Love having the preserve behind us. We get a lot of birds at our feeder. They go through a full feeder every day. This spring we have a few new regulars---like some Gold Finches.
Showing posts with label birding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birding. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
4-10-17 back to George Pierce park: And the start of our pool renovations!!!!!
This time I took my "birding" lens---my 150-600mm lens. Only we (Ken and I) got there about 2pm. By then it was a bit warm and the sun was beating down. It got up in the 80s today, but it was still really nice. Birding wasn't as good today. I presume it was because of the time of day that we went---or that it's easier to find birds when 16 other people are telling you where they are. But I was happy to be able to use my good lens again.
I believe this is a blue gray gnatcatcher.
I was excited to see these guys. I didn't see them Sat.---but I imagine the rest of the bird watchers did. I saw a couple of these guys 1 time in Florida at Green Cay. They are very distinguishable---cedar wax wings.
This time I took my "birding" lens---my 150-600mm lens. Only we (Ken and I) got there about 2pm. By then it was a bit warm and the sun was beating down. It got up in the 80s today, but it was still really nice. Birding wasn't as good today. I presume it was because of the time of day that we went---or that it's easier to find birds when 16 other people are telling you where they are. But I was happy to be able to use my good lens again.
I believe this is a blue gray gnatcatcher.
Saturday, April 8, 2017
4-8-17 Southern Wings Birding Club at George Pierce County Park:
Yea! I found a club! Unfortunately they only meet once a month, but today was the meeting for this month. I almost missed it----I did an internet search a couple days ago for birding clubs and saw this one with an outing to George Pierce Park today. I've been curious about the Suwanee trail there since that's the trail that's suppose to eventually connect to the one here by our complex, so I emailed the person listed on the site and waited for a reply. Come Friday there was still no reply. So when we were out, we stopped by the Wild Bird Store nearby and asked if they knew anything about the event. She gave me a couple phone numbers and info on where they were meeting today.
So I got up bright and early---8 am, and was out the door about 8:20. Made my way to the park and easily found the group. It was a brisk morning---about 60---but warmed up into the mid 60s by noon. We had 17 in our group. Everyone was very friendly. We spent about 3 1/2 hours wandering a mile or 2 out and then retracing our steps. I believe they tallied 47 different species of birds. The birds here were much harder to find then the ones at Wakodahatchee, but it was still fun. And I loved the walkway! I didn't take my "birding" lens since it's so big and I didn't know if I'd be able to rest if on railings now and then, but someone else had one like it on a tripod. Turned out there were several rails that I could have rested it on for taking pictures. I will be going back there with that lens. I will also be going back there with my bike!
And we're off----
looking back at the rest of the group.
Yea! I found a club! Unfortunately they only meet once a month, but today was the meeting for this month. I almost missed it----I did an internet search a couple days ago for birding clubs and saw this one with an outing to George Pierce Park today. I've been curious about the Suwanee trail there since that's the trail that's suppose to eventually connect to the one here by our complex, so I emailed the person listed on the site and waited for a reply. Come Friday there was still no reply. So when we were out, we stopped by the Wild Bird Store nearby and asked if they knew anything about the event. She gave me a couple phone numbers and info on where they were meeting today.
So I got up bright and early---8 am, and was out the door about 8:20. Made my way to the park and easily found the group. It was a brisk morning---about 60---but warmed up into the mid 60s by noon. We had 17 in our group. Everyone was very friendly. We spent about 3 1/2 hours wandering a mile or 2 out and then retracing our steps. I believe they tallied 47 different species of birds. The birds here were much harder to find then the ones at Wakodahatchee, but it was still fun. And I loved the walkway! I didn't take my "birding" lens since it's so big and I didn't know if I'd be able to rest if on railings now and then, but someone else had one like it on a tripod. Turned out there were several rails that I could have rested it on for taking pictures. I will be going back there with that lens. I will also be going back there with my bike!
And we're off----
Friday, March 17, 2017
3-17-17 our bird friends:
I love being able to look out our living room window and seeing so many birds. I even made hummingbird water today. Haven't put it out yet, but it's ready and getting cool. But for now, we have lots of birds to watch. Not to mention the family of squirrels that we keep trying to keep out of the bird feeder. There are birds at the feeder almost all day now.
