Wood Storks

Wood Storks are seen here in The Villages, FL every now and then.  They fly together in small flocks and stay for several days.  These larger wading birds eat grains, small fish, frogs, small tender turtles, small alligators, and aquatic snails.

We have had minor flooding here and I spotted a pair of these Wood Storks strolling down flooded Kim Street at Boone Park on Lake Paradise earlier this evening.  The storks were accompanied by a Great Egret, a Little Blue Heron and several Mottled Ducks.  The other stork was spotted in the parking lot at the flooded Lake Mira-mar in The Villages.  I had to take several of the pictures from quite a distance because of the flooded Boone Park and Kim Street areas (the other bird, which was at Lake Mira-mar, was quite close to our golf cart).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Hot Weather Bird Watching

 

Sandhill Crane

Birds cool off by opening their beaks or bills to breathe cooler air into their system.  So on a hot day or evening if you see a bird panting, they are just trying to keep cool.  They also will often try to sit or perch in a shady spot or wade in a stream, pond or lake.  I took these photos last night at dusk here in The Villages, Florida. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Great Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Mottled Ducks, White Ibis, Trio-colored Heron

 

Sandhill Crane

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

White Ibises

I spotted White Ibises at two parks this last week here in The Villages.  Actually, these wading birds are pretty commonly seen in neighborhoods and at local ponds and lakes.  The small flocks were at Paradise Park and Lake Mira-mar in the golf cart parking areas near the lakes.

Ibises at the Lake Mira-mar parking lot are known to be champion beggars!  They wait for treats from well-meaning tourists/grandkids who feed them bread and cereal as if they are park ducks (people should not feed exotic wild birds).  These are really good birds as they eat insects and are charming to watch.  By the way, the one in the photo that is partially brown is an older juvenile.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Sandhill Cranes

Last week I spotted several Sandhill Cranes here in The Villages, FL along pond shorelines at Morse Blvd. and CR 466 (near Live Oak Park) and at the Arnold Palmer Legends golf course also along CR 466 near Laurel Manor Recreation Center.

These are native Florida Sandhill Cranes.  I think we have many breeding pairs and small family groups around the area.  The Sandhill Cranes especially like the fringes of golf courses near the ponds.  Plenty of food and water and most golfers don’t mind the presence of the cranes since the cranes mostly are hanging out on the fringes of the courses near fences or under the trees.  It is always a big pleasure to see these large lovely birds!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Fresh Out of the Camera: Wading Birds

White Ibis at Silver Lake Park Pond

This evening here in The Villages, FL, I took a bunch of photographs of various wading birds, water birds, and waterfowl at several small ponds and small lakes.  We had a partial view of the Solar Eclipse yesterday but it only got a little dim; about like it would be at say, 6:00PM here (same as when I snapped these photographs tonight).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Snowy Egrets, Trip-colored Heron at the Silver Lake Park Pond

Great Blue Heron at the Silver Lake Park Pond

Great Blue Heron at Lake Paradise

Big White Birds!

White Pelicans on Lake Paradise this past Spring

The Wood Storks, Great Egrets, White Ibis, Cattle Egrets, White Pelicans, and Snowy Egrets are all large white-colored wading birds/water birds .  I did not add in the various white geese, swans, or ducks because I seldom see these birds here in The Villages, FL.

By the way, I saw three very placid Wood Storks on the parking lot next to Lake Mira-mar last night at dinner time.  Unusual to see more than two at a time but yes, that area is a hot spot for big bird hand-outs (not good for people to feed these exotic birds).  We continue to have intermittent rain showers and thunderstorms here so I have not been out to bird watch with the camera in a few days.  Hope to be out and about soon!  I will post what new pictures I do take in coming days.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

White Ibis at the Shoreline of Freedom Pointe Lake

Great Egret at Paradise Lake

Cattle Egret at Freedom Pointe Pond Meadow

 

Snowy Egret at El Lago Santiago

Wood Stork in Flight at Lake Paradise

Great Egrets and Sandhill Crane on Lake Paradise this last Spring

Wordless and Wild Waterfowl Wednesday

Muscovy Duck at Paradise Lake, The Villages, FL

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

Florida Mottled Duck, Lake Paradise, The Villages FL

Florida Mottled Ducks on Lake Paradise, The Villages, FL