So many birds….

On January 30, 2017January 31, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

Black bellied whistling ducks are a rare sight to see up close. Years ago they would hang out right on the trail and the trees right on the trail would be full of them. Now you can only hear them whistling off in the distance.

A great blue heron with a snack.

The marsh has been overrun with glossy ibis.

A few Wilson’s Snipes have been seen here. This one was on Alligator Alley Trail.

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It’s always fun to see the little purple clowns (gallinules).

Green herons have taken over.

Come of the birds on my recent trip to Circle B Bar Reserve.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

Christmas night sunset

On January 26, 2017January 26, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights4 Comments

We headed over to the beach for a sunset walk on Christmas night. Clearwater beach was so packed that we didn’t stay long. We drove past the beach after a walk on Sand Key beach and then stopped along the causeway to take some pictures before heading home.

It was a beautiful night. Yes, that’s you standing in front of the water taking a picture Debbie.

Big birds up high

On January 19, 2017January 19, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Very young bald eagle soaring up high.

An adult eagle coming right over my head.

Across the marsh, I saw another eagle bringing a big branch back to the nest.

A great egret going by with a snack.

There’s always a lot of great blue herons flying around on Alligator Alley.

There’s been a great blue heron sitting on the nest for several weeks now. This must be the male taking his turn. Look at that grumpy face.

An osprey having a snack on the trail.

Typical Florida shots.

I started going back to Circle B Bar Reserve in early November for the winter. It’s too hot to walk the trails in the summer. There’s been lots of activity going on along the Alligator Alley trail this fall. It’s been so nice to get out for long walks again since the weather has cooled off. The reserve is fairly quiet and hasn’t been too busy so far.

SkyWatch Friday

I’m in Oz?

On January 18, 2017January 9, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals, flowers and plants4 Comments

It felt like it in late November at Circle B Bar Reserve. The entire preserve was covered in yellow. Bur marigolds bloom for a short time in late November in central Florida.

Instead of the scarecrow and the cowardly lion, we had very aggressive alligators. One really big one was napping right up against the trail.

Lots of other pretty plants there as well. When the wind blows, the plant in the last picture has small white flecks flying off. You would almost think it was snowing, if you weren’t sweating in the 82 degree weather.

My version of “Quack” Friday.

On January 16, 2017April 10, 2023 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

White ibis coming in for a landing.

A great blue heron posing for me.

Since there is an abundance of green herons this year, you’ll be seeing a lot of these.

I had heard there were black bellied whistling duck babies at the reserve but I didn’t think I would actually find them. I found them but they were in a weird spot in the marsh and the family was not going to move for a while. The babies were already half grown so they were easier to see hiding in the reeds and muck.

I was not going to go shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was too nice to be indoors. So instead of a “Black” Friday, I headed out for a long walk at Circle B Bar Reserve. Sunny and 70 degrees with no crowds.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

Here Kitty, Kitty

On January 14, 2017January 4, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals5 Comments

I had just walked out on the trail and was looking at the big group of people farther down the trail when something caught my eye. One of the rarely seen bobcats was slowing walking right down the trail towards me. When he realized I was standing there he darted into the bushes.

I looked backward and he came out farther down the trail. At first I thought I was just going to get butt shots but he turned around to inspect something for a few seconds then darted back into the bushes again. It was just a fleeting moment. These were all taken with my 300mm lens and are extremely cropped so he was pretty far away.

Lots of slow movers out this morning.

I don’t see many of these big silk orb weavers like I did several years ago.

Empty apple snail eggs liter the marsh. Limpkins eat these.

A fun walk in early December at Circle B Bar Reserve.

More from downtown Tampa

On January 12, 2017January 12, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn Tampa bay sights5 Comments

One last post from my walk along Riverwalk in downtown Tampa on Thanksgiving weekend. The white tent with the Bucs sign is the ice skating ring, set up for the holidays. The orange and yellow trimmed building is the Children’s Museum.

Across the river is the University of Tampa. The main building was the former Tampa Bay Hotel built by Henry B Plant and was finished in 1891.

Lots of quacks.

On January 9, 2017January 10, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

Lots of pied grebes at Crescent Lake Park.

Lots of mallards trying to sleep.

Lots of friends sticking close together.

Lots of variety.

Lots of ring necked ducks and lesser scaup.

So many different ducks at Crescent Lake Park near downtown St. Pete.

They all look alike

On January 7, 2017December 29, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photographyLeave a comment

This one looks like a female common yellowthroat. Although, it also looks like a female hooded warbler.

The above two looks more like a female hooded warbler.

Possible pine warbler.

Or these could be a pine warbler.

This is an easy one. A yellow throated warbler.

A palm warbler.

All of these little yellow guys look alike. Especially the females. Pine, Palm, Prairie or Polka Dots??? I can’t keep them straight. Next spring I’m going to take the time to write down what they are as I am taking pictures if someone there knows. Sometimes I have different people telling me the same bird is something different so that’s even more confusing. These were all taken in mid-November at Chesnut Park. It was a busy day for little yellow birds.