Fort De Soto Park, Tierre Verde Florida
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This Laughing Gull was a standout in a flock of gulls. He called continuously in his high-pitched voice. This is an adult (3rd year) gull that will be transitioning to summer, mating colors which are basically the same but with a more reddish bill, and legs.
Brown Pelicans cruise low over the water, but dive into the water for food. They create quite a striking image, like the one in this picture, when diving for fish.
They are very large birds, with a 7'6" (2.3m) wingspan, and a length of 45-54 inches (1.1-1.4m). The picture looks best in large size.
Sunrise over the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge which carries I-275 and Rt-19 traffic across Tampa Bay connecting St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia. As seen from the East Beach of Fort De Soto Park. If 70mm captured the beautiful colors of the sky and reflections in the bay, I think 200mm captured the beautiful detail in the bridge and sun rays. Nine image, hand held vertical pano sweep, shot at 200mm, stitched in Lightroom and edited in Photoshop.
Driving in Fort De Soto Park, Florida in the morning you come to find that the park has many Osprey residents who prefer eating their breakfast on the tops of telephone poles that follow the roads. I stopped for a few and then this one decided to move on giving me this shot.
Sanderlings are the "whitest" of the peeps, especially in their winter plumage. There was a small group of Sanderlings at East Beach, Fort DeSoto, Florida. Some were transitioning to summer colors, but not this guy.
There weren't many stones to be unturned, but there was a lot of "seaweed" lining the beaches at Fort De Soto, Florida. So the Ruddy Turnstones did what they do best--turn stuff, including piles of seaweeds, searching for insects or small invertebrates.
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
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This poor bird spent a lot of time trying to swallow this fish without success, due to its shape. It would toss it and try to swallow, then it would be back out in the water again. After more than half an hour it finally surrendered it to a herring gull that was hovering nearby. With help I have finally been able to ID the fish as a pompano.
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Sunrise over the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge which carries I-275 and Rt-19 traffic across Tampa Bay connecting St. Petersburg, Florida to Terra Ceia. As seen from the East Beach of Fort De Soto Park. Eight image hand held vertical pano sweep shot at 70mm, stitched in Lightroom and edited in Photoshop.
Dancing Reddish Egret taken at Fort de Soto Florida, last month.
It's my 100th post on Flickr!
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Pictures are sometimes deceiving. When reading guide books for identification, we can sometimes be led astray by the information given: sizes, colors, length of head, length of bill. Birds sometimes change their shape, stretching, running, or stooping for example. Ages, time of year, and sexes also influence greatly a birds color, size and demeanor.
Here are pictures of two Dunlins (see previous post, or in the first comment below.) Though they look somewhat different, both share the same characteristics: smallish head and neck, black legs and bills, a bill that droops at the end.
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
At barely 6 inches (15cm), the Least Sandpiper is the smallest sandpiper commonly found in North America. It's yellowish legs separate it from other small sandpipers.
There were several Least Sandpipers skittering quickly across the East Beach, Fort De Soto, Florida.
This image was taken last Saturday morning April 20 after a huge storm came through on the Friday evening. I went to Fort De Soto Park in St Petersburg hoping for migrants, I was not disappointed, birds were everywhere in the sea grape trees feeding on the insects that were there. This will be the last image I post for awhile as we are traveling back home this week-end.
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Luring its prey into the shade provided by its wing.
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
Apparently there are four species of pusleys in Florida, and none listed in any of my six flower field guides. My information about them comes from internet postings by the U of Florida and by companies interested in killing pusleys.
Pusleys evidently are a scourge in gardens and lawns, quickly spreading, and considered weeds.
Although the flowers are small, this species is named Large Flower Pusley (the other pusley species have tiny flowers). When blooming en masse in Florida late winter/early spring, they are called Florida Snowweed, because they may carpet a lawn or field and resemble snow.
(The picture in the first comment below or in the previous post show how pusley flowers can displace other plants as it grows and spreads quickly)
This Reddish Egret is looking pretty pleased with his catch. Taken at Fort de Soto, Florida. Another photo is in the comment box.
Thank you for your visit and comments. They are very much appreciated.
Dunlins are shorebirds with a longish bill that droops at the tip. They may sometimes be seen with Dowitchers in shallow water rapidly probing the water for food.
Pictures are sometimes deceiving. When reading guide books for identification, we can sometimes be led astray by the information given: sizes, colors, length of head, length of bill. Birds sometimes change their shape, stretching, running, or stooping for example. Ages, time of year, and sexes also influence greatly a birds color, size and demeanor.
Here are pictures of two Dunlins (see the next post, or in the first comment below.) Though they look somewhat different, both share the same characteristics: smallish head and neck, black legs and bills, a bill that droops at the end.
Enjoying a snack in the surf at sunrise. The White Morph is my favourite shorebird to watch and photograph. As we spent a wonderful 45 mins with this performer just after sunrise on this particular morning you might just see one or two more photos!
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
On this occasion the fish was too fast for this Reddish Egret.
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
A young Brown Pelican lands in a lagoon at Fort De Soto, Florida.
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On a recent trip to Fort de Soto with my friends Scott and Ted, there were several Reddish Egrets working the shallow waters. Here's one with a nice catch. (Egretta rufescens)
This American Oystercatcher was taken at Fort de Soto a couple of days ago. As evidence that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was effective, this species became locally extinct in the American Northeast until the passage of that act protected it against hunting. They are now back and healthy. I've seen their nests, which are nothing more than shallow impressions in the sand. Easy to collect if unprotected by law. (Haematopus palliatus) (Sony a1, 200-600 at 273mm, 1/4000 second, f/6.3, ISO 1250)
Taken at Fort De Soto, Florida.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by and for leaving any comments or faves, they are very much appreciated.
Fred www.flickr.com/photos/darbyandme/ and I went to Fort De Soto yesterday. We didn't have much luck finding any birds to photograph but at least had some clouds. There are a lot of boring blue skies here:-)). Fred kept pointing out that it's winter here but hard to believe when it's gorgeous and in the 70's. My kind of winter!!