This thoughtful Wood Stork‘s shaggy appearance makes him look like a wise old bird. But his pale, pinkish beak, and gray neck and head feathers, tell us that he is a juvenile, and distinguish him from older Wood Storks, who have dark bills and bald, scaly heads (see the ID section on All About Birds – Wood Stork)The […]
Tag Archives: Birds
iBird Plus describes the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher’s vocalization as “a distinctive, whining ‘pzzzz’ with a nasal quality”, and that’s exactly how I knew this little fellow was nearby.I was looking the other way when I heard that unmistakable squeaky call. I turned around was treated to the sight of this diminutive Gnatcatcher hopping about in full view!Gnatcatchers are non-stop foragers, […]
We encountered a lovely little group of Roseate Spoonbills the other day. This one scarcely lifted his head to look around before digging in again to gulp down some more brunch.Once the Spoonbill turned to face me directly, I couldn’t help but notice his girth (combined with the green duckweed clinging to his bill!). Now, […]
Such a perfect morning~! A wordless post. ☀️
I once thought the name of this bird was Little Green Heron because, well. . . . they’re so little, compared to all the large, tall wading Herons we see in the wetlands. As you can see by my Tag Cloud, I’ve written many blog posts about these photogenic Herons – they’re just so charming. Clever, […]
Are you familiar with the infamous plume trade that supplied the millinery industry just over 100 years ago? This sign at the entrance to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, near Naples, Florida, provides a glimpse into the history behind this practice . . . and, this incredible place. I cringe to think about it, but literally millions of […]
I spotted these two sweet, young adult Purple Gallinules the other day. . . . more colorful than their younger juvenile peers, but not yet as brilliant as they will be in their full adult colors. See this All ABout Birds comparison for more.
The Great Blue Herons are busy preparing for nesting and raising new families. Looking good and showing off in the evening. . . . Nest-building duties in the morning. . . .
The Osprey‘s powerful curved talons come in handy when landing in a tall, bare tree.Unlike other birds of prey, the Osprey‘s talons are “nearly cylindrical, rounded on the top and bottom . . .” (The Scottish Wildlife Trust), and “their toes are lined with short, stiff spikes for extra grip” (Audubon.org) as they catch and carry large […]
The Limpkins were enjoying a lovely morning at this preserve. . . . As I wrote in a recent post, the Apple Snails they love to eat are plentiful here this year.This young fellow had a little trouble negotiating his large find. But he eventually found a solid marshy clump to bang the shell on, and […]
