Anhinga - JuvenileAnhinga - Juvenile A Juvenile Anhinga. The strong black and white colouring is yet to develop. Shot in Taylor Park, Largo. | AnhingaAnhinga Anhinga Anhinga anhinga | AnhingaAnhinga The Anhinga is also known as the Snake Bird. Because its feathers do not have oil, it does not float. When it is in the water, normally only the snake-like neck and head show. | Anhinga PreeningAnhinga Preening | CormorantCormorant Double Crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus |
Duck - Lesser ScaupDuck - Lesser Scaup Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis | Egret - Reddish EgretEgret - Reddish Egret Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens This is a juvenile. See the gallery devoted to Reddish Egrets. | Egret - Reddish EgretEgret - Reddish Egret Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens See the gallery devoted to Reddish Egrets. | Egret - Reddish EgretEgret - Reddish Egret Reddish Egrets are solitary. This pair is probably because mating season is beginning. See the gallery devoted to Reddish Egrets. | Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret Snowy Egret Egretta thula |
Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret Egretta thula | Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret Egretta thula | Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret | Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret A close-up of the Snowy Egret's legs. Notice how the black looks like it has been painted on. | Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret Egretta thula |
Egret - Snowy EgretEgret - Snowy Egret | Godwit - Marbled GodwitGodwit - Marbled Godwit Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa | Godwit - Marbled GodwitGodwit - Marbled Godwit The Marbled Godwith is actually quite a big bird, about 13 inches in length with a 30 inch wingspan. A few could be found at a particular saltwater pond at the north end of the North Beach in Fort DeSoto. | Grebe - Pie-Billed GrebeGrebe - Pie-Billed Grebe Pie-Billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps The ringed bill of the Pie-Billed Grebe is only apparent during breeding season. | Heron - Great Blue HeronHeron - Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias |
Heron - Great Blue HeronHeron - Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias | Heron - Great Blue HeronHeron - Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias | Heron - Great Blue HeronHeron - Great Blue Heron | Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea> | Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea> |
Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea> he Little Blue has a length of 24" and wingspan of 40" compared to the Great Blue, which has a length 42" and a wingspan of 72 inches. | Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea>
| Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea The Little Blue is 24" as compared with the Great Blue, which is 46". | Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea> This is a juvenile, just beginning to darken up. The Little Blue has a length of 24" and wingspan of 40" compared to the Great Blue, which has a length 42" and a wingspan of 72 inches. | Heron - Little Blue HeronHeron - Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea> This is a juvenile, just beginning to darken up. The Little Blue has a length of 24" and wingspan of 40" compared to the Great Blue, which has a length 42" and a wingspan of 72 inches. |
Heron - Tricoloured HeronHeron - Tricoloured Heron Tricoloured Heron Egretta tricolor | Heron - Tricoloured HeronHeron - Tricoloured Heron Tricoloured Heron Egretta tricolor The Tricoloured Heron looks like a Great Blue Heron, but is smaller, and has a white line down the front of its neck. | Heron - Tricoloured HeronHeron - Tricoloured Heron Tricoloured Heron Egretta tricolor I am entertained by this shot, as the Heron looks like it is carved from wood and hand-painted. But it is a real Tricoloured Heron. | Ibis - White IbisIbis - White Ibis | Ibis - Juvenile White IbisIbis - Juvenile White Ibis Eudocimus albus |
Ibis - Juvenile White IbisIbis - Juvenile White Ibis Juvenile White Ibis Eudocimus albus | Loon - Common LoonLoon - Common Loon Common Loon Gavia immer | Loon - Common LoonLoon - Common Loon Common Loon Gavia immer | Loon - Common LoonLoon - Common Loon Common Loon Gavia immer | Loon - Common LoonLoon - Common Loon Common Loon Gavia immer |
