Almost Wordless Wednesday: Whistling Ducks

I spotted these Black-bellied Whistling Ducks here in The Villages, FL, on Monday afternoon.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

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Whistlers on Wednesday

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks are found at several of the small lakes and ponds here in The Villages, FL.  These are wild ducks but have become used to living around people in the parks and backyards near the lakes.  The Whistlers communicate via whistling calls instead of quacking like many other ducks to.  The Whistlers are probably nesting now or will be soon.

This small group was relaxing on the shoreline of Lake Paradise as seen from across the lake from Schwartz Park.  I took these pictures on Monday evening at dusk.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

A Flock of Glossy Ibis With Whistlers

This flock of Glossy Ibis were hanging out on the side of a freshwater marsh and golf course area here in The Villages, FL early this evening at about 5:00pm.  This is the first time I have ever seen these two types of birds together.  I also have never seen so many Glossy Ibis in one spot.  These birds are a dark mahogany brown with blue-green accents and are oh-so-pretty!  The Glossy Ibis’ feathers really shine in a metallic way when in breeding plumage (now).

The ducks are nearly the same color as the ibis.  I also saw a scant few Mallards and some crows there too.  A beautiful pair of Sandhill Cranes (photographs will be posted here in coming days) joined in the feeding frenzy.  There must have been some really tasty stuff there – perhaps duck chow grain from a neighbor?  Who can say.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Whistling Ducks!

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of these photographs of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks at Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL, that I took yesterday.  Enjoy!

 

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

Almost Wordless Whistlers on Wednesday

Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!  A reminder – the Black-bellied Whistling Duck juveniles have the bluish bill and feet while the adult ducks have pink bills and feet.  I snapped these pictures on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 on Lake Paradise in The Villages, FL.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost Wordless Wed. – The Whistlers

Here are more photographs of the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (from a week ago at Paradise Lake in The Villages, FL).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of that particular photo.  Enjoy!