Wordless Thursday: Tri-Colored and Little Blue Herons
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
I enjoy seeing all types of both songbirds and the exotic big birds here in Florid! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons and Tri-colored Herons are all seen here in The Villages, FL. These wading birds all eat fish, frogs, smaller aquatic animals and some insects. Of the three types of herons mentioned here, the Great Blue is the most commonly spotted here in The Villages, and the Tri-colored Heron is the least commonly seen.
I want to wish everyone who celebrates, a very Happy Easter! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Sandhill Cranes are resident and migratory birds here in The Villages, FL. It is not uncommon to see these large birds around the edges of golf courses, especially those near marshes. Sandhill Cranes often eat grass, seeds, insects, worms, snails and prefer the cut apron areas of fairways. Occasionally the cranes can be seen on people’s front or backyard lawns! We do not fence most lots here. By the way, the photo of the cranes in flight was actually taken at Paynes Prairie overlook on Highway 441 near Gainesville, FL.
These are various photographs I have taken here in the past months of the Sandhill Cranes. Please click on the thumbnail images to see the slightly larger version of the picture.
Here are several Little Blue Herons I have photographed here in Central Florida with most being here in The Villages. The juveniles are the white phase of their coloring and they turn a purple blue as an adult. The Little Blue Herons are wading birds and they eat fish, frogs, small turtles, aquatic snails, and larger aquatic insects. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
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!
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 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 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!