Almost Wordless Wednesday: Water Birds

Osprey on Enrique Dr. near Golf Course

I took all of these pictures here in The Villages, FL during the past two weeks. Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  By the way, the lakes here in The Villages are now full or nearly so!  Hooray!  Enjoy!

Sandhill Crane on CR 466 near Morse Blvd.

 

Anhinga at Freedom Pointe Lake

 

 

 

 

 

Black Bellied Whistling Ducks at Schwartz Park on Lake Paradise

White Ibis at Lake Mira-mar

Wood Stork at Lake Mira-mar

More Photos of Ochlockonee River State Park

Little Blue Heron

I visited the very lovely Ocklockonee River State Park a few weeks ago and spent a wonderful night camping there.  I was thrilled to see three White Tailed Deer, an Osprey, a Little Blue Heron, a Red-headed Woodpecker, several Boat-tailed Grackles, a pair of Mourning Doves, a couple of Brown Thrashers, and a gorgeous little White Squirrel (sorry no photo).

I took these pictures several times in the morning and it was very cloudy and misty out in my early shots that morning.  I am including a couple of shots of just scenery so you can get a sense of the view at this beautiful Florida State Park.  The river is a short walk from the campground area.

This state park is quite close to the St. Mark’s National Wildlife Sanctuary and is probably about twenty-five miles to the Gulf of Mexico.  I enjoyed the park and would return someday for a longer stay.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger picture.  Enjoy!

River Scene

River Scene

White-tailed Deer at a vernal pool

 

River Scene

Osprey

Brown Thrashers

Wordless Wednesday: Osprey

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  I have taken these pictures in the last two weeks here in The Villages, FL.  Enjoy!

 

The Osprey Gets The Fish!

I spotted this Osprey and tracked it while it swooped and dove into Cherry Lake (Lake Sumter) in The Villages, Florida.  I was at the lovely little Live Oak Park wooden observation deck over the shoreline.  The bird of prey got its fish – probably a perch.  This lake is a medium-sized lake and is near the Lake Sumter Landing business and entertainment area here.  Some of the lake is residential, but a lot of it is wild marshland on the shore.  It is much more full of water than we had seen in previous weeks, thanks to a couple of heavy recent storms.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Wordless Friday: Flight

Seagulls

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

Glossy Ibis

Wood Stork

Osprey

 

Sandhill Cranes

Belted Kingfisher

White Pelican

 

 

 

Birds at Paradise Lake, The Villages, FL

White Pelicans

Ring-necked Ducks

Osprey

 

 

 

 

White Pelicans, Wood Storks, Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Merganser Ducks, Great Egrets, a Belted Kingfisher, Sandhill Cranes, and a Red-tailed Hawk were all spotted on our neighborhood park lake within the past two weeks.  It was amazing!  I so enjoy bird watching and it was really fun to see so many different birds here at once.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of that photo.  Enjoy!

Red-tailed Hawk in Flight

Canada Geese

 

 

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Great Egrets

An Osprey at the Lake

This Osprey was perched up in a tall Pine Tree on the far shoreline of the little Lake Paradise, across from Paradise Park in The Villages, FL.  I took the picture early Friday evening at about 5:30pm.  The Osprey was finishing its meal of a fish and after a few minutes, the majestic bird of prey flew off to other adventures!

Osprey, or Sea Eagles, and Sea Hawks as they are sometimes known, are keen hunters of fish, frogs, and the occasional small bird, baby alligator, duckling, gosling, or snake.  The Osprey live near bodies of water such as the oceans, lakes or rivers.  They prefer fish over most of the other foods I have mentioned.  They fish by snatching their prey with their sharp thick talon claws and then they fly up to a tree or tall post and eat.  These birds are found all over the United States.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!