Loon - Common LoonLoon - Common Loon Common Loon Gavia immer Mississippi Lake, near Carleton Place Ontario | Merganser - Red-breasted MerganserMerganser - Red-breasted Merganser Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator | Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican Brown Pelicans are impressive low-level fliers. They can often be seen flying at water level. When gliding, the breast feathers will almost touch the water. Then as the bird flaps its wings, it will rise just enough to keep the down-stroke of the wing out of the water.. See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. | Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican This Brown Pelican has bold breeding colours. In the breeding season, the head is yellower, and the nape of the neck becomes dark brown. See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. | Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. |
Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican Brown Pelican (Pelicanus occidentalis) See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. | Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican Brown Pelican with fish hook. Since Pelicans tend to be really comfortable around people, especially fishermen, it is not uncommon for one to be caught when the fisherman casts his lure. You can imagine the excitement when you have a four foot bird struggling to get away. The standard approach is to cut the line, if it doesn't break first. The State Park Rangers suggest that the hook should be removed and instructions are posted in the parks, but you have to hang on to the bird to do it. See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. (They suggest that children should not try to remove the hooks.) | Pelican - Brown PelicanPelican - Brown Pelican Pelicans Posing See the gallery devoted Brown Pelicans. | Pelican - White PelicanPelican - White Pelican American White Pelican Pelicanus erythrorhyncos | Pelican - White PelicanPelican - White Pelican American White Pelican Pelicanus erythrorhynchos For many, there is a laterally flattened "horn" that you can see on the bill. This falls off after mating. These birds are huge. The weight is typically 11 to 20 pounds. Wingspan can be ten feet. |
Pelican - White PelcianPelican - White Pelcian American White Pelican Pelicanus erythrorhyncos | Plover - Black-bellied PloverPlover - Black-bellied Plover Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola | Plover - Black-Bellied PloverPlover - Black-Bellied Plover Black-Bellied Plover Pluvialis squatorola | Plover - Black-bellied Plover Plover - Black-bellied Plover Juvenile Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola | Great EgretGreat Egret A Great Egret spotted near the pier at John's Pass Village. Great Egrets can be distinguished from Snowy Egrets because they are bigger by a foot or so and have all-black legs and feet. The bill of a Snowy Egret is all black, while this one clearly has yellow. |
ND3_0411ND3_0411 A Great Egret in the early evening at the Pier. Great Egrets can be distinguished from Snowy Egrets because they are bigger by a foot or so and have all-black legs and feet. The bill of a Snowy Egret is all black, while this one clearly has yellow. | Great EgretGreat Egret A nice head and shoulders (well, head) shot of a Great Egret. This one was hanging around the North Fishing Pier at the Sunshine Skyway. Perhaps he was looking for handouts from the few fishermen who were there. And, indeed, he was given at least one small handout while I was there. | ND3_0891ND3_0891 | DSC_9097DSC_9097 | DSC_9684 - Great EgretDSC_9684 - Great Egret A Great Egret in flight. The position of the head and neck can be helpful when spotting a bird from a distance. In this case, though, there is little doubt because the colours are vivid. |
Yellow-Crowned Night HeronYellow-Crowned Night Heron | ND2_23856ND2_23856 Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nyctanassa violacea | ND2_21891ND2_21891 Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | Wood DuckWood Duck Aix sponsa Seen at Mud Lake, Ottawa | Northern PintailNorthern Pintail Anas acuta
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RX1_02049RX1_02049 Northern Pintail Anas acuta | Double Crested CormorantDouble Crested Cormorant Normally the cormorant rests atop a pole, usually the higher the better. I found a trio of them on the beach at Fort DeSoto and was able to get quite close. A largish bird, about 33 inches, the Double-Crested Cormorant is almost always alone. This day on the beach was an exception, but it was also spring (breeding season). Notice the thick legs. | Green HeronGreen Heron Butorides virescens | ND3_24046ND3_24046 Juvenile Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja | Wood StorkWood Stork Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) |
Double-Crested CormorantDouble-Crested Cormorant The Double-Crested Cormorant dives for its food, and dives quite deeply, I think. When they disappear under, you are not sure where they will re-appear. This is about as good as it will get without going underwater with the camera. The cormorant has just dived under and we can still see its head. | DSC_9688 - Double-Crested CormorantDSC_9688 - Double-Crested Cormorant A Double-Crested Cormorant after a successful dive. Taken from the North Fishing Pier of the Sunshine Skyway. | Canada GooseCanada Goose And, while we're on the topic of Canada, Penticton does also host a pretty healthy looking Canada Goose. | ND3_19512ND3_19512 Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja Not just another pretty face. More bird shots can be seen in Serious Bird Shots | Red Shouldered HawkRed Shouldered Hawk |
