Another Wordless Wednesday: Wood Stork

These pictures were taken this afternoon at Schwartz Park in The Villages, FL.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

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Wading Bird Wednesday: A Wood Stork on a Rainy Evening

I just took this photo of the Wood Stork about a half-hour ago at dusk on a very wet evening.  We have had a lot of rain and the lake is full.  The lake is being lowered to accommodate the extra rain we have been having.   I took the pictures at Lake Paradise in The Villages.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Big Birds at the Golf Pond

White Pelican with Lesser Scaup ducks

White Pelicans, Lesser Scaup ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, Seagulls, a Great Blue Heron, Great Egrets, and a lone Wood Stork were all spotted yesterday afternoon at the beautiful Torri Pines golf course pond along Buena Vista Blvd. in The Villages, FL.  This spot is in a northern neighborhood here in The Villages.

The Wood Stork, the Double-crested Cormorants, Seagulls, Lesser Scaup ducks, and the White Pelicans are migratory birds from places up north and in the mid-west who have come south to enjoy our warmer weather during the harsh cold months.  By the way, last evening I spotted about 200 White Pelicans at the Freedom Pointe lake (both sides).  No pictures as I did not have my camera then.

I think a few of these pelicans pictured here were among those sleeping at Freedom Pointe as it was almost dark when I saw that huge flock last night.  We sure enjoy seeing all of these lovely birds!  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!  P.S.  This pond has developed a sink hole in it today (2/15/18) and is now rapidly draining.  Don’t know when the needed repairs can be made by our community’s officials.  I will let you know when I hear more.  Wildlifewatcher.

Great Egret with Wood Stork

Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants and Seagulls

Great Blue Heron

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Up Close

Yes, I kept a safe and appropriate distance from these birds and animals (Burros were photographed last Summer in Custer State Park, South Dakota).  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best of Eight Years of this Blog

Wood Stork (The Villages, FL)

Happy New Year!  Wildlife watching has been a pleasure the past eight years!  I am celebrating an amazing eight years of writing and sharing my photography on this blog.  Thank you to my loyal and new readers.  The purpose of this blog has always been to share the magnificent wildlife around us via the pictures and descriptions I give here.

I so appreciate everyone who participates via the comments section and occasionally gives me photography pointers or help identifying a particular bird.  You have been with me from Crossville, TN (and Fairfield Glade) to Ocala, Florida and now to The Villages, Florida.

A happy eight years of birding and enjoying the views of nature and occasionally other kinds of animals!  So again, Happy New Year and happy wildlife watching, wherever you may be!  As ever, please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  These are a few of my favorite pictures over the last eight years!

Green Heron (Fairfield Glade, TN on Lake St. George)

Grizzly Bear (Yellowstone National Park)

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, FL)

 

 

Osprey (at the Dora Canal in FL)

Golden Marmot (Yellowstone National Park)

White Pelicans (Tuscawilla Park in Ocala, FL)

 

 

Canada Geese (at the little farm in Crossville, TN)

Roseate Spoonbill Birds (Sanibel Island, FL)

White-tailed Deer (at the little farm in Crossville, TN)

Water Birds at Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL

Hooded Merganser Ducks

On Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017,  I spotted a small flock of Hooded Merganser ducks, a Great Egret, a Pied-billed Grebe and a Wood Stork with White Ibis at Lake Mira-mar in The Villages, FL.  The ducks, egret and grebe were in the arm of the lake bordering the highway and the Veteran’s Memorial Park.  The Wood Stork was in the parking lot area on the main body of the little pond-like lake.  All were such fun to watch!  I will be taking a break from blogging for the next couple of weeks and will be posting at my normal schedule when I begin blogging again.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the photo.  Enjoy!

Pied-billed Grebe

Great Egret

Wood Stork with Ibis

Great Egrets With Other Birds

Great Egret and Mottle Ducks

Great Egrets with Florida Mottled Ducks, a Wood Stork, and a small Tri-colored Heron were spotted here in The Villages, FL on a couple of lakes and small ponds.  We have a number of wading bird species that are all-year around resident birds here.  The community has many ponds and small lakes in addition to a few fresh water marshes and preserves.  There is plenty of food between the water and the many areas of landscaping along the streets and parking lots.  Please click on the thumbnail image to see the slightly larger version of the picture.  Enjoy!

Great Egret and Wood Stork

Great Egret, Try-colored Heron and Mottled Duck

Great Egret