tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61167471249214725842024-03-13T18:09:51.500-07:00Wildlife Snapshots Goes USABrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-70728592497216205632011-12-06T12:47:00.001-08:002011-12-06T13:39:19.106-08:00Florida Again - Naples Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just back from another great trip to Florida - this time the Gulf Coast at Naples. Not so much photography, but as always a chance to get snaps of some new species or better ones of those i've seen before.<br />
The pick of the shots were taken on Naples beach where Sanderling, Willet, Snowy Egret and several species of tern wandered happily amongst the sunbathers. <br />
Sanderling<br />
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Why fly when you can just walk around the people?<br />
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Willet<br />
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Snowy egret<br />
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Royal tern (see top also)<br />
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Sandwich tern<br />
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Fosrter's tern<br />
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Pelican cleaning bill<br />
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Plover<br />
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Ruddy Turnstone<br />
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It wasn't only birds at the beach, though. Walking the strand we came across the following sight....<br />
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If you look in the centre of the next shot you get another clue ........<br />
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Guessed? A cownose ray. Several in fact working the shoreline<br />
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I saw a shoal of about 15 of these when I was fishing from the pier one day, although I didn't catch any. Someone else caught by far and away the biggest fish I have ever seen on the end of a line though. It's hard to get the scale here - the concrete is the main support for the pier - and we are looking at several hundred pounds of fish ..................<br />
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A well-named Goliath Grouper.<br />
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More shots of these and others in the web album <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/108653982331494327071/USAFlorida2011">HERE</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-23440317586144812592010-02-28T15:30:00.000-08:002010-03-01T16:04:17.949-08:00Tavernier: The rest of the upper Keys<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Most of my shots from the upper Keys were taken where we stayed at Tavernier, but included below are also a few from the John Pennekamp state park (actually as this is an underwater park the pictures are from the land-based section!), and some of wild birds at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Centre, where each afternoon they feed pelicans and whatever herons, etc that come in. Although numbers were down due to the easy pickings from all the cold-killed fish, that probably only helped the photography by keeping the field of view less cluttered.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First the remainder from our resort:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Double crested cormorant having a grump. </span><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2609.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Double crested cormorant" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2609.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There was a small marina on the site - you can see the narro0w channel in running in from left to right here ........<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2642.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Tavernier" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2642.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and get a feel for how narrow it was here (yes that little channel to the left).<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2641.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Tavernier" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2641.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />So imagine my surprise one day when I found this surfacing in the middle of the marina! <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2612.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Dolphin" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2612.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I could see it swimming underwater and so was able to catch the moment it surfaced.<br />The marina was a good spot to watch the mullet and other fish - like this sort of mini barracuda -<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2610.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Marina fish" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2610.jpg" border="0" /></a> although it was the crabs with the spider like grip that surprised me most.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2611.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Marina crab" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2611.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At dusk each day some people would feed the feral cats (despite all the warnings not to) and this guy (or girl) would join them for a snack. I was able to watch it at ground level, but not having a decent flash with me the shots I took were pants - yes even worse than this one from our balcony!<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2643.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Raccoon" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2643.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sitting on the balcony one day I saw 3 birds flying towards us. By the time I realised what they were and ran to grab the camera they were just going past. No time for adjustments it was a point and hope job, so forgive the snatched view of this Magnificent Frigatebird.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2640.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Magnificent frigatebird" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2640.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One of the cold mornings at the marina led to me finding this iguana. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2638.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Iguana" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2638.jpg" border="0" /></a>I<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2635.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Iguana" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2635.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I didn't handle it, but it was clearly literally stiff with cold. As the sun came around it gradually thawed and showed signs of life, It was lucky - this was the last of the cold days, but many died during the cold snap.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2636.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Iguana" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2636.jpg" border="0" /></a>and <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2637.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Iguana" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2637.jpg" border="0" /></a>then when I wandered away for a short time it was gone - who knows where.<br />But mainly it was birds - this little grey gnatcatcher near the osprey nest ............<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2625.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Blue grey gnatcatcher" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2625.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />the northern cardinals making use of the marina facilities<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2626.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Northern cardinal" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2626.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2627.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Northern cardinal" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2627.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2628.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Northern cardinal" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2628.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and the spotted sandpiper working alomng the rocky edges.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2639.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Spotted sandpiper" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2639.