Busy Great Blues

The Viera Wetlands is the place to be right now if you enjoy watching Great Blues carrying out mating rituals! There are nests atop palms scattered throughout the wetlands. The most popular area has a cluster of 8 palms with four of them currently under construction with nests.

The Great Blues come and go frequently. They take off to near by berms to search for just the right stick for their partner. Mates can be eagerly waiting for the arrival of a "gift", usually a stick or twig.

Some pairs were repeating the gift giving over and over...

Some pairs seemed to be just adjusting to the awkwardness of sharing such close quarters with another heron. 

And for this pair, the bonding seemed to be off to a rough start.

A nosy neighbor checks in on the squabbling pair.

Some pairs already appear to be incubating eggs. With the incubation period being 25-30 days, maybe we will see some offspring soon!

Happy New Year!!!

And 2014 is here already! Over this past month, I was very happy to take a few trips to the wetlands and spend some time away from the hectic daily pace.

As I walked along a section closed to vehicles, I came across this River Otter frolicking in the dirt. With a giant grin, I quickly sat down to watch one of my favorite, playful wetland dwellers in action.

Some dirt + some sun= one happy otter!!!

One day as I was pulling into the Click Ponds, I caught a glimpse of this beautiful Bald Eagle flying straight towards me! And then I realized that my camera was still zipped up securely in the camera bag....I did manage to get it out in time for one quick, somewhat blurry shot as the eagle passed.

 After a low pass of the ponds waters, sending the pond occupants scattering in mutliple directions, the eagle landed nearby on a utility pole. I soon thought to my self if the eagle is looking up, perhaps I should be too.

Sure enough, the eagle's mate was circling and soon the pair departed together.

And, yes it's that time of the year again...

While I do miss having different seasons in Florida, it is fun to still come across butterflies in December. Following this rapidly fluttering little blue, I assumed it was a Ceraunus Blue, as most little blues I come across are. I was excited to discover it was actually a similiar species, the Cassius Blue. Both species are teeny, tiny (wingspan 15-25 mm) with violet blue (inner) wing coloring.

I was able to capture a few photos (my first of this species) and the tiny butterrfly disappeared. As I was attempting to relocate it, I came across the more common Ceraunus Blue.

New Years is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the feeling of a new beginning, writing resolutions and goals for the new year...I wish you the very best in the 2014...

My your coming year

be filled with

magic and dreams

and good madness.

I hope you read some fine books

and kiss someone

who you think is wonderful

And don't forget to make some art

write or draw

or build or sing 

or live only as you can.

And I hope, somewhere in the next year,

you surprise yourself.

~Neil Gaiman

So You Think You Can Fly

For the past week or so I've watched the juvenile Osprey spend a great deal of its time preparing for its big upcoming adventure...fledging!

For up to 2 weeks before fledging, juvenile Ospreys prepare by exercising their wings.

For the past few days, the Osprey has been lifting off and hovering above the nest (also known as helicoptering).

Each time I see this, I'm certain the Osprey is just going to take off, but it doesn't.

I think the Osprey was even practicing its fishing catching technique.

Well, yesterday was the big day. The juvenile Osprey finally left the nest! Its first landing place was a large branch just above the nest. The Osprey stayed there for several hours. Some serious drama erupted during this time as a wayward juvenile from another nest decided to be a nest crasher...(my next post). The Osprey took a few flights later in the day as its mom shadowed close behind. 

Osprey Action

Ospreys are plentiful around my house. There are actually nests every 1/4 mile for several miles. They have been partaking in nesting activities for several months. I haven't, however, seen or heard any babies in any of the nests.

Two's company, three's a crowd...yup...these Ospreys aren't fond of visitors. 

They usually quickly escort unwanted intruders away...

...with a stern warning to stay away or else!

The happy couple back together!

Dinner time!

I captured this Osprey yesterday evening enjoying its dinner as the sun was setting!

Viera Wetlands 4/27/13

I made an early morning trip to the Viera Wetlands and adjacent "Click" Ponds this morning. This Loggerhead Shrike was perched on a sign along the narrow road leading into the wetlands. I thought it would take flight as I made my way through the entrance but instead it just glared at me. Maybe it was trying to figure out how to hang me on the fence as it does its other prey.

There are still a handful of active Great Blue Herons at the wetlands. This heron was spending its Saturday morning doing what many of us do, making home repairs. This heron had two young chicks that appeared to be less than 2 weeks old. Mom made multiple trips to some nearby shrubs to gather additional material for the nest.

Across the gravel drive was an active Anhinga nest. This mass of woven sticks was sitting delicately on the side of a palm tree, overhanging the water. The tops of these same palms had earlier in the season been occupied by nesting Great Blues.

I saw four mostly white, fluffy chicks in the nest. Three of them were very active, but I didn't see any movement from the fourth chick. Young Anhinga typically stay in the nest for up to 3 weeks.

In addition to the GBHs and the Anhinga, I also saw a few Green Herons gathering nesting materials. There is also a massive Cattle Egret nesting area at the wetlands. The air space in that area is quite congested with Egrets coming and going as they gather materials. Grackles can also be add to the nesting list. The crows were causing a disruption among the Grackles this morning. I guess I wasn't the only one who wanted eggs for breakfast...

 Black-necked Stilts are still hanging around the ponds and wetlands. I just love to see these long-legged beauties!

Hope you have a great week!