Some of the More Unusual Birds That Have Visited Us

Limpkin

Roseate Spoonbills, Sandhill Cranes, Wood Storks, Limpkins, a Black Crowned Night Heron, Egyptian Geese, White-phase Little Blue Herons,  and Green Herons have all been photographed in freshwater marshes (sometimes referred to as “Prairies”), ponds, and small lakes here in or near The Villages, Florida.  I love seeing these birds!

The Roseate Spoonbill (only seen here once in the four years I have lived here, the Black-crowned and White Little Blue Heron have to be the most seldom seen here of all of the above mentioned wading birds.  The most common are the Wood Storks and Sandhill Cranes among the ones I am featuring today.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Egyptian Geese

White Phase Little Blue Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

 

 

Roseate Spoonbill with Great Egrets

 

Wood Storks

Green Heron

Sandhill Cranes

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Wordless Wednesday: Some Favorites

Great Blue Heron on its nest

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

Bald Eagle

White Pelicans

Eastern Bluebird

 

 

Glossy Ibis

Wood Stork

Limpkin

Wordless Wednesday

Osprey

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

Kildeer in Flight

Mallards in Flight, White Pelicans, and Double-crested Cormorants

White Pelicans in Flight

 

 

 

Great Egret, Mallards, Cormorant

Mallard Ducks

Great Blue Heron

More Lake Apopka Wildlife

Blue-winged Teal Ducks
(The drake has the half moon white marking on his cheeks)

Blue-winged Teal Ducks, Great Blue Herons, Coots, Snowy Egrets, and a Limpkin were all spotted at the North Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive on the shore of Lake Apopka in Apopka, Florida on March 3, 2019.

This wildlife drive is along levees and a one-way dirt road past the fresh water marshes, lake shore, and canals of the former farm land along the huge lake.  The drive is open Fridays through Sundays and is free of charge.  This whole area is chock-full of wildlife with wading birds and alligators being the starring attractions!  I highly recommend visiting this area if in Central Florida (about 30 miles from Orlando).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Great Egret

Female Anhinga

Common Moorhen

 

Limpkin

A flock of Common Coots

Great Blue Heron

River Wildlife Pt. 2: Herons

Tri-colored Heron

Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, a Tri-Colored Heron, and a Black-Crowned Night Heron were all spotted on 2/14/19 in the morning on the St. John’s River here in Florida.  I was a passenger on a two-hour nature cruise from the Blue Springs State Park.

I have only seen four Black-Crowned Night Herons so I was thrilled to see this one.  There were many Great Blue Herons as well as several Little Blue Herons along the shoreline of the river.  I will be posting Part 3 of the series on Wednesday.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Little Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons on their nests

Little Blue Heron with Glossy Ibis

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Black-Crowned Night Heron

River Wildlife, Part 1

River Otter

A River Otter; two Wild Turkeys; a Bald Eagle; about twenty Limpkins; Sandhill Cranes; Little Blue Herons; Great Blue Herons; Anhingas; Turkey and Black Vultures; Double-crested Cormorants;  a Black-crowned Night Heron; a Tri-Colored Heron; Snowy Egrets; Great Egrets; a Belted Kingfisher; Alligators; Turtles; Purple Gallinules; and Common Moorhens were all spotted during a two hour scenic boat cruise from the very beautiful Blue Springs State Park on the St. John’s River here in Florida yesterday morning.

The pontoon boat Captain drives slowly through backwater channels chock-full of wildlife!  I enthusiastically recommend this cruise!  Advance reservations are likely needed and tickets today cost $20.00 per adult plus a $6.00 per car state park day use admission fee.

Part 2 will be posted here on Monday.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Sandhill Crane on its nest

Great Blue Heron

Bald Eagle

 

Wild Turkeys

anhinga

Alligator

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Canada Geese

Mallard Ducks

Great Egret

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

Freshwater Cooter Turtle

Hen Hooded Merganser Duck

Great Egret