White Pelicans are Winter visitors here in The Villages, FL. In the Northern sections of the community, White Pelicans are mostly spotted at Freedom Pointe on El Camino Blvd. and at the lovely Nancy Lopez Legacy Golf Course on the driving range pond. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photograph. Enjoy!
Cattle Egrets and a Juvenile White Ibis
Great Egrets, and Roseate Spoonbill
White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorants, Wood Stork, Ring Billed Gulls
Wading birds are often here in big flocks at times during the Winter months. Some flocks stay over the season but others are here a day to rest and eat and then off they go.
We have big flocks of Cattle Egrets; Glossy Ibis; Double-crested Cormorants; Ring-billed Gulls; White Ibis; Snowy and Great Egrets; and American White Pelicans. Sometimes we will have groups of Wood Storks and Sandhill Cranes but generally, these big birds are in small flocks of six to eight. Most of the Wood Storks branch out to separate ponds where only one to four are present. The Sandhill Cranes are most often seen in large grassy areas such as on the edges of golf courses.
It is so much fun to get out and do some bird watching! By the way, the big flock of White Pelicans has returned to the Freedom Pointe Lake here in The Villages. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.
American White Pelicans
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants
Sandhill Cranes
Double-crested Cormorants
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
A flock of White Pelicans was spotted tonight at sunset at Freedom Pointe Lake in The Villages, Florida. This group of birds is about half of the number seen in this area a few weeks ago. Many of these migratory birds have already left for the Spring and Summer.
This spot on the lake is the favorite place for the White Pelicans and their friends, the Double-crested Cormorants to spend the evening to sleep (the cormorants head to the nearby Oak Trees to roost). Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
A flock of White Pelicans
Northern Mockingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, and a fly-by of a flock of American White Pelicans were all spotted early this evening (March 16, 2018) here on my street in The Villages, FL.
The Northern Mockingbirds are residents of the neighborhood, while the Cedar Waxwings and White Pelicans are Winter visitors. The pelicans were headed North in a definite flock pattern. The Cedar Waxwings likely are on the way North but have stopped here to feed on berries. Many of the Holly Bushes and small Holly Trees are full of berries and there are also a lot of other small fruits in season here such as Loquats.
The Waxwings love various kinds of berries and sometimes get tipsy on fermented fruits and berries. I love the Winter visit here by the beautiful waxwings. The former Juniper across the street that was a favorite place to perch for the waxwings got cut down a few months ago so the birds are in a few trees here including the big Live Oak in my backyard. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Northern Mockingbird
White Pelicans
Cedar Waxwing
White Pelicans at Freedom Pointe Lake
These American White Pelicans were spotted at Freedom Pointe Lake and the Torri Pines Golf Pond here in The Villages Florida a week ago. There are pelicans at several spots here this month. The White Pelicans love our warm winter weather and have come from the Mid-western U.S.A. to spend a few months each year.
Pelicans eat fish primarily but also will enjoy baby alligators, frogs, and smaller soft shell turtles. They fish by working cooperatively to encircle fish and then scoop them into their bill pouch. At times, the Double-crested Cormorants also work well with the pelicans to get their fish dinners. Most of the little lakes and ponds have plenty of food for the flocks of these big birds! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of each photo. Enjoy!
American White Pelicans at Torri Pines Golf Course Pond
American White Pelican in Flight at Freedom Pointe Lake
Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, Snowy Egret, ducks
Five Great Blue Herons, White Pelicans, Great Egrets, Snowy Egret, ducks, Cormorants
White Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants
Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, American White Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Canada Geese, what looks like a rarely seen Snow Goose, White Ibises, Bufflehead Ducks, Mallard Ducks, an Osprey, Seagulls, and a few Lesser Scaup Ducks were all spotted yesterday afternoon at a wonderful little private park lake, Lake Paradise, at Paradise Park in The Villages, Florida.
Seeing all the numerous birds is very pleasant and is similar to what I used to see at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Florida. Mostly the crowd of birds are migratory Winter visitors. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Hen Bufflehead Duck
Probably what is a Snow Goose???
Osprey (Sea Eagle or Sea Hawk)
Mallard Ducks
Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret
Drake (male) Bufflehead Duck
