Red-Shouldered Hawk at Lake Mira-Mar in The Villages, FL

I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk perched in the boughs of a lovely Cypress Tree on the banks of the little Lake Mira-Mar in The Villages, FL near the Spanish Springs square.  This lake is next to The Sharon auditorium as well as a recreation center and the Veteran’s Memorial park.  The lake is used for model boat sailing and racing, kayaking, a limited amount of catch and bird watching, The lake attracts White Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Anhinga, ducks by the dozens, and occasionally Wood Storks, Tri-colored Herons, Great Egrets, and Snowy Egrets.

The hawk was attracted by the presence of ducklings.  I think there were four little Florida Mottled Ducks,  following their mother.  Hawks love ducklings for dinner.  I doubt this hawk got lucky as Mother Duck spotted the bird of prey and moved the babies elsewhere.  I took these pictures on Sunday evening at dinner time.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Exotic Egyptian Geese

Egyptian Geese are apparently making a home for themselves here in the United States.  I have occasionally spotted pairs or small groups of these African immigrant geese during the last couple of years.

I also recently saw a photo from Texas where a pair of Egyptian Geese were strolling around a golf course.  I think that may have been the idea of bringing these geese here from Africa.  The Egyptian Geese are lovely and seem to have an OK temperament.  I took these pictures on Lake Paradise on May 9, 2017. I also earlier spotted Egyptian Geese at the lake behind Freedom Pointe in The Villages, where there were a family of these geese, but that was about two months back.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.

More Scenes from Paradise

 

Lake Paradise in The Villages, Florida has an amazing number of birds visiting these days.  Of course with the water level so low, there has been very easy access to fish, frogs, tadpoles, turtles, aquatic insects, and aquatic plants.  The supermarket for birds has been open for fine dining and the birds have been loving it.  No rain other than our big storm on Saturday.  That helped a tiny bit. I was glad for the moisture.

I took these pictures on Sunday early in the evening.  I spotted the flock of White Pelicans, a Great Blue Heron, a pair of Egyptian Geese, a few Double Crested Cormorants, lots of Canada Geese, a flock of White Ibis, several small shorebirds, crows, and the usual Mallard and Mottled Ducks.  I never know what birds will be there so it is a lot of fun to check on the visitors.  I think they also somehow check on us, too!  Ha!

Please click on the thumbnail image to see a slightly larger version of that picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

Scenes from Paradise Lake

Lesser Yellowlegs

White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons

Wood Storks

 

 

 

 

White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, a Great Blue Heron, Canada and Egyptian Geese, ducks a plenty and egrets were all spotted at Paradise Lake in Paradise Park, The Villages, Florida on Tuesday (5/9/17) evening at dusk.  No rain in sight and the lake continues to shrink.  As a blog friend mentioned in comments on a recent post here, the birds seem to be benefitting short-term from the low water levels.

Additionally, I took several pictures at the lake this morning (5/12/17) and saw Wood Storks, White Pelicans, shorebirds of some type (Plovers?), and a huge gathering of egrets and herons.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the very slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!  P.S.  Happy Mother’s Day on Sunday!

Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, White Ibis

Sandhill Crane and Great Blue Heron in the Background

Shorebirds (Plovers?)

 

 

Egyptian Geese

Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks

Canada Goose

Squirrels, Ducks, and Views of Paradise Lake

Grey Squirrels, Mallard Ducks, and hybrid Mallard/Florida Mottled Ducks were spotted on the little Lake Paradise in The Villages, Florida on Monday night at twilight.  I am including views of the lake on the Swartz Park end which is almost totally dry to the North and rapidly shrinking again to the South.  By the way, that shot that looks like a huge grassy prairie, is really the dry lake bed.  Yikes!

We are still in a drought situation here.  I enjoy this regional park which is reserved for residents and guests here in The Villages, Florida.  There is always wildlife around us here.  I have a great time bird and critter-watching.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Almost Wordless Waterfowl Wednesday

Whistlers

Here are some photographs I took of ducks including the ever-so-cute, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (flock in flight) at Paradise Park in The Villages, Florida, on Monday evening at dusk.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Mallard and Mottled Hybrid Ducks

Whistlers

Muscovy Duck

 

 

 

 

Whistlers on Wednesday

I spotted these Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, commonly called “Whistlers” on Sunday night at twilight at Lake Mira-mar in The Villages at Spanish Springs.  The charming ducks whistle instead of quacking.  This whistle is pretty high-pitched and distinctive.  They are aloof but generally very sweet ducks.  Beautiful with bright pink bills, legs and feet.  The birds get the pink bill and feet when they become adults.  They eat grains, seeds, and insects.  They are a welcomed duck here in our area!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!