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Many mornings a group of white ibis could be seen working the mangrove margins, <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2615.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2615.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />but the best views were seen near the Wild Bird Rehab Centre.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2614.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2614.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2617.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2617.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2618.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2618.jpg" border="0" /></a>Also <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2619.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2619.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Also there good views of this snowy egret<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2613.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Snowy egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2613.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />wood stork<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2620.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wood stork" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2620.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and the brown pelicans<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2629.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2629.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2630.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2630.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2631.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2631.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2632.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2632.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2633.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2633.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2634.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brown pelican" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2634.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />White ibis were ubiquitous. Anyone who has been to the Florida theme parks will have seen them working the cafe tables like London pigeons, but this bird at John Pennekamp was the cheekiest I saw!<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2616.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2616.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Also there looking for a snack was a turkey vulture<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2623.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Turkey vulture" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2623.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and to finish another bird that cropped up everywhere - the red-bellied woodpecker.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2621.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Red bellied woodpecker" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2621.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2622.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Red bellied woodpecker" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2622.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2624.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Red bellied woodpecker" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2624.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-54205482635506915722010-02-19T15:03:00.000-08:002010-02-19T15:16:52.250-08:00Tavernier - Yellow-crowned night heronIn addition to the ospreys the place we were staying had a range of other wildlife to see. I was really pleased the day I first saw one of the yellow crowned night herons, skulking amongst the mangrove roots - by the last day there were three adults and a juvenile wandering around. Unlike their black crowned cousins I gather the y-c are more active in the day. In this case I'm sure what drew them out were the dozens of fish that had died from the cold weather we were having, incredible as that may sound.<br />If you look at my UK blog post <a href="http://wildsnaps.blogspot.com/2010/02/arctic-blast.html">HERE</a> you will see what I mean.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2568.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2568.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2584.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2584.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2582.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2582.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2577.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2577.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2580.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2580.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2579.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2579.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2581.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2581.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2583.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2583.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2578.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2578.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2576.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2576.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2575.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2575.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2569.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2569.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2570.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2570.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2573.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2573.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2574.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2574.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-4996182380816854252010-02-12T15:07:00.000-08:002010-02-12T15:47:58.663-08:00Tavernier: OspreySo, here we go; the 2010 trip to Florida, this time to the Keys, and just a little of the Everglades.<br />I'll start in Tavernier where we stayed first, and where I was delighted to find a nest platform had been put up for ospreys and a pair were using it. You can see how near it was to the block we were actually staying in, so it was a 2 minute stroll down in the morning to see who was around. Just a shame the weather and light weren't better more of the time.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=P1010388.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/P1010388.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The birds were completely unphased by me walking past and snapping them, no doubt habituated to human presence by the various dog-walkers who used this area.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2562.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2562.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2562.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2557.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2557.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2560.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2560.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2557.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2565.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2565.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2567.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2567.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The birds usually came back with headless fish, the head containing the most nutritious part, and so eaten without risk of having to share.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view¤t=DPP_2558.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2558.jpg" border="0" alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife"></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2558.jpg" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2559.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2559.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2555.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2555.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The pair were copulating, from my observations/voyeurism, not too successfully, although Kay reported it looking right at least once! What was interesting was how the male tucked away his talons when on the female.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2563.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2563.