White Pelicans Flocking Up

I spotted this large gathering of American White Pelicans at the Freedom Pointe Lake here in The Villages, Florida. There also were a few cormorants mixed-in with the pelicans.  The pelicans will soon be making their way back up North.

Like many others, I am now staying at home as much as possible these days.  I am sharing mostly older photos that have not appeared here before.  I hope all of you readers and I, can stay as healthy as possible!   Please click not the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Central Florida Ducks

Florida Mottled Ducks

Here are some of the commonly seen ducks here in The Villages during the Winter and early Spring months (some do stay all year long).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Blue-winged Teal Ducks

Hooded Merganser Ducks

Mallard Ducks

 

 

Northern Shoveler Ducks

Lesser Scaup Ducks

Mallard Ducks

Almost Wordless Wildlife

Mallard Ducks

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of each of these photos I recently took here in The Villages, Florida.  Enjoy!

Belted Kingfisher

American White Pelicans & Sea Gulls

Snowy Egrets & Double-crested Cormorants

 

Drake Lesser Scaup Duck

White Ibis

Anhinga

Water Birds Around The Villages, FL

White Ibis

Migratory ducks, pelicans, cormorants, cranes and more have been spotted here in The Villages, FL, in the last several weeks.  So exciting to drive a few miles and visit several ponds teeming with wildlife!  Most of our small ponds, lakes, and prairie marshes, have at least a few exotic birds hanging out along the shoreline, so chances are great you will have a successful outing while bird watching!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Bald Eagle

Great Egret

 

Northern Shoveler Ducks

 

Double-crestedCormorants, egrets, white Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Wood Storks

Sandhill Cranes

White Pelican

Wordless Whistlers on Wednesday

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

 

Wood Storks in The Villages

I am seeing a lot more Wood Storks right now here in The Villages, Florida.  They prefer wading in marshy areas like the edges of ponds lakes.  Wood Storks are aquatic meat-eating (small fish are preferred) birds and rarely will dine on seeds.

Wood Storks are terrific flyers and roost in tall trees in colonies.  These birds generally live about 11-13 years.  The juveniles are the ones with the bony plated head with light brown fuzzy feathering and light-colored big bills.  Wood Storks remain a threatened species here in the USA.

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

 

Tri-Colored Herons

Tri-Colored Heron was recently seen at a small pond here in The Villages, FL.  These medium-sized wading birds actually are members of the egret family and are lovely.   Tri-Colored Herons have a steel-blue color with cream and rust on the chest and neck and greenish yellow legs and feet.  These birds eat fish, frogs, small turtles, aquatic snails, crayfish, baby alligators, and larger aquatic insects.

The Tri-Colored Herons are excellent flyers but usually fly short distances by themselves or in very small groups.  They mostly flock up when flying long distances.  They roost in tall trees that are close to ponds, lakes, marshes or rivers.  I especially enjoy spotting the Tri-colored Herons here.   Tri-Colored Herons are not often seen around the local community except during the breeding season in Winter.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photograph.