Wordless Wednesday: Little Blue Herons

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

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Tri-colored Herons

Here are a few photographs I have taken over the years of Tri-Colored Herons here in The Villages, Florida.  The Tri-colored Herons are not frequently seen here.  These birds are beautiful medium-sized herons with steel grey, orange, and cream coloring.

Tri-colored Herons eat aquatic snails, small fish, frogs, and smaller turtles with occasional ducklings, and larger aquatic insects.  I have always enjoyed seeing these Tri-Colored Herons!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see each photo slightly enlarged.  Enjoy!

 

Wordless Wednesday: White and Glossy Ibises

Adult White Ibis

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

Adult White Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Juvenile and Adult White Ibis

A Few Great Egrets

The Great Egrets here in Florida are the larger of the egrets.  These are lovely white birds that have a golden yellow sharp large bill and black legs and feet.  In the breeding season of late Winter, the Great Egrets develop long lacy feathers.  The Great Egrets are wading birds that stroll in the shallows of ponds, lakes, marshes and rivers to find shellfish, fish, frogs, larger insects and turtles.  These birds also will take to land and patrol the landscaped areas for mice, lizards and snakes to eat.

Great Egrets also are great at flying and sometimes will flock together to migrate.  We do have a year around population here but have a considerable number of birds come for the Winter.  Wishing all the ladies a very happy Mother’s Day on Sunday.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

Wordless Wednesday: Big Birds in The Villages, FL

Canada Goose at Lake Paradise

 

(Please click on each of the thumbnail images to see the slightly larger version of that photo.  Enjoy!)

Sandhill Crane on Hacienda Golf Course

 

White Pelicans at the Nancy Lopez Legacy Golf Course Driving Range Pond

Limpkin Eating an Apple Snail at Lake Mira-mar

Great Blue Herons

Great Blue Herons are now beginning to raise young and are molting (losing breeding feathers) so they are mostly on their nests unless hunting for a meal.  They wade in shallow water in the early morning and late afternoon to catch fish, frogs, ducklings, shoreline snakes, lizards, and nearly anything else they can catch to eat.

We have a year-around population of Great Blue Herons here in The Villages, Florida.  These birds nest in colonies way up in sturdy Oaks and Pines near ponds or lakes.  Many are now proud parents and will be raising chicks for several more weeks.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

To and From the Sharon Rose Wiechens Preserve

A Glossy Ibis was spotted on the multi-modal trail heading South from CR 466 near Morse Blvd. here in The Villages, FL.  We eventually piloted our golf cart to the lovely Sharon Rose Wiechens nature preserve were we saw a Great Blue Heron, a Common Moorhen, a lovely male Red-winged Blackbird, and a Snowy Egret.

It was quite windy and we also had several sprinkles of rain during our quick visit to the preserve.  On the way home, we were happy to have spotted a Limpkin, which is a rarely seen bird here in The Villages, as well as a trio of freshwater turtles basking in the Sun to keep warm.

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

Limpkin

Freshwater Cooter Turtles

Snowy Egret

 

 

Great Blue Heron

Common Moorhen

Male Red-winged Blackbird