Eagle at Tierra Verde, Florida

I took these photographs February 2011. I posted photographs taken February 2009 at the same location, click here to see the earlier post. The photographs then were of what I thought was a 3rd year eagle. So is this the 5th year, or has the 3rd year eagle gone and this is one of the original parent eagles?

Sorry, the photographs aren't closer, there is a pond between the nest and me. With signs that people are not allowed any closer, due to the eagle nest.

I retire the end of the month. I will see if I am able to get back to blogging, or if retirement will still have me too busy to sit in front of a computer.

Florida Hawk at resort

Supper time at the condo, but I think I got too close before he captured his supper.

We went to the park to see the Hawk and Osprey.

Didn't see either one, when we got back to our time share this Hawk was there.

I think it is a Florida Red Shoulder (which apparently look different than other Red Shoulder Hawks), but it could be the Broad Shoulder. A lady there told me it was a "Golden". Think she was thinking of eagles, which I do know it isn't an eagle.

This last photo was the second before it took flight.
Don't really care which type Hawk, he was just pretty to look at.

Oh, and if anybody is interested in the upper left corner is my Etsy site, you can see what I have been spending my time doing. As I list new purses they change there and you can keep an eye on my lastest listings. Right now I am knitting on a Red, White and Blue purse. Hopefully it will be listed in the next week.

Heron at Lake Seminole Park

I am not exactly sure which bird this is.
I did eliminate the Bittern, because he is not brown.

From a distance I told Jimmy it was a Green Heron.

But when I saw that LONG neck I decided it was not,
but the body is so small compared to the neck.
Sorry that the photos are not better.
The light was bad, and there was a chain link
fence between us, although the bird is not captive.

I have now decided again that it is a juvenile Green Heron.

My reference book is the Sibley Guide to Birds, page 64,
best I can tell Ninth Printing (pages could vary).

But what happens to that neck as it matures?

What does everybody out there think it is?

Snowy Egret -- St Pete Beach

All of these photographs of the Snowy Egret were taken
at sunset along St Pete Beach, Florida.
This Egret has one injured leg, but he did fine with it.
We saw him several different days along the edge of the water.

White Ibis on St Pete Beach

When we were in St Pete Beach in June I saw a White Ibis on the beach.

This was the first time I have ever seen a White Ibis on the beach there. So I was snapping away.

Then Mason noticed his Granny was paying attention to something other than him.

And off he went to investigate. Mason looks like he is ready to fly. I laugh at this picture everytime I look at it.

He couldn't catch him (mainly because we wouldn't let him),

so he is headed back to the water.

I was really surprised how much Mason liked the sand and the ocean. My children were not crazy about the sand at his age. Mason wore us out before he was tired of it, everytime we took him to the beach. Lindsey did a great job of keeping the sunscreen on him and you can barely tell he has gotten any sun.

Osprey in flight

This was my attempt at capturing the Osprey in flight over the water.

I was having a very hard time.

Practice makes perfect, but I sure need a lot more practice.

These were all taken at Lake Seminole Park in

Seminole, Florida during our February 2009 visit.

Snowy Egret at St Pete Beach - October 2008

These Snowy Egret photos were taken on St Pete Beach,

when we were there in October 2008.

That trip we saw more than usual of the egret, herons, and pelicans on the beach.

I have been really busy filling greeting cards orders during the last week,

especially people planning for Mother's Day. Sorry for the rushed post here.

Right now I am going to meet some of the ladies at church

for a peaceful lunch before going to work this afternooon.

Osprey landing in tree

This Osprey was at Lake Seminole Park, February 2009. The man made stand for a nest was close by.

This tree also had 3 Great Blue Heron nest.

In February it seemed odd to me that the birds were nesting,

but spring comes earlier in Florida than it does in Tennessee.

And he settles down with his eye on his mate in the nest.

We hope to see the young Osprey in June when we go back to St Pete.

Roseate Spoonbills at St Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery

These Roseate Spoonbills were at the Rookery

at St Augustine Alligator Farm, April 2008.

I did not see any Spoonbills at nest that afternoon,

they were just high in the trees.

Spoonbills are one of birds that almost became extinct in the early 1900's

due to the beauty of their feathers.

The pink feathers were used in lady's hats.

I saw my first Spoonbills at Lake Seminole Park in February 2008,

so I was really excited to see them at the alligator farm rookery.

The rookery there consist of birds that come every year to nest,

but are not in captivity.

Wood Stork at Lake Seminole Park and at Rookery

The first 2 photos of the Wood Stork were taken at Lake Seminole Park in February 2008.

This was the first time I saw a Wood Stork,

and had no idea what it was.

The last 2 photos are from the St Augustine Alligator Farm Rookery, taken April 2008.

The Rookery is full of birds that just come there to nest,

they are not in captivity.