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2564.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2564.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Mind you one glance at this shot shows you why! (Is this the most pensive bird you've ever seen?)<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2561.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2561.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One morning the moon was still high in the sky, but sadly the laws of optics meant I couldn't focus on both the bird and the details of the moon. Only the great god photoshop could have achieved that.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2566.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2566.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This last is probably my favourite - not perfect lighting but the light is OK, highlighting the eye beautifully, and the sense of action as the bird tries to eat the last of the fish elevates it beyond the 'bird on a stick'.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/?action=view&current=DPP_2556.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Birds,Florida,wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%20%202010/DPP_2556.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Shame the perch wasn't more photogenic, but life is what it is.<br />More to follow from the resort grounds in the next few posts.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-81906186769651952542010-02-06T12:54:00.000-08:002010-02-08T15:12:49.810-08:00Bok Tower Gardens<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Every so often as I blunder through life I come across somewhere that will live on in the memory. Often going back isn't the best thing to do as few places can live up to the selective memory that develops over time.<br />However I hope I do go back to Bok Tower Gardens one day, to enjoy the peace, the gardens, the sculptures, the restaurant (mmmm! ),the dream come live, the birds (definitely the birds) .... and I must time it again to ensure the experience is underpinned by the glorious scent of the orange blossom. Normally you expect the light, the sun on your back, but add in that fragrance ........<br />After a bit of a drive, and a few wrong turns - why is it signposts in the US so often just disappear half way along a route? - we drove into the estate through the orange groves. I can still almost taste it.<br />Anyway this is Bok Tower Gardens, built by a man with a vision - </span><a href="http://boktowergardens.org/about/edward-bok/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Edward Bok </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- one of the few places we found (outside state parks) where the natural world is held in high esteem. There is a viewing hide, where an ill-timed look at a chart about the local wildlife meant we missed the osprey dive into the lake, and some feeding stations where I found the most ridiculously plumaged little bird. Called the painted bunting it's a great description. Give a child a drawn outline of a passerine and a kit of dayglo paints and tell it to paint the brightest bird ever! Just a shame that (a) the light was so low at that spot and (b) I only caught it on the feeder.<br />I'll leave the rest to the pictures. </span><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09444.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09444.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1766.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1766.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1765.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1765.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09456.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09456.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Northern cardinal<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1678.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1678.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1679.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1679.jpg" border="0" /></a> Tufted titmouse<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1815.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1815.jpg" border="0" /></a> Dragonfly<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1722.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1722.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Turtles<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1739.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1739.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anole lizard - showing dewlap below<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1740.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1740.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1741.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1741.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />American kestrel<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1816.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1816.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Downy woodpecker excavating nesthole<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1677.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1677.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1676.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1676.jpg" border="0" /></a> Northern flicker (male/female) First woodpecker nest I ever found with two entrance holes - each complete with a head!<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1671.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1671.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1672.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1672.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Red bellied woodpecker (male/female/male)<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1666.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1666.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1663.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1663.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1657.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1657.jpg" border="0" /></a> White winged dove<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1658.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1658.jpg" border="0" /></a> Red winged blackbird - female<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1659.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1659.jpg" border="0" /></a> Osprey<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1660.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1660.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1661.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1661.jpg" border="0" /></a> Grey catbird<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1662.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1662.jpg" border="0" /></a> Blue jay<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1668.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1668.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1670.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1670.jpg" border="0" /></a> Brown thrasher<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1673.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1673.jpg" border="0" /></a> Woodduck<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1674.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1674.jpg" border="0" /></a> Eastern towhee<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1675.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1675.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And finally ................. the fabulous painted bunting<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1664.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1664.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1665.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="birds,wildlife,Bok Tower Gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1665.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-57047784889973387952010-02-05T10:29:00.000-08:002010-02-05T11:14:17.052-08:00Theme Park Wildlife 2009Before I start posting the most recent pictures from Florida I guess I should finish last years lot. I know this is the usual image we have of Orlando's parks .....................<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1764.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Disney parade" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1764.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1763.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Busch gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1763.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1768.