Wood Storks

Wood Storks are seen here in The Villages, FL every now and then.  They fly together in small flocks and stay for several days.  These larger wading birds eat grains, small fish, frogs, small tender turtles, small alligators, and aquatic snails.

We have had minor flooding here and I spotted a pair of these Wood Storks strolling down flooded Kim Street at Boone Park on Lake Paradise earlier this evening.  The storks were accompanied by a Great Egret, a Little Blue Heron and several Mottled Ducks.  The other stork was spotted in the parking lot at the flooded Lake Mira-mar in The Villages.  I had to take several of the pictures from quite a distance because of the flooded Boone Park and Kim Street areas (the other bird, which was at Lake Mira-mar, was quite close to our golf cart).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

Anhinga on flooded Lake Mira-mar

I took these pictures on Sunday evening at twilight here in The Villages, FL.  The pictures were taken at Lake Mira-mar and at near Boone Park on Lake Paradise.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

White Ibis on Lake Mira-mar at Veteran’s Park area

Mottled Ducks at Boone Park, Flooded Kim Street

Great Egret on Lake Paradise from near Boone Park

Ibises at Flooded Lakes

These White Ibises were perching in low oak trees at the side of flooded Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL and walking around in the lake-side parking area at that same little lake.

I also saw several White Ibis walking on the grass between parts of the  flooded Boone Park on Lake Paradise also in The Villages, FL that are separated by a now flooded street.  Both lakes are still full but yes, the water is down a little.  It sure is weird seeing waterfowl and wading birds paddling and walking along through the flood water on a neighborhood street!  Those areas are pretty much off-limits so I was careful to stay where it was safe and easy to walk around.

I think the bird population is probably half what it was before Hurricane Irma here.  Just an un-scientific guess on my part. I think most fled and flew elsewhere.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Bald Eagles

This pair of Southern Bald Eagles was spotted on Enrique Drive in The Villages, FL on Tues. night at twilight.  We had been out after arriving home from our hurricane evacuation.  This pair of eagles was perched on the electric tower and was probably spotting all sorts of prey in the flooded golf course pond area at the El Santiago Golf Course.  The weather had been fairly cool so perching on the tower was not unpleasantly hot as it sometimes is for these eagles.  Good to see the birds in good condition after the hurricane!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

We did Fine!

Try-colored Heron at Boone Park Flooded Lake Paradise on Street

We just got our Internet back on so I am able to post here.  We had evacuated from our home here for the duration of the storm and returned to absolutely no damage to our house (Hooray!).  We were fortunate.  Our community did fine and there is not a lot of damage here unlike the South of Florida and Jacksonville to the Northeast.

We had minor flooding in a couple parts of our neighborhoods along some of the little lakes and ponds but I don’t think many (if any) houses got lake water inside.  The Paradise Park archery range is flooded and I may not be doing any archery practice for more than a few days.  It can wait.

I am grateful beyond measure for all the wonderful electric line workers who have come from all over to help Florida get power back on!  Also grateful to those disaster workers who are helping in hard hit areas here in the state!

Last night and this morning I went out safely and took some pictures of birds and the little lakes.  Here are a few of those photographs.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Great Egrets on Flooded Lake Mira-mar

Flooded Lake Mira-mar

White Ibis at Lake Mira-mar

 

Tri-colored Heron at Flooded Boone Park on Lake Paradise

Flooding at Boone Park on Lake Paradise

White Ibis at Flooded Lake Mira-mar

The Calm Before That Storm!

A Squadron of Mottled Ducks sails on the Freedom Pointe Lake

Egrets, Egyptian Geese, Canada Geese, Herons and Mottled Ducks were all spotted here in The Villages, FL on the lake at Freedom Pointe and on the street parkway on Buena Vista Blvd. last week.  I so enjoy getting out an about to spot and watch the birds here.  We often see these exotic birds!  It is amazing.

I have been working on hurricane preparations as we expect to see some type of tropical storm force or hurricane force winds here on Sunday and Monday.  We don’t have a firm track for the hurricane so I cannot say how bad it should be but I think we will be better off here inland as we are 60 miles from both coastlines.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Please understand if I don’t post on Monday – perhaps we will have power but likely not.  Thanks.

A Great Egret Hunts in the Shrubbery on Buena Vista Blvd.

White Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Canada Goose and Great Blue Heron

A Great Egret Roosts at Freedom Pointe

Hot Weather Bird Watching

 

Sandhill Crane

Birds cool off by opening their beaks or bills to breathe cooler air into their system.  So on a hot day or evening if you see a bird panting, they are just trying to keep cool.  They also will often try to sit or perch in a shady spot or wade in a stream, pond or lake.  I took these photos last night at dusk here in The Villages, Florida. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Mottled Ducks, White Ibis, Trio-colored Heron

 

Sandhill Crane

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret