Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (BBWDs) can be found year-round here in Florida, across much of the rest of the southern U.S., and throughout Central and South America. (eBird) They are frankly always handsome, but during the breeding season, they seem especially scrupulous about preening and bathing and looking their best! 😉 These charming birds are endlessly […]
Tag Archives: Birds
The White Ibis, with its brilliant blue eyes, is one of the most abundant wading birds in Florida. White Ibises frequent saltwater marshes, coastal swamps, freshwater wetlands, ponds, fields – and lawns. They probe in the mud for small prey such as insects, crustaceans, and worms (See All about Birds, White Ibis). . . . which explains why […]
At first glance, this hawk sitting in a large tree near our home looked somewhat like a Red-shouldered, a species we see often here. But it surprised us that he just sat there and never moved a bit, even as we got very close. We soon realized why. . . . The hawk was being ‘buzzed’ mercilessly by at least four loud […]
An hour before sunset, we were just finishing our walk at the local wildlife refuge, one of the only places nearby that didn’t close during the coronavirus. Miles of trails make it possible for visitors to hike and enjoy over a thousand acres of marsh and fresh water wetlands without coming close to other people.This alert […]
It’s always exciting to spot a secretive American Bittern stalking around in the marsh. Unlike other herons who will often fly off when disturbed, the well-camouflaged Bittern will frequently stay right where it is, trying ever so hard to hide amongst the tall leaves. To enhance the effect of pretending to be part of the plant life, “alarmed birds ‘skypoint’, swaying […]
BirdNote recently highlighted this quote from an opinion piece in the Washington Post by Wendy Paulson of the Bobolink Foundation. I couldn’t agree more: ‘My hope is that when we emerge from this troubling time, people around the globe will find themselves more keenly aware of how blessed we are by the gifts of the […]
One of the most specatcular sights at Arenal Observatory Lodge in Costa Rica is the abundance and variety of hummingbirds~!! These tiny birds were buzzing about everywhere, every day, but, oh, so hard to photograph! As I mentioned in previous posts, our guide, Christian, was marvelous, but my memory for these particular species may be flawed. […]
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