OspreyOsprey Osprey Pandion haliaetus See more Osprey in Osprey. | OspreyOsprey Osprey Pandion haliaetus | OspreyOsprey Osprey Pandion haliaetus See more Osprey in Osprey. | Bald EagleBald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
| ND3_17746ND3_17746 Bald Eagle
This one of a nesting pair at Honeymoon Island State Park near Dunedin, Florida. |
Warbler - Palm WarblerWarbler - Palm Warbler Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum | WilletWillet Catoptrophorus semipalmatas | WilletWillet Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatas | WilletWillet Catoptrophorus semipalmatas | WilletWillet Catoptrophorus semipalmatas A Willet at Madeira Beach. On this particular morning, the light was very flat. Notice that there no sign of a shadow. |
Willet Willet This bird is a little over a foot in length. It hangs around the seacoasts as far North as the Canadian Maritimes. The Willets follow the waves as they roll back away from the shore, looking for small bits of food that are deposited in the process. When the next wave comes along, they scamper for higher ground, and repeat the process. Here a Willet is chased by the incoming wave. Notice how the wave has wrapped around its leg. | WilletWillet Catoptrophorus semipalmatas The Willet is about a foot and half, making it much bigger than some of the other little waders that scamper around in the surf. | Ruddy TurnstoneRuddy Turnstone Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres | Ruddy TurnstoneRuddy Turnstone The robin-sized Ruddy Turnstone is really common if you happen to be where they hang out. In the summer they are on the coasts of the high Arctic and in the winter around the southerly coasts of the continent. | DunlinDunlin Calidris alpina |
Least SandpiperLeast Sandpiper Calidris minutilla | ND2_29920ND2_29920 | Laughing GullLaughing Gull Only a handful of the Laughing Gulls had this dark handsome head. It's probably because of molting or some changes which take place in the spring. | ND2_23710ND2_23710 Laughing Gull Larus atricilla | ND3_3437ND3_3437 Laughing Gull Larus Atricilla |
Laughing GullLaughing Gull | Laughing GullLaughing Gull | Laughing GullLaughing Gull | Laughing GullLaughing Gull | Laughing GullLaughing Gull |
compositecomposite Seen at Fort De Soto. | Ring-Billed GullRing-Billed Gull The Ring-Billed Gull is largish and very common. It is a "three year" gull, changing from birth through the first three years. The pink legs and brownish tones suggest that this one is in its second year. In the youngest gulls, the whole bill is black. | Ring-Billed GullRing-Billed Gull | DSC_9154DSC_9154 An older Ring-Billed Gull. The distinct black ring on the bill and the yellowish legs mean that this bird is in its third (or later) year. | Lesser Black-Backed GullLesser Black-Backed Gull I'm pretty sure about the identification, as the more common, Great Black-Backed Gull has a red ring around the eye, and this one doesn't. |
ND2_29996ND2_29996 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus This gull is common on the Atlantic coast, but is quite rare on the Gulf coast, so | Great Black-Backed GullGreat Black-Backed Gull The The Great Black-Backed Gull can be up to 30" in length, with a wingspan of almost seven feet. While walking the beach at Hollywood Beach, this one caught my attention because of its size. It was a giant among the more numerous Ring-Billed and Laughing Gulls. It could be a Herring Gull, but it was truly large and seems to have more white than a Herring. This one would be in its first winter of life. | ND3_1075ND3_1075 Razorbill Alco torda This was a time when my friend Dee and I were shooting at the north end of Longboat Key. We were approached by a stranger who said that there was great excitement at the north end of Anna Maria, because there was a Penguin there. Well, stuff like that needs to be checked out! And here it is! And it is rare indeed. A Razorbill, not often seen on the Gulf side. | DSC_9840DSC_9840 Royal Tern Sterna maxima | Royal TernRoyal Tern This common guy, the Royal Tern, is distinguished from the Sandwich Tern by his yellow bill. About 18-21" long. I see that this one has been banded. The Royal Tern flies above the water at about 30 feet, occasionally crashing headfirst into the surf, presumably to catch something. |
