White Pelicans Flocking Up

I spotted this large gathering of American White Pelicans at the Freedom Pointe Lake here in The Villages, Florida. There also were a few cormorants mixed-in with the pelicans.  The pelicans will soon be making their way back up North.

Like many others, I am now staying at home as much as possible these days.  I am sharing mostly older photos that have not appeared here before.  I hope all of you readers and I, can stay as healthy as possible!   Please click not the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

A Cormorant with a Catch

These two Double-crested Cormorants were diving in a local pond for fish.  One was successful and the other was out of luck.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Male Red-winged Blackbirds

Male Red-winged Blackbirds are very attractive songbirds!   They are black in color with a bright yellow and orange-red patch on the shoulder area of each wing.  The hens are a brown color without the colorful patch of yellow and red.

Red-winged blackbirds are mainly seen around bodies of fresh water.  They seem to thrive around marshes and enjoy eating the seeds of aquatic plants as well as many insects.  The males have a buzzy loud song that is memorable.  I always enjoy spotting these rather pretty songbirds!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

 

 

Wood Storks (Up Close)

Wood Storks have been spotted here in The Villages at Glenwood Country Club pond, at Freedom Pointe Lake, and at Lake Mira-mar.  The two I saw at Lake Mira-mar were quite curious and came up close to me when I shot the photo from the golf cart (hence the close-ups).  I think tourists are still feeding the White Ibis and Wood Storks at Lake Mira-mar which is at Spanish Springs which is why the storks have lost fear of people and beg.  Sad.  Yes there is a sign telling people not to feed the birds but some still do so.  I do not.

The other lakes I mention, had Wood Storks that decidedly were not going to be near people at all.  Very wild and good.  Wood Storks stop by in the late Winter and again in about July.  Occasionally the Wood Storks are here at other times but not as many individual birds.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

 

Cedar Waxwings Swarm a Holly Oak

 

Cedar Waxwings are a lovely songbird that love to eat berries.  Our neighbors have three Holly Oak trees that are full of bright red and tasty for birds, berries.  A few days ago, I noticed a large flock of birds circling around the neighborhood alighting on tall trees and then moving on to another area of trees.

Since I believed that these birds were Cedar Waxwings from their appearance and behavior, I watched from a distance while the birds swarmed the Holly Oaks taking berries with abandon!  Quite the sight.  I had to stay pretty far away because whenever the birds spotted me, off they would fly.

I think my neighborhood is on the normal migration route for these birds on their trip back up North.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

 

 

Double-crested Cormorants in The Villages, FL

Double-crested Cormorants are water birds that are often found in the company of White Pelicans here in The Villages, Florida during the Winter months.  These dark brown and grey birds have an orange bill that has a slight hook at the tip, blue eyes, and orange-brown legs and feet.  Their feet are webbed like a duck.  After diving for food, they need to spread their wings out while perched to allow their feathers to dry out so they may fly.

Double-crested Cormorants mostly eat fish and are found here in lakes and ponds as well as marshes and along the sea coast.  They are great fliers and roost in tall trees.  Here in The Villages I often see many of these birds at Freedom Pointe Lake and at the little Golf View Lake pond near Lake Paradise.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Great Egrets

These Great Egrets were seen at Golf View Lake (a pond) and at Lake Paradise at Boone Park here in The Villages on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.  The large egrets were there at the pond on the shore of a golf course, along with about fifteen or so Snowy Egrets.

There must be quite good fishing at Golf View Lake now,  as it is unusual to see so many egrets at one small pond’s shoreline.  This pond is a few blocks from two small lakes.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!