Red-headed Woodpecker
I last shared a photo of a Red-bellied Woodpecker, this post shares another woodpecker species, the Red-headed Woodpecker.
Whew, time flies when things get crazy busy, leaving you no time for hobbies. I’ve missed posting, and I’ve missed your blogs! Getting home a month later than planned due to the pandemic, we had much to do, crammed in half the time left, before departing for a preplanned June trip.
Whew again. We are now in Indiana for our scheduled warranty work appointment on our RV.
As soon as we arrived, I immediately saw a beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker making its rounds on the trees around us at the campground. It didn’t take long to get a couple nice photos of it.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker hopping up the tree with its larvae snack
Hmmmm…..wonder what other birds and wildlife I’ll be finding in Indiana for the next few weeks while here? 😉
Red-bellied Woodpecker on a Fence
This is a first for me to see a woodpecker resting on a fence, so that adds to my thrill of getting this pretty shot.
Red-bellied Woodpecker (male)
Reflecting Birds on a Foggy Morning
Arriving at the 10,000 Islands NWR early one morning this past March, the rising sun was just beginning to burn off a light fog.
I hurried to my favorite location to see what I might find in the shallow pools between the mangroves.
I couldn’t believe the spectacular sight….
Great Egrets
Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons
Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Cormorant
Great Egrets, Roseate Spoonbills
Great Egrets, Great Blue Heron
Reflecting Birds on a Foggy Morning
In just a few minutes, the fog disappeared. The bright sun aroused the birds; and just as quickly, they left, off to find their breakfast and begin their day.
Eye of an Alligator
High on an embankment, I followed this American Alligator slowly floating along a canal. I thought the water and reflections were pretty and added a nice touch.
American Alligator
The alligator slowed down to a stop. So I stopped too, and remained still in my safe spot. Good, I thought, now I can try some close-ups of its eye.
When I processed my photos, I was not expecting to find this….
Alligator’s Eye Reflecting Me #1
See me?
S/he started moving again, so again I slowly followed. I had no idea that I had captured my reflection in the alligator’s eye.
In this next photo, you can see a wooden road barrier I am behind.
Alligator’s Eye Reflecting Me #2
The alligator floated eventually into the sunlit water, overexposing the scene so I turned around and left, hoping I got some good close-ups. 😊
(photos take January 2020, Big Cypress National Preserve Park, Florida)
Black-bellied Plover
Looking through my long lens, I knew I had something special when I saw this bird foraging way out on a sandbar a few days ago.
Welcome to my bird lifer list, #206 Black-bellied Plover! They are the largest and heaviest of our North American plovers.
My crops are heavy but still good enough to ID thankfully.
Black-bellied Plover
Black-bellied Plovers are also the hardiest of the plovers, breeding farther north than others, all the way to the very top of the world.
Black-bellied Plover foraging
A widespread shorebird, the Black-bellied Plover is found on six continents.
I’m thinking, it’s about time I’ve photographed this beauty!
Snowy Egret Having A Bad Hair Day
An early morning walk this past week along a berm of rocks, and this unexpectedly popped up before me!
Snowy Egret’s Bad Hair Day
As the Snowy Egret managed its wiggly snack, I stepped forward to hopefully get some of those rocks out of the frame.
Snowy Egret managing its wiggly snack in the wind
Oops! Now the Snowy Egret sees me and quickly stands tall on alert.
I quickly looked away and stood still, waited a bit, and then looked back out the corner of my eye. The egret was still there but had turned the other direction, no longer concerned with me.
There were more important things on its mind…..like washing that tasty snack!
Snowy Egret with crustacean
Snowy Egret washing its snack
Now its ready to eat!
Snowy Egret dipping/washing its crustacean meal in the water
No more photos to share in this series, which means…..no, I did not get the gulp! Argh!! 😉
Killdeers and a Nest
For the past couple weeks, I’ve been watching a pair of Killdeer.
Killdeer
Killdeer
It took a few days before I walked into a specific area and suddenly had one of the Killdeers screaming at me, bobbing and running, then putting on their broken-wing display. This is the Killdeer’s defense distraction, to feign injury to lure a predator’s attention to them and away from their nest.
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer’s ‘fake injury’ defense
Killdeer feigning injury to draw my attention
Killdeer use a scrape on the ground for their nest, sometimes in gravel.
I scanned the gravel along the shed nearby.
Do you see the nest and eggs?
(dead center)
Killdeer Eggs
While one incubates…..
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
Killdeer incubating eggs
the mate stays nearby, foraging and guarding their territory.
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer in flight
Killdeer foraging
Killdeer
Killdeer eggs hatch in 22-28 days. I am hoping to see and share little ones before they vacate the nest after birth. They look like cotton balls on stilts!
A Nautical Twist
A little twist to my normal photos.
These three nautical visions caught my eye back in March….
“Anchor”
“Furled Sail”
“Sailboat Mast & Line Reflections”
Wood Stork Gallery
While observing the Wood Stork, English naturalist Richard Bradley (1688?–1732) noted, “Their faces look like an old country man that’s had too much sun and is much in need of a facelift.”
This past winter, high on my Florida photo-op wish list was the uniquely gorgeous Wood Stork.
Here are more of my favorite captures to share their beauty!
Wood Stork 01 reflection
Wood Stork 02 taking off
Wood Stork 03 habitat
Wood Stork 04
Wood Stork 05 preening
Wood Stork 06 landing
Wood Stork 07
Wood Stork 08
Wood Stork 09
Wood Stork 10
Wood Stork 11
Wood Stork 12 reflection
Wood Storks
Palm Warblers
Palm Warblers are making their way north in their Spring migration to their breeding grounds in the upper Great Lakes, Maine, and Canada.
Here’s some of my sightings.
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warblers
Watch for yours enroute through or for arrival!
Bay Photos by Donna 