These Canada Geese and goslings were photographed this past weekend at Paradise Lake in The Villages, FL. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
This lovely Great Blue Heron was perched on the water-level gauge on the far arm at Boone Park, of the little Lake Paradise here in The Villages, FL. I took the pictures on Wednesday evening at around 6:30pm on a soggy night. I took the picture from our golf cart as it was lightly raining at the time. I think these big birds are often not too disturbed by people as the lake is a residential and recreational one. There are a lot of small homes and three parks on its shoreline. By the way, this morning is a bright Sunny one so our rain is diminishing!
This bird was out with a single duck, and Anhinga, and a wonderful Wood Stork. I think these birds were probably trying to get their evening meal in all the rain. It is fun to see the Great Blue Herons here as those big wading birds have a lot of personality. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
I photographed this Osprey at Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL, from the lovely little Schwartz Park. I took the photographs on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 late in the afternoon. The bird of prey was trying unsuccessfully to catch a tasty fish for its meal. The lake is very high right now since we have had a lot of rain recently. I have been seeing many Canada Geese, the resident Great Blue Heron, a few ducks, a few egrets and Anhingas but this is the first Osprey here in several weeks that I have photographed. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
I took these pictures at Lake Paradise in The Village in the last couple of days of two Great Blue Herons. Please click on the thumbnail images to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
The Florida Mottled Ducklings have made their appearance on lovely little Lake Paradise here in The Villages, FL in recent days. I took these photographs from Schwartz Park last Friday. These ducks are native here in Florida and are very similar to the Mallard Ducks.
The little ducklings are adorable and are still in a very tight single file formation behind their mother. As the ducklings grow, they will venture farther away from mother. I enjoy watching all the baby waterfowl here on our lakes and ponds. It has been very rainy so it is hit or miss whether or not I can get out to do much bird watching. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
This flock of Canada goslings was spotted at Boone Park on Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL this afternoon. I have photographed this bunch before when they were mere yellow fluff-balls! They sure grow fast. I believe this group includes goslings from two sets of parents.
there were a whole lot of these birds in the shallow edge of the lake, in the shrubbery, and browsing on the lawn. These geese eat grasses and seeds primarily. I know the little ones won’t be little for long as they are already getting the beginnings of feathers instead of down. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo. Enjoy!
Great Blue Herons are commonly spotted on most lakes here in The Villages, FL. Along with the Great Egrets and the White Ibis, the Great Blue Herons are fairly easy to spot on the shore. I took these pictures recently of the Great Blue Herons at Paradise Park Lake and at the Freedom Pointe Lake.
These wading birds are still in the remnants of their breeding plumage but are nesting now and will soon molt or lose their breeding feathers. The Great Blue Herons eat fish, frogs, crawfish, small alligators, small turtles, waterfowl eggs and babies, and occasionally small snakes and lizards on the immediate shore area. The Great Blue Herons live mostly around fresh or brackish water ponds, lakes, rivers and marshes/swamps. These herons nest in tall sturdy trees in large stick nests. Sometimes, they will just rest on docks, piers, empty small boats, and yes, gazebo structures! Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture. Enjoy!
