Tag Archives: Feeding

Turtle, It’s What’s For Lunch

January 17, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk standing on the ground at the side of a pond and approached slowly. Other times I’ve seen them do this the bird was squeezing his next meal, but I didn’t see any food here.

Afterwards, when I zoomed in on what I thought was a tree root or Cypress knee, it turned out to be a turtle standing on its end.

Who knew a Red-shouldered Hawk could lift so much?He didn’t struggle at all and disappeared into the woods with his catch

I don’t know what made the hawk take off; I was standing still and the only human in view.

These were taken with the Sony Alpha 6500 which uses an electronic viewfinder, not the best arrangement for images of birds in flight due to the lag time.

Sony Alpha 6500, Sony 55-210 mm, at 210 mm.

Shore Birds

Forster’s Tern

December 28, 2018 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

I’ve watched several Forster’s Terns the last few times I’ve been to the rice field impoundment. They are incredibly acrobatic in flight, twisting and turning, then swooping down to the water to go after small fish.

They are quite striking birds, even in non-breeding plumage. When they’ve make the turn and loop back for another run at the pond is the best opportunity to photograph them.

And did I mention they are fast? This is the best I got this day for a dive.

If they pick up a small fish with their feet they quickly pass it to their mouth and down the hatch it goes.

Water Birds

American White Pelicans Feeding

December 10, 2018 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Groups of White Pelicans tend to stick together when they feed, paddling along slowly and scooping up fish.

No crazy diving antics like the Brown Pelicans for the White Pelicans, but they look just as goofy.

This group followed the edge of the marsh reeds, which doesn’t make an attractive image now that the vegetation has died back, but probably the fish like to be around the stems.

These two kept going making a nice ripple in the water while the rest of the group turned back.

Water Birds

Possession

December 1, 2018 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

I didn’t see the shrimp arrive or which gull had it first.

The gull on the right was in hot and noisy pursuit when the possessor of the moment took to the air.

Unfortunately the shrimp broke apart.

Or not, if you are gull number two diving in for the recovery of what looked like the bigger piece.

Raptor

Eagle Fishing in Canal

November 25, 2018 Ellen Jennings 3 Comments

The rice field impoundments and canals were busy last Saturday morning including a Bald Eagle that was scooping up fish. There had been a die-off over night, likely due to a sudden temperature drop to near freezing.

The Great Egrets went about their business without any fuss.

I was quite a distance from the action but it was cool to see a few Eagles swooping over the Great Egrets and Alligators.

Animals

Dolphins Strand Feeding, Junior Watching

November 19, 2018 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

This trio of Dolphins charged the beach head on instead of from the side as I’ve usually seen.

The Dolphin on the left was hanging on tight to his catch.

As they continued to chase the fish herded to the water’s edge the Dolphin in the middle got a fish.

I didn’t notice it at the time, but a juvenile Dolphin was watching from a safe distance. I wonder if the Dolphin on the left was holding this catch to feed the youngster or if he/she was just too busy getting back in the water.