Surprise Visitors!

Two Roseate Spoonbills visited the shore of Lake Paradise in The Villages, Florida, this afternoon!  I took these pictures at dusk and from across the lake so I had to crop the shot to allow you to better see the bird.  These are quite rare here in Lake County, FL!

This is the first time I have seen spoonbills in The Villages!   We actually had a crowd of wading birds at Lake Paradise today.  There were many Great Egrets, Double-crested Cormorants, Snowy Egrets, the Roseate Spoonbills, seven Wood Storks, many White Ibis, and even a Great Blue Heron.  Wow!  Very unusual.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juvenile Glossy Ibis

 

This young Glossy Ibis was spotted a couple of weeks ago feeding in the shallows of a small pond near a golf course in the Fenney neighborhood of The Villages, FL.  The adult Glossy Ibis is a rich mahogany brown tending more toward a burgundy sheen on its feathers, while the juvenile is a plain matt brown color with a few tiny streaks of lighter feathers.

The Glossy Ibis feed mostly on aquatic snails and worms with occasional aquatic insects as well.  There are a lot of tasty Apple Snails in our area which are a delight for these wading birds!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!