. So don’t think there will be any improvement in that regard for the future.
We are so fortunate to have many wonderful natural locales within a relatively short distance from the house. This is great for “spur of the moment” excursions which require little planning and won’t consume too much time.
The days of December typically roll downhill quickly for us. Beginning as a small snowball of sending out cards and scheduling a holiday meal with family, gathering speed and size with shopping, organizing events, decorating, baking, crafting, birding – until the final days of the month become an avalanche of activity ultimately crashing at the foot of the mountain which was – Last Year.
Sweeping up the detritus of December, some items went right into the dustbin. Others were placed on the shelf to, perhaps, be used at a later date. A few images in the library which were not published are included in this post. (“Sweeping Up” may be a quaint usage in modern times, but somehow “Vacuums Suck” didn’t have quite the literary nuance I was seeking.)
Among today’s pictures, which were all taken during December, are birds in and around a couple of local lakes, a unique moth and a rural scene which reminds us:
“Whan the sunne shinth make hay. Whiche is to say.
Take time whan time cometh, lest time steale away.”
John Heywood – A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue, 1546.
The Snail Kite is on lists for “endangered species” or “species of concern” at both federal and state levels as their very special dietary needs (almost exclusively apple snails) have been negatively impacted over the past several decades by habitat loss. The inadvertent introduction of a couple of non-native apple snail species in the past several years has resulted in a comeback and even some range expansion for this very special raptor. I was fortunate to watch a female Snail Kite as she hunted along the shore of a local lake. In the last image, she looks up to see a Short-tailed Hawk soaring high above her. No threat to her, but good to know who is in the area!
The Short-tailed Hawk has a light and dark version. This light morph was very high over the lake shore where the Snail Kite above was hunting. A compact hawk about the size of a crow, it feeds almost exclusively on small songbirds. Floating higher than where vultures typically soar, the Short-tailed hawk scans the edges of forests and cypress domes and when a small bird (or flock) is spotted will stoop like a falcon to snatch its meal. A tropical raptor, it is endemic to central and south Florida within the United States.
A common winter visitor, the Eastern Phoebe is a small flycatcher which exhibits a trait all birds should emulate. She very politely repeats her name – “Fee-Bee” – thus obviating the need to check field guides and phone apps to confirm her identification.
By far the most common woodpecker within our area is the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Recent bird census data indicates this species has adapted to human occupation very effectively.
The warbler who thinks it is a nuthatch. The simple but beautiful plumage of the Black-and-White Warbler is enough for helping identify this little bird, but its habit of scurrying down a tree trunk head first is definitely unique for a warbler!
Slate blue body, subtle maroon-colored head and neck and a two-toned bill – the adult Little Blue Heron is a study in patience as it hunts in the shallows. A juvenile Little Blue Heron has a two-toned bill but is white overall until it begins molting into adult plumage near the end of its first year. Immature birds become a patchwork of white and dark blue splotches.
North America’s smallest woodpecker, the Downy, uses its needle-like bill to probe likely hiding spots for bugs. A red patch on its head identifies this as a male.
A shadow passes overhead. With so many lakes, we have a healthy resident population of Bald Eagles which is supplemented significantly during migration. Territorial fights between northern visitors and the locals are fierce and commonplace. (Yes, I’m still talking about eagles.)
Florida does have a few Pied-billed Grebes which breed within the state. During the winter, the little “fuzzy-butts” (as Gini calls them) can be quite numerous on some lakes.
Wood Storks hold their bills in the water as they move and when they feel something they snap the bill shut and swallow their prey whole. They also use their feet to stir up the mud along the bottom to scare prey into moving.
Another shadow passes across the sun. The Turkey Vulture is as magnificent as the eagle when it comes to aerodynamics. I happen to think it has quite a handsome visage, but apparently my opinion is in the minority.
The hunting style of a Tricolored Heron is a bit different than most of its relatives. It usually walks quickly, runs, turns abruptly – it’s like watching some demented ballerina. They will also use their wings held high to create shade which entices small fish and – gulp!
Driving from one spot to another, Gini spotted a bagworm on a strand of fence. I believe this is Abbot’s Bagworm (Oiketicus abbotii), due to the structure of the “bag”. The female moth never leaves the case, or “bag”, and the male leaves just long enough to mate, typically less than a couple of days. Unique insects!
The Common Gallinule certainly lives up to its name in our area! They inhabit virtually all bodies of water, sometimes in incredible numbers. Thanks to Florida’s agreeable climate, these members of the rail family breed nearly year ’round.
Not as common or widespread as the Common Gallinule, the colorful Purple Gallinule seems to walk on water as its big feet help propel it across lily pads and weeds.
Some Brown Pelicans breed around interior lakes and we normally have a few locally all year long. It can be startling to have one of these large divers fall out of the sky and splash right in front of you!
Similar to the normally coastal pelicans, we have a few terns which stay with us all year. A large yellowish bill, black behind the eye and head and a clean white forehead help identify the large Royal Tern.
The back roads between lakes take us through fields and pastures and is a very relaxing experience. We leave you with a few bales of hay, cypress trees draped in Spanish moss and a splash of color from a Red Maple. As the old year has departed and we sweep up its remnants to engage the future, apply the wisdom of Mr. John Heywood of the 16th century (here is the modernized version):
“Make hay while the sun shines!”