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Indiana Jones?" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1768.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09116.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Arnie" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1764.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view¤t=floridamarch09191.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09191.jpg" border="0" alt="Seaworld"></a><br />and there are the captive animals at places like Busch Gardens .......<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1761.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Busch gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1761.jpg" border="0" /></a> (Kay being side-swiped by an overfamiliar giraffe)<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09293.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Busch gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09293.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09303.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Busch gardens" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09303.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1614.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Hooded merganser" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1614.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />but it's the wild ones you may not realise are around :-<br /><br />[Black crowned night heron - Busch Gardens]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1771.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Black crowned night heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1771.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Brewer's blackbird - Disney World]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1639.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brewer's blackbird" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1639.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Double crested cormorant - Disney World]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1640.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Double crested comorant" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1640.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Downy woodpecker - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1629.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Downy woodpecker" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1629.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Anhinga - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1628.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Anhinga" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1628.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[White ibis - Busch Gardens]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1623.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="White ibis" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1623.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Red bellied woodpecker - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1626.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Red bellied woodpecker" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1626.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Great egret - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1621.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Great white egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1621.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Cattle egret - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1620.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cattle egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1620.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Cattle egret - Disney's Animal Kingdom]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1619.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cattle egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1619.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Cattle egret - Busch Gardens]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1613.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Cattle egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1613.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Laughing gull - Busch Gardens]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1616.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Laughing gull" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1616.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Laughing gull - Busch Gardens]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1617.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Laughing gull" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1617.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Little blue heron - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1602.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Little blue heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1602.jpg" border="0" /></a> [European house sparrow - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1603.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="European house sparrow" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1603.jpg" border="0" /></a> [European house sparrow - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1605.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="European house sparrow" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1605.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Brewer's blackbird - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1604.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brewer's blackbird" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1604.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Brewer's blackbird - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1610.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brewer's blackbird" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1610.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Palm warbler - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1609.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Palm warbler" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1609.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Palm warbler - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1612.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Palm warbler" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1612.jpg" border="0" /></a> [American coot - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1606.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="American coot" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1606.jpg" border="0" /></a> [Ring billed gull - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1611.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Ring billed gull" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1611.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Ring billed gull - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1608.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Ring billed gull" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1608.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />[Ring billed gull - Epcot]<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1607.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Ring billed gull" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1607.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So there you are. If you can be bothered to lug a bigger lens around (and the Canon 100-400 isn't too bad on a 400D in a small pack) then there is still plenty to see even on a 'family friendly' holiday!Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-65050660821916871142009-06-26T15:18:00.000-07:002009-06-28T14:51:52.608-07:00Space Coast WildlifeSo why is it called the Space Coast? The Kennedy Space Centre, that's why. The last time we went to Florida we headed off there one day, but I suggested having a look at the nearby nature reserves, and we never made it! This time we went straight to the Centre.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1769.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1769.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Nothing was taking off while we were there, but we actually chose to visit on a day a shuttle was landing. We decided to stay outside rather than watch it on the screens in the cinema, but the cloud meant we didn't see anything. The double sonic boom was impressive however. The centre itself is OK if you are into technical things. We aren't really, but the basic tour was quite interesting .......<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09029.