Royal TernRoyal Tern Sterna maxima | Royal TernRoyal Tern Sterna maxima | DSC_9765 - Royal TernDSC_9765 - Royal Tern This common guy is distinguished from the Sandwich Tern by his yelow bill. About 18-21" long. The Royal Tern flies above the water at about 30 feet, occasionally crashing headfirst into the surf, presumably to catch something. | DSC_21579DSC_21579 Male Royal Tern tries to impress the female. Nesting time is approaching. | Sandwich TernSandwich Tern The Sandwich Tern is distinguished from other terns by his black bill with the yellow tip. |
Forster's TernForster's Tern Forster's Tern in beginning to acquire breeding colours. These don't seem to be all that common on the beaches around here. At twelve inches overall length, the Common Tern is about half the size of the Royal Tern, but definitely shows its relationship. Shot at Indian Rocks Beach. | DSC_13497 - Common Tern in FlightDSC_13497 - Common Tern in Flight | ND2_29911ND2_29911 Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri | DSC_9240 - Black SkimmerDSC_9240 - Black Skimmer These unusual birds have a longer lower beak; it extends beyond the upper. | DSC_9240 - Black SkimmerDSC_9240 - Black Skimmer After looking at my photographs I had to wonder whether these birds have eyes. Even on the beach in the sunlight, it is impossible to see their eyes. This photograph shows that they are, indeed, sighted. Even then, you have to look carefully to see the small black eye. |
DSC_9189 - Great Blue HeronDSC_9189 - Great Blue Heron I made my initial photographs of this Great Blue Heron from behind a bush on the shore. As I move away from the bush, in its direction, it became a little nervous. It finally took off, coming back less than a minute later. The land behind are the flats exposed at low tide. The light was very red the on this February morning, even though it was about an hour after sunrise. | ND3_0534ND3_0534 Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) These tiny guys winter along the southern coast and spend their summers in the far north. In this case, I found a few hanging around the East Beach, with a group of Willets, Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings. This flock was intent on grabbing some shut-eye, so I was unable to get a shot of the bird with both legs in the water. | ND2_36511ND2_36511 Piping Plover Charadrius melodus | ND2_21790ND2_21790 American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) | ND2_21801ND2_21801 American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) |
SanderlingSanderling Calidris alba A group of Sanderlings, a small sandpiper about the size of a Robin. These birds hang around, running back and forth like a wind-up toy, chasing the waves as they retreat and then running back before the next wave washes over them. They look for little bits of food which the waves drop on the beach. | SanderlingSanderling A Willet, in the background, gives some scale to the Sanderling as it heads toward the outrolling wave. | SanderlingSanderling Calidris alba The Sanderling is tiny, about the size of a Robin. They are abundant along the beaches, where they chase the retreating waves like little wind-up toys. | SanderlingSanderling Calidris alba | Common MoorhenCommon Moorhen This solitary Moorhen was in a small pond off of Country Club Drive in Aventura, Florida. |
Common MoorhenCommon Moorhen A Common Moorhen. I was taken with the brilliance of his red beak. In the winter, the red is quite muted and may not be apparent at all. Some of the other Moorhens in this pond in Largo did not yet have the same brilliance. | LimpkinLimpkin Limpkin Aramus guarauna Limpkin with shot at sunset, preparing for its evening meal. Limpkins are very uncommon outside of Florida. With a lenght of 26 inches and a weight of 2.4 pounds, they look like giant waders, but five times the size of a Willet, for example. | DSC_9577 - Hooded MerganseerDSC_9577 - Hooded Merganseer This Hooded Merganser was spotted swimming in the pond of an RV Park on Sanibel Island. | DSC_9873 - Mallard PairDSC_9873 - Mallard Pair This pair of Mallards was in a small pond on Country Club Drive in Aventura, Florida | DSC_10083 - Turkey VultureDSC_10083 - Turkey Vulture Few birds are uglier, if you look them in the face. Here the Turkey Vulture's small, naked red head can be easily seen. This one was cruising low over the old bridge at Bahai Honda State Park on Pine Key in Florida. A diurnal raptor, the Turkey Vulture is extremely common in the Florida Keys. In Key West we saw nearly a dozen in close proximity cruising above the waterway. |