Such as this female Cardinal
We have some new regulars now, too! Love having colorful birds coming to visit. I believe this is a Goldfinch
I love being able to look out our living room window and seeing so many birds. I even made hummingbird water today. Haven't put it out yet, but it's ready and getting cool. But for now, we have lots of birds to watch. Not to mention the family of squirrels that we keep trying to keep out of the bird feeder. There are birds at the feeder almost all day now.
Such as this female Cardinal
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Feb. 10, 2017 (part 2) Apopka Lake wildlife area:
It looked like Apopka was sort of on our way back to Orange Lake from the Albin Polasek museum and sculpture garden, so we headed there to see if it was as great as it was when we were there on Sunday. No birds eating snakes, turtles or crustaceans, but it was still pretty neat.
Heading into the drive.
We've seen a lot of Ospreys since we've been in Orlando, but this was the first Hawk we saw.
An alligator posing nicely.
Palm warbler
Did catch this Cormorant getting some dinner.
This time we even saw two Sandhill Cranes there. They looked like they were amused by us bird watchers.
an Osprey
Great Blue Heron
flying Osprey
another view of the roadway.
glossy Ibis with an itch
a Limpkin
some of the wildflowers along the way
a Bittern
more wildflowers.
These guys were buddies---following each other around.
Northern Shoveler---love their odd beaks.
Green Heron
another Great Blue
a couple Teals
the hawk in flight.
Snowy Egret
sneaky alligator
????
After driving through the 11 mile loop of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, we went to the park at the North Shore Trailhead to take a walk.
Had a little trouble figuring out the map, but finally got it.
more wild flowers.
The trail was by the lake, but there wasn't much going on there.
saw several animal prints, but not many animals----
other than 4 or 5 armadillos!
and this wood pecker.
our selfie
at least there were some interesting wild flowers
Almost back to the car.
Ken looked up what this was all about. It's in memory of the 49 killed at a nightclub in Orlando last year by a terrorist.
Sunset from the car as we were driving back to Orange Lake.
No clouds, but still an interesting sunset.
We were told of a couple other places that we should go to not too far from Kissimmee for great bird watching. Unfortunately this was our last day there and I've already forgotten the names of those places! But it was nice finding out that Orlando is a great place for birding, too. You don't have to go to Orlando just for Disney.
It looked like Apopka was sort of on our way back to Orange Lake from the Albin Polasek museum and sculpture garden, so we headed there to see if it was as great as it was when we were there on Sunday. No birds eating snakes, turtles or crustaceans, but it was still pretty neat.
Heading into the drive.
Friday, February 10, 2017
Feb. 9, 2017---the ever popular Lakefront Park!
I guess if you live near there it is, but I had never heard of it and still wouldn't have heard of it if we didn't need a couple new tires for our Taurus. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Loved the park and that whole area. I think it's still part of Kissimmee, but it was about 30 minutes down 192 from Orange Lake. Ken made a 2 pm appointment to get the tires changed, so we left early and decided to check out Lakefront Park which was only a couple miles from the tire shop. Don't know if it's listed as a birding place, but I did run into someone else there who was staying at Orange Lake and they had been told about this park for birding. It turned out to be quite nice!
Our first birds---a group of white ibises
a female grackle. I love the sound the grackles make!
I guess if you live near there it is, but I had never heard of it and still wouldn't have heard of it if we didn't need a couple new tires for our Taurus. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise! Loved the park and that whole area. I think it's still part of Kissimmee, but it was about 30 minutes down 192 from Orange Lake. Ken made a 2 pm appointment to get the tires changed, so we left early and decided to check out Lakefront Park which was only a couple miles from the tire shop. Don't know if it's listed as a birding place, but I did run into someone else there who was staying at Orange Lake and they had been told about this park for birding. It turned out to be quite nice!
Our first birds---a group of white ibises
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Feb. 8, 2017 to Merritt Island and the Cape Canaveral Sea Shore:
This was the one place I knew I wanted to go to before we even came to Orlando. I came across several people at Wakodahatchee last year that said I had to go to Merritt Island for the best birding. It is a bit of a drive from the Orlando area---about 1 1/2 hours, but it was a pretty drive.
Our first hint that we were going over a large body of water and over to an island.
heading onto the island.
This was the one place I knew I wanted to go to before we even came to Orlando. I came across several people at Wakodahatchee last year that said I had to go to Merritt Island for the best birding. It is a bit of a drive from the Orlando area---about 1 1/2 hours, but it was a pretty drive.
Our first hint that we were going over a large body of water and over to an island.
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