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09019.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09019.jpg" border="0" /></a> and the wildlife we saw en route pretty good as well. Like UK military training ranges the whole area is a wildlife reserve, and on our bus tour we saw a raccoon - first ever, wild pigs, alligators and this bald eagle nest and armadillo. Although no eagle was seen there we did have a fly over view from the car later in the day.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1680.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1680.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1747.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1747.jpg" border="0" /></a> Visit done we headed back to Blackpoint Wildlife Drive. Very American - a drive through nature reserve! Last time there was a good level of water and lots to see. This time the water levels were well down, and I began to wonder if we'd see anything. No worries - not so much, but good views again, with some of the birds habituated to cars at least.<br />Tricoloured heron<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1681.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1681.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1691.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1691.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1690.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1690.jpg" border="0" /></a> White ibis<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1682.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1682.jpg" border="0" /></a> Snowy egret - like the tricoloured heron using man-made devices for perching - and catching fish two at a time.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1683.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1683.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1684.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1684.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1685.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1685.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yellowlegs - 'greater' I think<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1686.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1686.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1687.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1687.jpg" border="0" /></a> Eastern kingbird<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1688.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1688.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1689.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1689.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Glossy ibis - as last time they chose to pose directly into the sun, making a decent shot impossible.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1692.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1692.jpg" border="0" /></a> The few Americans going round mainly ignore the birds and look for 'gators. This one was so close I couldn't frame it any better!<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1742.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Reptiles" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1742.jpg" border="0" /></a> An armadillo was making the most of the little water in the ditch<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1749.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1749.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1750.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1750.jpg" border="0" /></a> We also had the bald eagle flying over, and a glimpse of more wild pigs. <br />From there it was on to the coast and a cracking beach it was too.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1767.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1767.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Herring gull<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1693.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1693.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sanderling<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1694.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1694.jpg" border="0" /></a> Willet (I think)<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1695.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1696.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1696.jpg" border="0" /></a> To cap the day we stopped to look at a pelican roost and this roseate spoonbill flew past in the evening sun. (Should really have tidied up the dust spot, shouldn't I?).<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1698.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1698.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1702.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1702.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-15688156323551304532009-06-24T14:44:00.000-07:002009-06-24T15:06:53.477-07:00Otter, Bahama BayIt's been a while since the last post - how do you keep on top of digital images!! I had previously made a number of oblique references to wearing camo gear at Bahama Bay. Well here's the reason why. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1745.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1745.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As well as seeing the alligator in the bigger lake I saw this otter working one of the banks. I tried to get nearer, but failed. Walking back to the apartment I was feeling really happy, but to my surprise I found a second otter in the pond right amongst the buildings. Despite appearances it was quite shy, and although I managed a couple of shots I didn't have the chance to really watch it.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1743.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1743.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1744.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1744.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hence the camo gear. Over the next couple of visits - I couldn't get down every day due to early starts going elsewhere - I did manage to watch it feeding, but it took a while to get some more pictures. In time it seemed more comfortable. perhaps it didn't see me - their eyesight isn't meant to be so good - but looking at these pictures I think it is more likely it just decided I wasn't a threat. Like the herons I think it was mainly eating big tadpoles, but it wolfed them down so fast it was hard to see. <br />The 400D struggles with focus against water, and trying to manually focus in that little viewfinder would be tricky even if I wasn't a speccy-four-eyes. Also the low light and a constantly moving target was tricky. This was the one time I wished I'd taken my other camera body - so the pictures are not as sharp as I would have wished.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1751.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1751.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1752.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1752.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1753.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1753.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1754.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Wildlife,Florida,mammals" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1754.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1755.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,mammals,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1755.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I tell you Bahama Bay is a great place to stay! That said the rest of the posts will be from other sites - the Space Coast, some theme parks - never discount them - and my favourite - Bok gardens.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-36717114928116151062009-05-21T14:41:00.000-07:002009-05-21T14:59:59.035-07:00Around the apartment - Bahama Bay<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The verandah at the back of the apartment overlooked some lawn, a hedge, and some rough ground, as well as a line of telegraph poles and wires. Overall not perhaps the prettiest view, but actually quite good for wildlife. I missed the armadillo Kay watched one morning, but we both watched the absolutely gorgeous swallow-tailed kite that floated by one day. No pictures - the flyscreen meant they weren't worth taking - but one of those memories that will stick. Probably the most graceful bird I've ever watched.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Loggerhead shrike used the wires one day. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1651.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1651.