DSC_10081 - Swallow-Tailed KiteDSC_10081 - Swallow-Tailed Kite The Swallow-Tailed Kite is uncommon, but unmistakable. It is moderately large, with a wingspan of about four feet. This one was shot from the old bridge at Bahai Honda State Park on Pine Key in Florida. It was taking full advantage of the breeze and hovering in a limited area for most of the afternoon. | DSC_2104 - Sandhill CraneDSC_2104 - Sandhill Crane A Sandhill Crane, seen beside the golf course in the Clermont area. This bird can be up to four feet tall and may have a wing span of seven feet. | White IbisWhite Ibis A White Ibis tries a little taste of coaxial cable, while standing on the television antenna of the RV across the road from us. This bird struts carefully around the campground when things are quiet. With the cold, dreary weather, things are really quiet and the bird goes just about anywhere. | DSC_9202 - Bald EagleDSC_9202 - Bald Eagle I grabbed this lucky shot of this Bald Eagle as I was leaving the Fort DeSoto beach one morning. | DSC_9547 - Red-Shouldered HawkDSC_9547 - Red-Shouldered Hawk This bird looks tiny in this photo, but they range in size from 17 to 24 inches. I would have put him at around 18 inches. The Florida version of the Red Shouldered Hawk is much paler than the same species outside of Florida. The other possibility is that this is a Broad-Winged Hawk but they are not as likely to be found in Florida. Also the tail- banding of the bird in this photo points to the Red Shouldered species. |
DSC_9813 - Monk ParakeetDSC_9813 - Monk Parakeet This shot looks a little like a scan of a pet shop brochure because the background is actually a bit of outdoor carpet in a mini-putt. This was one of a pair that were busy on the ground before the min-putt opened. The Monk Parakeet is pretty hardy; while this one was seen on Hollywood Beach, they can occur as far north as Chicago.
| Nanday ParakeetNanday Parakeet Black-Hooded Parakeet Nandayus nenday
| LorikeetLorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus Radio Amateur, trying to improve the reception. | Rainbow LorikeetRainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus | Barred OwlBarred Owl Barred Owl. Strix varia This is a medium-size (21") owl. This one was in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a sanctuary for the Florida Cypress Tree. |
Pileated WoodpeckerPileated Woodpecker No bird in North America is more exotic than the Pileated Woodpecker; it's extremely hard to get a good look at one of these. This particular bird showed up at our Fort De Soto campsite and was shot through the window. He must have been young, since he seemed only a foot or so in size. | DSC_13990 - Red-bellied WoodpeckerDSC_13990 - Red-bellied Woodpecker This guy was unusually sociable for a woodpecker. I don't know why they are called Red-bellied. This is a male; his red covers the crown and the nape. The red in the female covers only the nape. This was one of a pair seen through the window at our Fort De Soto camp site. | Downy WoodpeckerDowny Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens | Black-capped ChickadeeBlack-capped Chickadee Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapella | American RobinAmerican Robin Turdus migratorius |
American RobinAmerican Robin Turdus migratorius | Yellow-rumped WarblerYellow-rumped Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata | Northern MockingbirdNorthern Mockingbird Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos | Painted BuntingPainted Bunting Passerina ciris | ND3_28585ND3_28585 Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis |
Northern CardinalNorthern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis | Red-winged BlackbirdRed-winged Blackbird Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoenicus Juvenile or Female | DSC_9880 - Brewer's BlackbirdDSC_9880 - Brewer's Blackbird This seems like it might be a particularly light-coloured female Brewer's Blackbird. Seen next a pond on Country Club Drive in Aventura. | DSC_9861 - Fish CrowDSC_9861 - Fish Crow I am guessing this to be a Fish Crow. I thought it was too small to be an American Crow. The Fish Crow is common near the coast, but is reliably identified only by its call, which I didn't hear. This one was spotted near the Boardwalk at Hollywood Beach, Florida. | NZ6_00894NZ6_00894 Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis |
ND2_9157 - Brown-Headed CowbirdND2_9157 - Brown-Headed Cowbird | NZ6_00692NZ6_00692 Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea | NZ6_00612NZ6_00612 Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina | DSC_10036 - Key West RoosterDSC_10036 - Key West Rooster Roosters are to Key West as cows are to India. The roosters are everywhere, wild, handsome and healthy. We were told that they are the legacy of a period when cock-fighting was legal. When cockfighting was banned the roosters were turned out to fend for themselves. Strangely, we only saw a couple of hens. They must be stay-at-homes. | Vulture - Turkey VultureVulture - Turkey Vulture Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
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Yellowlegs - Greater YellowlegsYellowlegs - Greater Yellowlegs Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca | Yellowlegs - Lesser YellowlegsYellowlegs - Lesser Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes | | | |