Some Avian Villagers

Drake Hooded Merganser Duck

Tai-Colored Herons, Wood Storks, Hooded Merganser Ducks, Sandhill Cranes, White Ibis, Double-Crested Cormorants, Anhingas, and many more large exotic birds are seen here in The Villages, Florida on and in our many ponds and small lakes.  It also is not unusual to see a Great Egret strolling through the shrubbery on street parkways.

There are always many varieties of large and small birds around this community and its many neighborhoods to observe!  It is such a pleasant hobby to go out bird watching!  I am sure many of the readers here will agree!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo!  Enjoy!

Wood Stork

Double-Crested Cormorants

White Ibis

 

 

Sandhill Crane

Tri-Colored Heron

Anhinga Drying its Wings

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Strolling White Ibises

A flock of White Ibis were strolling around the yards in my neighborhood yesterday afternoon.  It has rained a lot  so the big white birds were out for any earthworms or grubs they could find.  The birds search with their rubbery long bills for their prey.

The White and brown bird is an older juvenile.  These birds are a cocoa brown and white color as babies and gradually turn white as they age.  The White Ibis are flock birds.  I often joke that there are a “Herd” of ibis on the lawn as they tend to walk around in groups that resemble how cattle walk.  Yes, a group of Ibis are really known as a flock.

These ibis roost as a flock, together in trees. Usually their roost is in lower tree branches over swamp wetlands where American Alligators patrol.  Alligators below the roosts help the birds stay safe from Coyotes and Bobcats.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger picture.  Enjoy!

 

A Flock of Glossy Ibis With Whistlers

This flock of Glossy Ibis were hanging out on the side of a freshwater marsh and golf course area here in The Villages, FL early this evening at about 5:00pm.  This is the first time I have ever seen these two types of birds together.  I also have never seen so many Glossy Ibis in one spot.  These birds are a dark mahogany brown with blue-green accents and are oh-so-pretty!  The Glossy Ibis’ feathers really shine in a metallic way when in breeding plumage (now).

The ducks are nearly the same color as the ibis.  I also saw a scant few Mallards and some crows there too.  A beautiful pair of Sandhill Cranes (photographs will be posted here in coming days) joined in the feeding frenzy.  There must have been some really tasty stuff there – perhaps duck chow grain from a neighbor?  Who can say.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Water Birds at Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL

Hooded Merganser Ducks

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017,  I spotted a small flock of Hooded Merganser ducks, a Great Egret, a Pied-billed Grebe and a Wood Stork with White Ibis at Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL.  The ducks, egret and grebe were in the arm of the lake bordering the highway and the Veteran’s Memorial Park.  The Wood Stork was in the parking lot area on the main body of the little pond-like lake.  All were such fun to watch!  I will be taking a break from blogging for the next couple of weeks and will be posting at my normal schedule when I begin blogging again.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Egret

Wood Stork with Ibis

Water Birds and Waterfowl in Flight

A Double-crested Cormorant

White Ibis, Mallard Duck, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, a Double Crested Cormorant, A Snowy Egret, Sandhill Cranes, and a Little Blue Heron were all photographed while in flight.  All were moving from place to place here in Central Florida in The Villages and in the Ocala area.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

A Hen Mallard Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

White Ibis

 

Sandhill Cranes

A Snowy Egret

A Little Blue Heron

A Morning of Egrets!

Great and Snowy Egrets and Mallard Ducks

Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and several other kinds of wading birds and water birds were all spotted at a large freshwater marsh/rainfall retention area that is a nature preserve here in The Villages, FL community.  This bird spot is located on Buena Vista Blvd. just South of the Lake Miona Recreation Center and the Bass Fishing Pond on that same street.

There were perhaps fifty egrets there with additional Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, White Ibis, and Mottled Ducks, Mallard Ducks and the ever popular Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (including many juvenile whistlers)!  A truly nice gathering of birds to observe.  I took these pictures yesterday morning from the grassy area off of the multi-modal path near a nicely placed bench.  I of course used my long lens as the birds were quite a distance away.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly smaller version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Egrets and Florida Mottled Ducks

Egrets in the Preserve

Snowy Egret

Ibises at Flooded Lakes

These White Ibises were perching in low oak trees at the side of flooded Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL and walking around in the lake-side parking area at that same little lake.

I also saw several White Ibis walking on the grass between parts of the  flooded Boone Park on Lake Paradise also in The Villages, FL that are separated by a now flooded street.  Both lakes are still full but yes, the water is down a little.  It sure is weird seeing waterfowl and wading birds paddling and walking along through the flood water on a neighborhood street!  Those areas are pretty much off-limits so I was careful to stay where it was safe and easy to walk around.

I think the bird population is probably half what it was before Hurricane Irma here.  Just an un-scientific guess on my part. I think most fled and flew elsewhere.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!