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We saw these red shouldered hawks using one of the telegraph poles as a table for eating the lizards they were catching - and one that got away at the end.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One day the hawks were lower down, in the trees, and to my surprise one let me walk right underneath it as you can see. No need for the hard crop I used on the shrike for that one.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The lizard was at the front door one day.<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1654.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1654.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1652.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1652.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1653.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1653.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1728.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Reptiles" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1728.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-72204743610506848802009-05-13T15:37:00.000-07:002009-05-14T12:57:25.422-07:00More birds - Bahama Bay<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The little pied-billed grebes were present on a couple of the ponds, but were seriously shy birds. When they dived they were under for quite a while, so this first shot was the result of a quick sprint 15 yards from cover, a dive to the ground and a short wait for it to pop up again. After a couple of shots it saw me and drifted further out. The second (with the one swimming a bit uphill!) was when I had been crouched down in my camo kit - reason yet to be disclosed - for about half an hour.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1599.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1599.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1625.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1625.jpg" border="0" /></a>Next is a mourning dove - superficially like a collarless collared dove, </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1582.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1582.jpg" border="0" /></a>then we are into the scary bit of American birdwatching - sparrows and warblers. They have so many! I think this is a chipping sparrow .....<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1585.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1585.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1584.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1584.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />this a palm warbler ........</span> <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1631.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1631.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and a common yellowthroat.</span> <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1699.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1699.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Finally the bird I thought was the most amazingly coloured small bird I would see in Florida (I was wrong, but the male is still a real cracker). The male northern cardinal became a must-get shot. You could find them through the song, or more often their hawfinch like 'Tic', but getting close was more tricky. The female was a bit more obliging, but favoured heavier cover. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1637.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1637.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1580.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1580.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eventually the male popped out. What a crazy colour that is. Could anything really be more striking? <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1649.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1649.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1648.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1648.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Wait for the pics from Bok Gardens .........</span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-42133616968378010212009-05-06T15:02:00.000-07:002009-05-06T15:20:33.545-07:00Northern Mockingbird<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Jane recently posted a piece about the mockingbird's lovely singing at her holiday house in the keys.</span><a href="http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/to-spy-a-mockingbird/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://urbanextension.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/to-spy-a-mockingbird/</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />It took me back to my childhood when We did 'To Kill a Mockingbird' as one of our 'O' level texts (for those newbies out there that was what we used to cal GCSE's!), and her comments echoed some of the sentiments in the text:<br /><br /><em>When he gave us our air-rifles Atticus wouldn't teach us to shoot. Uncle Jack instructed us in the rudiments thereof; he said Atticus wasn't interested in guns. Atticus said to Jem, "I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." That was the only time I ever hear Atticus say it was a sin to do something, and I asked Miss Maudie about it. "You're father's right," she said. "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mocking bird." </em><br /><em></em><br />There were a few around Bahama Bay, including a nesting pair I watched noisily drive a squirrel from their nest one day. Although the colours are shades of grey, I think they're quite photogenic in their own way. [Would have helped if I'd tidied up a couple - sensor dust, eh.]<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1581.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1581.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1593.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1593.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1594.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1594.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1630.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1630.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> On first glance I thought this was something different, with that highly curved bill, but it turned out to be across beaked mockingbird. It was one of a pair, so at least it's other partner thought it was good-looking. It kept adopting this fanned wing pose - don't know if there was a nest there and this was a display to me, or some other reason, but I left it in peace, rather than go digging around.<br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1655.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Birds,Wildlife" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1655.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1656.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1656.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-89025764464695422912009-04-30T15:16:00.000-07:002009-04-30T15:46:52.628-07:00Tibet-Butler Preserve<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I thought it might be nice to have a break from bird snaps at Bahama Bay - but there are more to come! I put up a post about this wildlife (p)reserve last time we went to Florida. It's just a couple of miles away from the outlet centres and Interstate, and yet it's an oasis of peace (can't beat a cliche). We tend to get there a bit late, and walking along the paths can be quite hot until you near the water. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There's a small feeding station at the preserve offices, but by this time the birds were skulking in the bushes. As was this snake. You will note the lack of head. That's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">because</span> it got into the bushes too quickly for me, and as I didn't know <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">what</span> it was I didn't poke around too much in there! I think it's a rat snake, and quite harmless, but it was a good couple of feet long.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1729.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Reptiles" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1729.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I've realised a lot of these pictures are insects. This is good for variety, but I don't know the names! <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Every</span> few steps the path would 'PING' into life as these quite large grasshoppers would shoot up and into the bushes. Except this one which stubbornly stayed put. Considering the pictures were all handheld with a 100-400 lens I'm quite pleased with some of the results below.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1716.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1716.