Some of the More Unusual Birds That Have Visited Us

Limpkin

Roseate Spoonbills, Sandhill Cranes, Wood Storks, Limpkins, a Black Crowned Night Heron, Egyptian Geese, White-phase Little Blue Herons,  and Green Herons have all been photographed in freshwater marshes (sometimes referred to as “Prairies”), ponds, and small lakes here in or near The Villages, Florida.  I love seeing these birds!

The Roseate Spoonbill (only seen here once in the four years I have lived here, the Black-crowned and White Little Blue Heron have to be the most seldom seen here of all of the above mentioned wading birds.  The most common are the Wood Storks and Sandhill Cranes among the ones I am featuring today.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Egyptian Geese

White Phase Little Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

 

 

Roseate Spoonbill with Great Egrets

 

Wood Storks

Green Heron

Sandhill Cranes

Wordless Wednesday: A Few Wading Birds

Green Heron

Please click on the thumbnail images to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Tri-colored Heron

Wood Storks

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

 

Glossy Ibis

Great Egret

Adult Little Blue Heron

These Herons Are Handsome Wading Birds!

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

Great Blue Herons, a Green Heron, Little Blue Heron, a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, and a Tri-colored Heron are some of the most prominent Herons here in the United States.  I am happy to be able to see many of these birds here in Central Florida fairly often.  The Black-crowned Night Heron was spotted at Lake Apopka, and the others here in The Villages, FL.

These wading birds primarily eat fish, frogs, crayfish, aquatic snails, aquatic insects, salt water crabs, ducklings, bird eggs, and tender small turtles.  All are great at flying.

The herons walk along the shoreline of lakes, ponds, rivers, and even the ocean, and try to spear their prey for a meal.  The birds tend to feed early in the morning and from late afternoon into early evening hours. Herons tend to spend the day by themselves or in small numbers.  They roost in a larger flock in tall trees like Cypress, Pine and Oaks.   I love spending time outside observing the herons!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Great Blue Heron

Tri-colored Heron

Green Heron

 

Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

More from Homosassa, FL

Manatee Eating Romaine Lettuce

Wood Storks, a Red Wolf, a Pink Flamingo, Green Herons all were some of the wonderful Florida animals and birds seen at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on August 15, 2018.  The park is a small zoo that cares for orphaned wild animals, rehabilitated wounded wild animals or captive born wild animal species that cannot live in the wild.

There are three or four naturalist-led talks or demonstrations about the animals each day.  I was fascinated to watch the Manatee Feeding talk where the naturalist told the crowd that the five Manatees at the park get fed 300 heads of Romaine Lettuce each day!  The manatee shown in the picture here was fed such lettuce and I photographed that animal via an underwater viewing portal.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Red Wolf

Southern Bald Eagle

 

 

 

Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Wood Stork Catching a Fish in the Stream

Green Heron

A Green Heron at a Wet Paynes Prairie Florida State Park

Green Heron

This Green Heron was spotted on Sunday afternoon in the flooded marshland off of FL 441 at the overlook at Paynes Prairie State Park.  We have had a lot of rain in the last week and it also rained earlier on Sunday.  I do not recall ever seeing the marshland looking like a lake before!  I also spotted a Great Egret and a male Red-winged Blackbird during our very brief visit to the overlook area.  I don’t know the name of the aquatic flower I photographed but it sure was a beautiful blossom!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Male Red-winged Blackbird

Green Heron

 

 

Green Heron

Green Heron

Temporary Lake on the Prairie

Some Favorites

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, FL

I have selected favorite photographs I have taken in Florida in the last three years to share here today.  I tend to love Wood Storks, all the different woodpeckers, assorted ducks, and the various herons and egret,s the best!  I hope you will like seeing these old favorites!

Wood Stork in The Villages, FL

A Little Blue Heron in The Villages, FL

A Green Heron in Dunellon, FL

 

 

A Great Egret in Breeding Plumage, The Villages,

Snowy Egret, The Villages, FL

A Pileated Woodpecker, Ocala, FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures of Several Kinds of Herons

Green Heron

Here are some of the various kinds of herons I have spotted here in Florida.  I have seen the common Great Blue Heron; the Great White Heron; the Little Blue Heron in both the blue and the white phases; the Tri-colored Heron; and the Green Heron.  I have not photographed a Yellow-crowned Night Heron but I did spot one at Sanibel Island a couple of years ago.

Around The Villages, Florida area, I often see the Great Blue Herons, the Little Blue Herons and the Tri-colored Herons.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Tri-colored Heron

Adult Little Blue Heron

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

 

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron (photo taken at dusk)

Great White Heron in Breeding Plumage

Waders and Waterfowl at the Lake

Great Egret

Juvenile Green Heron and Great Egret

Juvenile and Adult American White Ibis

Herons, Wood Storks, Anhingas, ibises, geese, egrets, and ducks all were hunting for their dinner at a small park lake in The Villages, Florida on August 27, 2015 in the early evening.  This little lake is near a  vibrant business and entertainment area as well as many residences.  The lake is beloved and so are the birds!

Whenever I go to this lake, I am always rewarded with seeing many larger birds.  It is fun to watch all the action.  I suspect that as the Fall turns to Winter, more birds will flock to the general area. There are several small and medium-sized lakes in this  community.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger picture.  Enjoy!

Egyptian Geese, American White Ibises

Snowy Egret

Tri-color Heron

Tri-colored Heron, Anhinga

Juvenile Green Heron

Wood Storks

A Green Heron, Alligator, and Gorgeous Scenery in Dunnellon, FL

A Green Heron in breeding plumage, was spotted perching on a low overhanging tree along the banks of a large freshwater pond in the Blue Run Park in Dunnellon, FL on April 17, 2015.  The pond is next to the Withlacoochie River and has several Alligators in it.

I had spotted a pair of River Otters in this same pond last year.  There is a bike trail on one side of the pond next to the river, and a looping trail around the pond.  It is a short level hike that is fun and scenic.  I have included a picture of the river with Cypress Tree “Knees”.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger picture.  Enjoy!