New Scenes From the Ranch Pond

A Blue Wing Teal Duck, a pair of Mottled Ducks, several Cattle Egrets, a herd of Cattle, and a pair of Sand Hill Cranes were all spotted at or close to the horse farm or ranch pond in Northwestern Marion County, FL, where I have often spotted wildlife in the past.  The Cattle are now grazing in the pasture where the larger pond is located at.

I was surprised about the Cattle and the Teal Duck as both were newly seen there.  I took the pictures of the cranes at another much smaller pond on that same ranch but just down the road about an eighth mile.  I took the pictures on Jan. 5, 2015 from the side of the road.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger photo.  Enjoy!

Surprise! I’ve Sighted Whistling Ducks!

This pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are the first “Whistlers” I have ever seen in person.  I have been virtually observing the antics of Whistlers via my blog friend Tex’s blog, “The Run Around Ranch Blog”, and have always wanted to see these comical, lovely, smart wild ducks myself.  I had read that Whistling Ducks do live in Florida but I had never spotted any in the past year that I’ve lived here.  My luck changed on Saturday, July 19, 2014 when I saw this cute pair.  These ducks were paddling on a small pond in a pasture at a local race horse farm.  I saw three of the Whistlers last evening on this same pond (23 July 2014), shown first row below.

Whistling Ducks have upright posture, are a Cinnamon brown color and have a pink bill, pink legs, pink feet, with white and black wings. They have a black belly and a faint black stripe down the back of their head.  Their calls are whistling sounds, which probably are similar to but a little stronger whistle sound, than Wood Ducks.  I took these pictures from behind a tallish wooden rail fence along the roadway.   Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  I hope you have enjoyed this surprise – I sure did!  Sorry this is posted a bit late today.  I had to have an Internet tech come and do repairs to the cable system (three buildings had a similar outage here last night and this AM).  So back to normal now.

 

A Great Blue Heron Gets the Fish!

A Great Blue Heron was back here at the little farm pond three days ago.  It flew in and walked among the cattle on the other side of the pond.  After a few minutes, the big bird walked down to the reedy shore-line and stood looking for a tasty meal.  I think it was being annoyed by a male Red-winged Blackbird, which if you look carefully, you’ll see in one of the photographs.  After awhile I left so as not to disturb the bird.  At that time, I don’t know if it went hungry or had a good meal.

The Great Blue Heron eats fish, frogs, insects and small aquatic animals.  I took these pictures in my yard on June 4, 2012, and again early last evening (6/6/12).   Last night while I was taking some of these pictures, a Great Blue Heron (possibly the same one that was here on Monday) was here again.  That bird was quite happy to have caught a fish to eat!    Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

More Baby Pictures of the Wood Duclkings

I was out with the camera yesterday afternoon at pond-side and accidentally startled the little family of Wood Ducks.  Mama quickly led her trio of ducklings away from the shore and way out onto the pond and across to the other shore.  She had hidden her ducklings in amongst the tall reeds where I did not at first spot them.  The Wood Ducks are quite shy and unlike the gregarious  Mallards, just don’t want to be around humans.

These ducks eat insects and tiny pond animals so I think there may be delicious worms and snails around in the reeds and rushes to tempt the ducklings.  I did not see the drake out this afternoon.  He may be resting or away with some of the other males at the nearby lake.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

By the way, the famed once-in-a-lifetime event, “The Transit of Venus” will happen late this afternoon (time for the United States of America views).  I am going to observe by watching on the NASA website  (this is an address reference for you)<http://sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/webcasts/nasaedge/&gt;.  Never directly look at the Sun as you could become blinded.  Treat this as if you were going to watch a Solar Eclipse.

The Ducklings are Here!

I am totally thrilled to let you know that last night at about 7:30pm. I saw a proud mama Wood Duck at this side of the pond with her three ducklings!  Three or four  ducklings is typical for many Wood Duck pairs to have.  I think these babies are two days old now.  Excuse the fuzzy slightly out of focus photographs.  The light was dim and I was quite a ways from the ducks.  I must have frightened the mother duck as she quickly started with the babies, paddling across the pond.  I hope to get different pictures another day but these ducks are extremely shy and will be more so with the new babies in tow.  I took these pictures last night.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

Wood Ducks Taking a Break

It is nesting season for the waterfowl, I believe that both of these Wood Duck pairs are taking a break from their nesting duties with unhatched eggs on the nest.  They would never leave any ducklings alone so I believe that they have either taken a well-deserved short break, have unsuccessfully nested or are intending to nest soon.  The other possibility is that these two couples are older and are no longer in the mood to nest.  Seeing the Wood Ducks out these days is a rare sight.  The Wood Ducks are likely nesting high up in the trees near the dam of the little farm pond here.   I took these pictures on May 30, 2012 in my yard.  Just this morning, I saw a hen Wood Duck foraging for insects grubs and worms in the front yard grass.  A beautiful, serene sight!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!

More Mixed-Pix of the Little Farm

An Eastern Bluebird

Here are a few random views of the little farm that I took this past week.  I enjoy seeing lots of wildlife here.  We have three or four Cotton-tailed Rabbits, a few Eastern Chipmunks, several Grey Squirrels, numerous Canada Geese, a few different kinds of ducks, and many different birds!  I hope you’ll enjoy seeing a few views.  I have included birds and animals plus just plain scenery.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.

A View of the Pond

A Cotton-Tailed Rabbit

An Eastern Chipmunk

Canada Geese and Goslings

A Mourning Dove

A Grey Squirrel