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1719.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1719.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1720.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1720.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Is this a cicada?<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1721.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1721.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> As last <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">time</span> my eye was caught by the unusual lichens on the ground or on the trees.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1756.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1756.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1757.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1757.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />The appearance of the dragonflies was a clue we were nearing water.<br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1714.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1714.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1715.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1715.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1717.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1717.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Yes that is a waterlily leaf in the background ........<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1718.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Insect" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1718.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />we'd arrived at the large ponds. Lake Tibet (or perhaps Butler) is just behind the trees swathed in the Spanish Moss. One of the trees held an osprey nest.<br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09217.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09217.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09218.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09218.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />No turtles (terrapins) this time, but the frog appeared below the viewing platform. It was pretty chunky, so I can see why the tadpoles are big. Unfortunately there was no way to get down for a lower angle shot.<br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1730.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Amphibian" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1730.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> I can't ignore the birds completely - Black duck .......<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1597.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1597.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1598.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1598.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and Osprey.<br /><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1595.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1595.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1596.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1596.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Not vignetting in the first of the two shot, but the edge of the viewing platform shelter!)</span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-13236043259005320542009-04-29T15:05:00.000-07:002009-04-29T15:17:15.388-07:00Black Birds - Bahama BayThe small trees around the ponds provided ideal morning perches for two of the several US black birds (as against blackbirds) to stake their territories.<br />The redwinged blackbird doesn't look so dramatic at rest, but when it decides to call the effect is actually quite lovely as it flashes red and makes a Batman shape. The call itself is an unmistakable, but indescribable sound; one of those once-heard-never-forgotten calls.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1647.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1647.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1589.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1589.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1588.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1588.jpg" border="0" /></a> The following pics are of grackles. I think they're all boat-tailed, but the differentiation between common and boat tailed seems to be largely on of size and sheen. Few common birds shine like these boys in the right light.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1642.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1642.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1590.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1590.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1600.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1600.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-45238718757830367012009-04-26T13:43:00.000-07:002009-04-26T14:20:00.504-07:00Green Heron - Bahama BayEvery so often you come across a subject that grabs your attention, and you try that much harder, or want that much more to get some pictures. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hawfinch</span> have done that to me (3 days and 12 hours+ in my hide for maybe 10 minutes of action on the middle day, but I'd try again if it wasn't that there will be too much e<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lse</span> around over the next few weeks), and, for whatever reason the green heron captured my imagination last time we were in Florida. My book then called it a green backed heron, but it seems in the US as here names keep being modified.<br />They're just kind of cute, and I love the way that great long neck morphs out of the squat little figure you usually see.<br />The pictures below sort of show how I gradually got better views over my visits to the pond. It was almost as though they got used to this strange character (often in a degree of 'toy soldier' <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">camo</span> gear - but that's a story to follow) who kept <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">turning</span> up and eventually accepted me , at least if I wasn't moving around.<br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">pictures</span> also show how the light went from too dark for decent photo's to really quite harsh in just 30-40 minutes on any day the sun was out.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1634.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1634.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1624.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1624.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1643.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1643.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1650.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Green Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1650.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1636.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1636.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1644.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1644.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1638.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1638.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-40815266602334152502009-04-24T14:52:00.000-07:002009-04-24T15:11:55.840-07:00Egrets - Bahama BayI was going to call this post white herons, to follow from the last, but in truth these are all herons and egrets so I might as well call it egrets. There is a bird called a great white heron which isn't an egret, so let's not confuse things or provide false hope! There were three egrets I saw regularly at B Bay. The snowy egret, much like our own little egret, always seemed to be on the far side of the pond, and I didn't get any shots worth putting up. The great egret shown first is a lovely bird with that beautiful plume of feathers that shows so well in the dawn silhouette. Stalking through the reeds it seemed to catch tadpoles primarily, but none so large as the lbh!<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1646.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Great egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1646.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1645.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Great egret" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1645.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1641.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1641.