Thank you all for traveling with us!
There will always be good times and bad. There will always be hope and despair. What we choose to remember, what we choose to grasp – shall make all the difference.
As for me and My Love, we choose to live our best life, today.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
(Header Image: Sandhill Cranes)
One of the interesting things about the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is that observers are assigned to a specific geographic area within which to conduct a census. In our area, we have urban, suburban and rural spots which include lakes, parks, wetlands, forests and pasture land to explore. This diversity of habitat provides great potential for seeing a good mix of species as well as large numbers of individual birds.
We were familiar with most of the areas which we were assigned to cover and had a chance to scout around a few days before the actual count days. “Count Day”. That is the day when you are reminded that birds have wings and nature has no calendar. The field that was filled with migratory Sandhill Cranes yesterday is empty today. Sigh.
Fortunately, we managed to find plenty of birds of sufficient diversity to be very pleased with ourselves. Besides, birding from before sunrise to after sunset is a great way to spend any day!
Having Gini as my birding partner is a plus in so many ways. For starters, she can hear the birds. I have a hearing loss which seems to filter out many bird sounds. Secondly, she has a wonderful ability to spot something “different” which has often resulted in discovery of a new or unusual bird. She brings good things to snack on. The only downside is she is so good-looking that I am constantly distracted from the primary mission. I’ll try to do better.
We saw many beautiful birds during this year’s census. One of the most colorful has to be the Painted Bunting. Gini saw something “different” (see what I mean?) near a boat ramp but it disappeared. She said it had a thickish beak and seemed to be green. Just then, a flash of bright color landed a few yards in front of us. A male Painted Bunting! She had likely seen the female. We saw an additional male and this was a first occurrence for the species in that particular area. A highlight for us!
Here are a few more images to give you an idea of the variety we found. Did I mention we had fun?
Gini doesn’t think the Painted Bunting was “painted”, but rather he just rolled around in the artist’s palette so he could include every color. She may be right.
A male Common Yellowthroat with his black mask is one of those small birds with a huge attitude. Quick to challenge any potential intruder, he usually jumps from his hiding place to see who is trespassing in his territory.
Large size is sometimes enough to identify the Red-tailed Hawk. The only raptor in our area which is bigger is the Bald Eagle. The colorful tail certainly helps determine which hawk you’re seeing when it’s visible. Be aware that the tail of young Red-tailed Hawks is brown for their first year.
Small yellow balls of feathers flitting among the branches normally indicates a warbler. But which one? In this case, a distinctive face pattern (gray semi-circle under the eye), a dark eye line, gray streaks along the flanks and extensive yellow underneath tells us we’re looking at a female Prairie Warbler. The male has the same patterns but has darker black where the female is gray.
“Vireo!” Gini’s hearing had us scanning the trees and, sure enough, a vireo. A Blue-headed Vireo with a thick bill, blue-gray head, white “spectacles”, clean white breast and belly with yellow flanks. Another bird I would likely have missed if she had not been with me.
Our smallest woodpecker is the Downy Woodpecker. With only black and white showing on its head and no red, this is a female.
By far the most common hawk in Florida is the Red-shouldered Hawk. There can be quite a bit of difference in plumage color throughout the state with birds in the southern portion of the peninsula appearing lighter.
The smallest falcon in North America is the American Kestrel. They often perch on outbuildings such as this one next to a pasture where insects are abundant. The female, seen here, is not as colorful and a bit larger than the male.
Clear, melodic tones coming from the middle of a cow pasture can be traced to an Eastern Meadowlark. In addition to a pleasing song, the large bright yellow bird is very handsome. Despite its name, the meadowlark is not in the lark family but is actually a blackbird!
Touring a pasture on an all-terrain-vehicle (thank you, Steve and Debby!), a few low places where water and mud were present produced a trio of Least Sandpipers. We weren’t expecting shorebirds among the cattle!
In the pasture mentioned above, we continually flushed sparrows but couldn’t get a good look at them as they would fly a short distance, land in a clump of grass and then run several yards. Finally managed to get one to hold still for a millisecond. Lots of crisp breast streaks, distinct face pattern and a bit of yellow in front of the eye (hard to see here) – Savannah Sparrow.
The Butcher Bird is watching! A Loggerhead Shrike has the unique habit of catching an insect and impaling it on a thorn, branch or barbed wire to make it easier to eat.
One of the most numerous warbler species to spend all winter here is the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Many birders call it a “butter-butt”. Whatever you call them, they are beautiful.
My mother was always happy to discover a “redbird” was nesting in the yard. The male Northern Cardinal is, truly, a great-looking “redbird”.
Florida normally has a great collection of woodpecker species which remain here all year. One species we don’t have at least visits each winter. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has an overall dark appearance and this female has a light-colored throat. Males have red throats.
This year’s Christmas Bird Count is finished. We saw a lot of birds, covered a lot of territory, spent a couple of long days in the field and had a blast! If you are in an area which participates in the annual census, consider volunteering through the local Audubon chapter. You’ll be glad you did.
Enjoy your search for a natural place and come back for a visit!
