Herons – Great Blue & Little Blue
A Great Blue Heron arrived to fish alongside a Little Blue Heron.
Silhouetted size comparison
Great Blue Heron (background), Little Blue Heron (foreground)
As I walked slowly down the trail to the left, both herons began walking to my right, just as I had hoped, continuing their fishing.
Here’s my favorite shot of each heron once I got positioned between the sunlight and them.
Great Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
— Photos taken at Everglades NP, Gulf Coast
A Friendly Feathered Face – Osprey
I knew I’d be back in the loop with my favorite bird, the Osprey, once we settled in Florida. 😊
Osprey
Our Chesapeake Bay region Osprey arrive in March and then migrate August/September to the South America region for the winter.
Here in Florida, Osprey are year-round residents. Mated pairs are rebonding and building nests here already.
Osprey
I’m guessing you know you’ll be seeing more of this bird in my future posts. 😉
Florida’s Pelicans
After years of wanting to visit Florida’s remote Everglades National Park and surrounding areas, we’ve finally made it this winter, setting up camp alongside the Barron River in Everglades City.
Brown Pelican
Everglades City is a total of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km) with a resident population of less than 500. No main stores, no fast food, just a small, resilient fishing community that has endured hurricane after hurricane, their last major devastation occurring with Irma in September 2017.
Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican
We picked Everglades City for its laid-back/no crowds atmosphere and as an excellent nature/wildlife pivot point to the surrounding nature areas. No traffic congestion here.
White Pelicans
When I would think of Florida as a kid, I would think Pelicans. They were cool with their awkwardness and prehistoric looks.
White Pelicans
Brown Pelican – “Why The Long Face?”
I will enjoy my Pelican opportunities!
Squirreling Around
Happy New Year to all of you! I wish you a year full of good health, much joy, and lasting prosperity!
With the holidays behind us, my husband and I have taken off on an adventure for warmer weather to visit new places and search for its promised amazing wildlife. I’ll reveal that exciting location in my next post.
For now, I’ll share this adorable squirrel who posed nicely for me while scampering around the woods behind our overnight campsite in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Squirrel – Sittin’ Pretty
“The beauty and charm of the wilderness are his for the asking,
for the edges of the wilderness lie close beside the beaten roads of the present travel.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
Red-bellied Woodpecker
There are several species of resident woodpeckers around Lake Greenwood.
One of those is the Red-bellied Woodpecker.
Red-bellied Woodpecker at sunset
I stood still and followed this one, as (s)he darted from tree to tree at sunset.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Blue Jay Gallery
I found it a fun challenge on capturing the timid, fast-flying Blue Jay.
Blue Jays sittin’ pretty
They seemed to know this and teased me endlessly. 😉
Blue Jays in flight
“Ha ha ha, catch me if you can!”
Blue Jay ‘shooting’ up to the tree branch from the ground
Wishing all of you and yours a wonderful, blessed Holiday season. Safe travels!
Beautiful Brown Birds
Two bird species, colored and patterned beautifully in reddish-brown.
Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher foraging the ground
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren enjoying the view
Series: Take A Moment and Enjoy A Sunset
With all the hustle-bustle of the holiday season rushing around you, have you had a moment to stop and enjoy a sunset?
Sunset over Lake Greenwood – 11/22/19
Same sunset 11 minutes earlier as a reflection on our RV
“Never go too long without watching a sunset.”
– Atticus
Common Loons
In the early morning and late evening hours on Lake Greenwood, you can hear the distant eerie calls of the Loons echoing over the quiet waters.
Common Loons
Have you ever heard them?
Common Loons have four distinct calls to identify.
The tremelo call, also known as the “crazy laugh”, used to signal alarm.
The wail call, also known as the “wolf’s howl”, used during social interactions between loons, to locate a mate during the night, and in answering other loon tremolos.
The Yodel call is given only by the male to defend his territory.
The Hoot call is a one-note call used by family members to locate each other and check on their well-being.
(All Loon audios courtesy “The Loon Preservation Committee” at http://www.loon.org)
Common Loons at sunset
Distinguishing their calls gives insight on what they’re doing….
and us knowing it’s not some wild animal somewhere nearby on land. 😉
Common Loons swimming off into the sunset
Beautiful Cardinals
More captures of the beautiful Northern Cardinal.
Northern Cardinal (male)
Northern Cardinal (female)
Northern Cardinal (female)
Bay Photos by Donna 