Mobs of Birds!

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

Wordless Wednesday: White Pelicans in The Villages, FL

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

White Pelicans Bedding Down

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!

 

Some Songbirds and White Pelicans

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

Migratory American White Pelicans

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

Another Waterbird Extravaganza!

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

White Pelicans in Yellowstone National Park

These American White Pelicans were spotted in the area of Fishing Bridge near Lake Yellowstone on the Yellowstone River.  I was quite happy to see the pelicans as I had previously seen White Pelicans both in Tennessee on Lake St. George in Fairfield Glade (a rare sighting) and in Florida on both coasts.  These pelicans Winter in the warmer areas such as Florida and many spots along the Gulf of Mexico.

Apparently, White Pelicans are pretty commonly seen on large rivers and lakes in the Midwestern states in the Summer months.  These large birds mostly eat fish.  This area of Yellowstone is very lovely and much less crowded than the areas near Old Faithful (about 35 miles away).  I took these pictures on June 15, 2014.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!