Sunday, April 22, 2012

Around Town

Amid our different schedule this week,  we were happy to be able fit in a Wednesday evening trip to the wetlands, a Thursday morning walk at the Moccasin Island Tract, and a dreary Saturday morning visit to the Click Ponds.

Least Tern
Viera Wetlands

The Least Terns and I seem to be frequenting the same areas lately. I saw them at both the wetlands and Click Ponds this week and I am still seeing them regularly along the Indian River.


The wetlands have quieted down quite a bit since the departure of the winter birds. The usual Herons, Egrets, Limpkins, Moorhens, Coots, Anhingas, Cormorants, Blue-winged Teals, Pied-billed Grebes, White & Glossy Ibises, and Ospreys were all visible. Red-winged Blackbirds, Savannah Sparrows, a Loggerhead Shrike, and Northern Mockingbirds were a few of the other birds we saw.

Red-shouldered Hawk
Moccasin Island Tract

I saw this Red-shouldered Hawk hanging out on a fence post, pulling something apart, on the drive out to Moccasin Island.

Red-shouldered Hawk
Moccasin Island Tract

Turned out to be an insect with large green wings.

Eastern Meadowlark
Moccasin Island Tract

I think you can guess what we heard on our Moccasin Island walk...

Boat-tailed Grackle
Click Ponds

The Click Ponds seemed overrun with Boat-tailed Grackles and dragonflies. We walked a section of the ponds where we observed a variety of activity in the wooded area that surrounds the ponds. It started with the plump Mockingbird with a bill deformity (I seem to be encountering quite a few of these lately).

Northern Mockingbird
Click Ponds

We saw a pair of Cardinals, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, several Mourning Doves, and one Common-ground Dove. We also saw a Gray Catbird, who decided to flash us a view its rufous-colored undertail coverts.

Gray Catbird
Click Ponds

We then spotted a large, in-flight raptor headed our way. It turned out to be a Bald Eagle, and it landed on a utility pole in the far distance, but still within view.

Bald Eagle
Click Ponds

Just as I thinking it was exciting to see the Eagle, a pair of juvenile/immature Bald Eagles flew overhead! I have never seen 2 young eagles flying together before. I guess Mom (or Dad) was trailing them to be sure they were staying out of trouble.

Sandhill Cranes 

Sandhill Cranes

I saw this new family of Sandhill Cranes on a quiet street by my house. I took these photos from the car.

29 comments:

  1. What can i say....these are so BEAUTIFUL, EXCELLENT, AMAZING..... great compliments Tammy.

    greetings, Joop

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  2. As much as I like raptors, I have to say your Meadowlark photo is my absolute favorite! That's a great shot! But the hawk and eagle are gorgeous. I never get tired of seeing them. Really liking the terns, too!

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  3. those baby cranes are so darn cute! i really loved that meadowlark shot, too. just beautiful!

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  4. Oh to see a wild Bald Eagle, how lucky you are to see these, what a sight. Great shots as ever Tammy.

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  5. Thanks for your comments on my Angry Skies picture in Shutterbugs capturing the world around us "Blog". By the way, I love all your birds shot. Also, please visit this blog again to view my upcoming bird pictures. Good Work!

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  6. Muy bonitas todas las fotos Tammy y la última muy tierna.
    Saludos!!

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  7. Oh well, you have excelled yourself, grand photos. My fave is the Least Terns, and close to it, is the second of the Sandhill Crane chick, superb.

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  8. Hola Tammy.. Buenas y variadas fotos.. Me gusta mucho el colorido del pájaro de la 5 foto... Precioso con esos tonos amarillos.. Y el águila de cabeza blanca una belleza.. Enhorabuena y un cordial saludo..
    Ana

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  9. Lovely images Tammy, I especially like the Least Terns because I am very fond of them. Well done!

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  10. Oh man those cranes are adorable.. And the hawk shots are great too- love to watch birds eat stuff!

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  11. As always, your images are fantastic. I especially love the baby Sandhill cranes.

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  12. That first Least Tern and the baby cranes are really something. I see Least Terns almost every day for work, but I never have my camera!!! Can't imagine what its like to have neighborhood cranes though.

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  13. Great selection of birds Tammy, what a fruitful visit and fantstically captured :-)

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  14. The Grackle may be plentiful, but they have character. Your image captures its true spirit.

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  15. Another great set of close-ups. Love the ones with the young cranes.

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  16. What a beautiful array of pictures again Tammy!
    They are all gorgeous!
    The Eastern Meadowlark amazes me most!
    Cheers!

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  17. Unas fotos espectaculares Tammy felicidades amiga. Saludos desde Extremadura.

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  18. Great shots of those Least Terns! I love seeing them. Still waiting to catch a glimpse of them here in coastal GA. And those Sandhill Crane chicks are just as sweet as can be!

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  19. Very beautiful bird shots Tammy!! Wonderful pictures !

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  20. The Eastern Meadowlark is a stunner Tammy.

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  21. What a great serie of birdphotos Tammy!
    I love the Meadowlark pose and the Least Tern. They are all great photos.
    The Bald Eagle are one of the Eagle I want to have in my photo gallery some day.
    Greetings / Kenny

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  22. Hola Tammy excelentes fotografias de estas distintas especies de aves.Un abrazo

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  23. There are some great images on your blog, but I especially like the Meadowlark!

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  24. There are some great images on your blog, but I especially like the Meadowlark!

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I greatly appreciate your comments!