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1646.jpg" target="_blank"></a><br />The surprise of this trip were the cattle egrets which I hadn't seen last time. At dusk they would fly into the reeds on the second pond to roost. We were usually still out at that time so I only watched them come in twice, and couldn't get any decent flight shots. In fact the thick reeds meant I struggled to get even these pictures below. In the early morning light they were off again, and I began to wonder if I would ever get a chance for a closer picture (the lower shot is a quite heavy crop, altho' it doesn't look too bad here). <br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1586.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1586.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1633.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Florida,Wildlife,Birds" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1633.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-28954358584085521542009-04-23T15:32:00.000-07:002009-04-24T14:37:03.824-07:00'Blue' Herons - Bahama BayOK, this isn't a heron, nor is it Bahama Bay resort. It's an osprey catching a fish in a very artificial pond at a shopping mall, taken with a compact digital camera which only has a 3x zoom lens. Although it's a rubbish shot, this is uncropped and demonstrates just what you can see over there without trying too hard.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09037.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Osprey" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09037.jpg" border="0" /></a> There'll be more examples to come from some of the theme parks, but I'll start with the place we stayed (for the second time). Bahama Bay is quite a big resort, and a pretty nice spot. It's out at Lake Davenport and so away from the main built up parts of Orlando.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09226.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bahama Bay" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09226.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />For me the pleasure of the place is mainly around the 2 ponds, and the lake featured in the gator shots of the last post. There is a bigger lake - Davenport itself - but access is quite limited. The ponds especially allow good access to the water and surrounding bushes, small trees.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=floridamarch09227.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Bahama Bay" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/floridamarch09227.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since we were there last the second pond had got hard to access waterwise, and even the one shown had lost the shoreline where I'd seen kildeer and snipe. Still there was plenty to see, and the next few posts will show what you can find at the resort without too much effort. Bit of fieldcraft and patience to photo some of the wildlfie, but the first two of the six heron/egret species found here are shown below.<br /><br />The little blue heron and the tricoloured heron (formerly Louisiana Heron) are superficially similar from a distance, but you can see the difference easily enough close up. They are not tiny birds, a bit bigger than our little egret, so you can appreciate what a whopping tadpole the little blue heron has caught. One of the l. blue herons had a fascinating way of fishing. It would fly up, calling loudly, and hover, after a fashion, low over the water before landing and stabbing at the same time. I saw it do this twice, and both times it caught a tadpole.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1592.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Blue Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1592.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1578.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Blue Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1578.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1587.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Little Blue Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1587.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There are better (well closer) shots of tricoloured heron to follow, but I had to include the one in the tree! Not sure what had spooked it, but it certainly was spooked.<br /><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1579.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Tricoloured Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1579.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1583.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Tricoloured Heron" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1583.jpg" border="0" /></a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-81746028869175783312009-04-21T15:13:00.000-07:002009-04-21T15:56:06.617-07:00Sunrise in an alligator's eyeI saw the sunrise in an alligator's eye. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1723.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1723.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Some mornings there was mist that hung over the lakes at Bahama Bay. Coming round to the big lake I saw the pied billed grebes, my original target, and with them my first Bahama Bay gator. Not a huge one, but big enough to be glad it was a way off. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1725.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1725.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It lazily swam out across the lake through the reflections of the surrounding apartment buildings, and out of camera range.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1727.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1727.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1726.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1726.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A couple of mornings later I was back at dawn, and went down to the waters edge to try and snap the grebes. As always they were shy and skittish, not helped by the racket a moorhen started to make in the reeds. A bit slow on the uptake it was only when the gator slid out from the reeds nearby I realised why it was so distressed.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1732.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1732.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Making sure I had a route away from the water (yeah, I'm a wary soul!) and that there was sufficient vegetation around to discourage a bigger brother from wandering down to me, I got down low to get some better angle shots as the sun came up.<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1733.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1733.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1735.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1735.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It drifted out to a patch of weed and just rested up, until I gave up first - more wildlife to try and photograph, and never enough time. I didn't see it again.<br /><a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1734.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1734.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Sunrise in the eye?<br />Here's a Bahama Bay sunrise .......<a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=Florida193.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/Florida193.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />and here's a close up of the eye. <a href="http://s619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/?action=view&current=DPP_1731.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Alligator" src="http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt275/wildsnaps/Florida%202009/DPP_1731.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Now tell me that's not the sunrise in there.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-78511747297377831992009-04-21T10:41:00.000-07:002009-04-21T10:46:56.026-07:00Bahama Bay, Florida 2007I will shortly be posting some new pictures from my 2009 trip to Orlando, but here below are some links to the blog posts I made on my last trip.<br /><br /><a href="http://wildsnaps.blogspot.com/2007/03/bahama-bay-florida.html">Wildlife Snapshots: Bahama bay, Florida</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-30599565563367309832009-04-21T10:40:00.000-07:002009-04-21T10:47:41.093-07:00Florida 2007 - refuges, preserves and the other bits#links<a href="http://wildsnaps.blogspot.com/2007/03/florida-refuges-preserves-and-other.html#links">Wildlife Snapshots: Florida - refuges, preserves and the other bits#links</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6116747124921472584.post-48618788047161647322009-04-21T10:38:00.000-07:002009-04-21T10:48:16.173-07:00Theme Park Wildlife, Florida 2007<a href="http://wildsnaps.blogspot.com/2007/03/theme-park-wildlife-florida.html#links">Wildlife Snapshots: Theme Park Wildlife, Florida#links</a>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03505265318764819564noreply@blogger.com0