Squirrels, Ducks, and Views of Paradise Lake

Grey Squirrels, Mallard Ducks, and hybrid Mallard/Florida Mottled Ducks were spotted on the little Lake Paradise in The Villages, Florida on Monday night at twilight.  I am including views of the lake on the Swartz Park end which is almost totally dry to the North and rapidly shrinking again to the South.  By the way, that shot that looks like a huge grassy prairie, is really the dry lake bed.  Yikes!

We are still in a drought situation here.  I enjoy this regional park which is reserved for residents and guests here in The Villages, Florida.  There is always wildlife around us here.  I have a great time bird and critter-watching.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Ducky!

Mallard Ducks (males)

Mallards, Black-bellied Whistlers, Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers were all visitors here at the little Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL this last two weeks.  I took most of the pictures on December 11, 2016.

The Ring-necked Ducks and Hooded Mergansers are both diving ducks that eat fish, frogs, turtles, and larger aquatic insects.

The Whistlers and Mallards (also those Mottled Ducks around) eat both fish and plants.  They are tipping ducks that are most often seen with their tails up and heads down in the water when feeding in the water.  Mallards (and Mottled Ducks) and The Whistling Ducks seldom totally submerge.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Hooded Mergansers

Whistlers

Ring-necked Ducks

 

Ducks at Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL

 

Likely a hybrid Florida Mottled and Mallard Duck

These ducks are Florida Mottled Ducks and hybrid Mallard/Fl Mottled Ducks.  I took these pictures on Sept. 7, 2016 at a small private park lake, Lake Paradise, located in The Villages, FL.  I took these pictures at Swartz Park and also at Paradise Park.  Many times in the late afternoon or early evening, I see ducks at the tiny Swartz Park, on the gazebo/parking lot side.  By the way, there sometimes are Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (Whistlers) at that location.

Florida Mottled Ducks and Mallards both are dabbing ducks.  They tip their heads down into the water while they search the shallows of lakes, streams, and ponds for various types of aquatic insects and small aquatic animals.  These ducks also enjoy eating grain.

The male or drake Mottled Duck has a bright yellow bill.  Both genders of the Florida Mottled Duck resemble a hen Black Duck or a hen Mallard a bit.  The Florida Mottled Ducks and Mallard Ducks often will interbreed so one can see a hybrid which resembles the Mallard, but is not quite fully Mallard in looks.  I always enjoy watching ducks.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version.  Enjoy!

Park Ducks at Lake Mira Mar in The Villages, FL

 

These are a few of the ducks I spotted at Lake Mira Mar in The Villages, Fl recently.  They are Mottled Ducks, and hybrid Mallard Ducks.  The Mallards may be a cross between Mottled and Mallard as well as a cross between Mallard and Muscovy.  They seem to be sweet happy ducks.

I enjoy seeing the ducks waddling around on the lawns or paddling in the small lakes and even the man-made stream that runs from the plaza to the lake.  Occasionally (Winter) some white Pekin Ducks or wild ducks such as Lesser Scaups, Hooded Mergansers, or even Green Teal join in the fun at this pleasant park and lake area.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Ibises, Ducks and a Heron on a Hot Day

Juvenile White Ibises

Juvenile White Ibis

White Ibis

 

White Ibises, Mallard Ducks, Pekin Ducks, Muscovy Ducks,  and a very hot Great Blue Heron were all trying to cool off yesterday afternoon here in The Villages, FL.  It was about 88 degrees F. (and very humid) when I was visiting the lovely Veteran’s Park and little Mira-Mar Lake.

The brown and white-colored White Ibises are juveniles.  The Ibises rushed up when our golf cart arrived, hoping against hope that we would be bringing treats.  That is why I got the close-ups.  No, no treats from me.  It is against the law and bad for the exotic birds as well, to feed the Ibises, Cranes, Herons, Egrets and other larger wild birds.  By the way, I also saw a male Northern Cardinal beating the heat by flitting about the bushes trying hunt in the shade.

Ibises and Mallard Ducks

White Ibises

Juvenile White Ibis

 

A Great Blue Heron Cooling Off

Sitting Ducks!

A Male Northern Cardinal

Ducks at Veteran’s Park, The Villages, FL

A few white domestic Pekin Ducks, a lone Mallard drake, and a bunch of hybrid mixes (likely Muscovy and Pekin or Mallard and Pekin) were all happily strolling around the peaceful shoreline of the pond end of Lake Miramar at the Veteran’s Park in The Villages, Florida, near Spanish Springs Square.

I spotted the ducks late in the afternoon this past Sunday.  Several ducks were resting under the Rhododendron bushes.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the larger version.   Enjoy!

Another Waterbird Extravaganza!

Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, Snowy Egret, ducks

Five Great Blue Herons, White Pelicans, Great Egrets, Snowy Egret, ducks, Cormorants

White Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants

 

 

Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, American White Pelicans, Double Crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, Canada Geese, what looks like a rarely seen Snow Goose, White Ibises, Bufflehead Ducks, Mallard Ducks, an Osprey, Seagulls, and a few Lesser Scaup Ducks were all spotted yesterday afternoon at a wonderful little private park lake, Lake Paradise, at Paradise Park in The Villages, Florida.

Seeing all the numerous birds is very pleasant and is similar to what I used to see at Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, Florida.  Mostly the crowd of birds are migratory Winter visitors.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Hen Bufflehead Duck

Probably what is a Snow Goose???

Osprey (Sea Eagle or Sea Hawk)

 

Mallard Ducks

Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret

Drake (male) Bufflehead Duck