White Ibises and Snowy Egret

Juvenile White Ibis

I saw this small flock of White Ibises at the lovely little Lake Mira-mar near the Spanish Springs Square in The Villages, Florida a few nights ago at dusk.  Note the juvenile is the one with the brown and white feathers.

This beautiful Snowy Egret was seen at Boone Park on Lake Paradise, and the Wood Stork also on Lake Paradise seen in the distance, from the Schwartz Park shoreline.  I also have been spotting a couple of Wood Storks off and on at Boone Park across the road into the far reaches of the lake.

I just love getting out and about and seeing all these big birds!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

White Ibis

Wood Stork

Snowy Egret

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

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

 

 

 

Water Birds, Waders, and Waterfowl

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Water is all around us here in lovely Florida!  I live in a county with many ponds and lakes.  Our community has many man-made park lakes and ponds.  Here are some of the beautiful big birds that visit the shores of these community lakes here in The Villages, Florida.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of that photo.  Enjoy.

Note:  We will be having a hurricane (tropical cyclone or typhoon as it is called elsewhere) come by our state on Friday.  I live right in the center of the peninsula about 60 miles from the coastline.  If the weather is not terrible and we have power I will post as normal on Friday.  If not, well, there is a great reason.  I will let you know what happens around here (I do not expect it to be bad at all).

Wood Stork

Anhinga

Snowy Egret

A Wood Stork With Lots of Company

Great Blue Heron & Wood Stork

This Wood Stork was strolling around the shore of the Santiago golf course pond in The Villages, Florida, a few days ago with several other wading and shorebirds.  Amazingly, a Bald Eagle overlooked the scene.  I am thrilled to see the Wood Stork as it has been several months since I last spotted any Wood Storks here in The Villages.

The Wood Stork uses its large thick bill to scoop through the mud for bits of worms, snails, insects, aquatic plants and pretty much any small aquatic animals to eat.  I just love seeing these endangered species list big birds!  I think they are so serene and unique.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Wood Stork

Wood Stork & Glossy Ibis

Wood Stork

 

Lots of Big Birds at the Lake

Wood Storks, a Tri-colored heron, American White Ibises and an Anhinga were spotted at a pleasant little park lake near Spanish Springs Square, The Villages, Florida, on September 9, 2015.  This is one of several smaller lakes and ponds around that neighborhood.  Many of these small lakes have a variety of wading birds and waterfowl along the shores.

Lots of bird action happens at these little bodies of water nearly every day, late in the afternoon or very early in the evening.  The birds go to their roost, located in other areas, just before sunset.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger picture.  Enjoy!

Water Birds on Wednesday

Pekin Duck

A Wood Stork; American White Ibises; Pekin Ducks; Florida Mottled Ducks, an Eastern Blue Jay (what?  He is not a water bird!); Egyptian Geese, and a  Tri-color Heron were all spotted on Monday night at twilight at a small lake behind the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center parking lot (Spanish Springs Square area), The Villages, Lake County, Florida.

Yes, one of the cute white Pekin Ducks does appear to have some sort of small cyst or tumor on its head.  The ducks, geese, and Ibises all are quite adept at begging for tourist treats along the parking lot.  Unfortunately, the Wood Storks are picking up on the begging routine (in their own quiet way).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger picture.  Enjoy!

American White Ibises, Wood Stork

American White Ibis

Eastern Blue Jay

 

Pekin Ducks, Hybrid Florida Mottled Ducks (AKA The beggars!)

Tri-color Heron

Egyptian Geese