Tag Archives: Florida

Northern Pintail

February 5, 2018 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

A small group of various ducks and American Coots, about fifty or so, was gathered near the edge of the Black Point Wildlife Drive. They didn’t pay much attention to the birders and photographers that stopped to have a look on this morning.

This Northern Pintail pair found each other in the group…

…then went about their business.

Some of the pairs took off as others landed, a constant changing of the group throughout the morning.

This is the closest I’ve seen a Pintail and was delighted to see how gorgeous they are.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, 01/28/2018.

Shore Birds

Sanderlings

February 5, 2018 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I spotted this group of Sanderlings driving along Indian River Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The immediately took off, but returned with a flourish in just a few minutes.

I’ve usually seen them running along the surf, but this one loan Sanderling took a dip in water up to his belly.

Click on either photo for larger view.

Birds

Touch Down

February 4, 2018 Ellen Jennings 7 Comments

He’s all lined up:

Landing gear extended:

A gentle splash:

Another successful landing of the pelican express.

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Wading Birds

Fish for Dinner

February 4, 2018 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

“Oh”

The Great Blue Heron seemed to be showing off his catch, although it seemed risking that another bird might want to take it.

Back and forth he went while the fish continued to flop.

The heron eventually threw the fish on the ground.

Picked it up in a different position and went back into the reeds where he consumed his meal.

Click on any photo for larger view.

Wading Birds

Green Heron Work Out

February 1, 2018 Ellen Jennings 8 Comments

Water flow between impoundments at Black Point Wildlife Drive is controlled by culverts and some birds take advantage of the man-made waterflow to find food.

This Green Heron appeared to be defying gravity as he leaned over for a peak,

pulled back up,

then finally took the plunge.

Through this exercise his feet hardly moved despite the algae covered cement he was perched on.

For a very small reward:

Click on any photo for larger view.

Wading Birds

Tricolored Heron

January 31, 2018 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

I just returned from five days in Florida with five photographer friends. We spent time at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Viera Wetlands, St. Augustine Alligator Farm and few small spots in between.

We saw a wide variety of birds, many of which we also see in South Carolina. The ones that we were familiar with looked slightly different in some way. This may be due to differences in breeding plumage or diet.

One of the first birds we encountered was the Tricolored Heron.

Numbers of these herons were patrolling the swamp areas around Merritt’s Black Point Wildlife Drive, a 7-mile dike road around several shallow marsh impoundments and through pine flatwoods.

The slate-grey coloration of these Tricolored Herons was much deeper and there seemed to be less iridescence than the SC varieties.