Tri-colored Heron
These wading birds and the duck were all spotted at the little Freedom Pointe Lakes on El Camino Blvd. in The Villages, FL this past weekend. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Wood Stork
Anhinga
Tai-Colored Heron and Snowy Egret
Muscovy Duck
Snowy Egret
Osprey and Common Cormorants
Last evening I did a bit of bird watching at Paradise Lake, Lake Mira-mar, and the Golf View Lake here in The Villages, Florida where I spotted many wild ducks. Most of the ducks were the native wild Florida Mottled Ducks, Mottled and Mallard hybrid ducks and a few Mallard Ducks.
All of these are dabbling ducks that tip their head into the water to grab small insects, worms and aquatic plants to eat. These ducks are here all year around. They are enjoying our many small ponds and lakes and have made themselves quite at home here. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Mottled Ducks and Whistling Ducks were seen at a couple of ponds here in The Villages last week and also a couple of weeks ago. These ducks live at our ponds here all year around and are wild ducks. They eat pond insects, small tadpoles, tiny fish, grains and seeds.
The Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are the one with the gorgeous pink bill and feet. The Florida Mottled Ducks resemble their cousins the Mallard Ducks and the Black Ducks. In fact, there are many hybrid Mallard Mottles here. Florida tries to keep the population of wild Mallard Ducks very low to help prevent inter-breeding. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Young Adult White Ibis
White Ibis have been occasionally strolling around the neighborhood looking for tasty bites in the lawns and gardens here. Our weather has been rainy with nearly daily thunderstorms happening in the afternoon hours. I have not been out and about much both due to the weather and my husband being ill.
I did go out yesterday to the neighborhood lake and saw a pair of Muscovy Ducks paddling around which is not a usual sight on our lake. I also saw a Great Egret in the distance on the far shoreline. Not much to report due to weather and nesting season underway for many of the birds, not to mention, molting going on for many birds. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Muscovy Ducks
Great Egret
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
Here are a few photographs I have taken over the years of Tri-Colored Herons here in The Villages, Florida. The Tri-colored Herons are not frequently seen here. These birds are beautiful medium-sized herons with steel grey, orange, and cream coloring.
Tri-colored Herons eat aquatic snails, small fish, frogs, and smaller turtles with occasional ducklings, and larger aquatic insects. I have always enjoyed seeing these Tri-Colored Herons! Please click on the thumbnail image to see each photo slightly enlarged. Enjoy!
Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of that photo. Enjoy!
