Black swan families

Posted on June 22, 2021 by dinajohnston

Yes, the above pictures look like similar pictures but there were two different black swan families at Lake Morton in late April. Both had triplets. One of the families had darker babies and the other family’s babies still had lighter gray heads. They were all floating around the same area near the swan pens.

Both families started to float closer together near the vegetation and a scuttle started. The parents were not happy being so close together. The darker baby family chased the lighter gray family back over to their side of the pond. I tried to get all of the action but they were to close to fit them all in and it happened so fast.

The lighter gray babies hurried over to their side and then relaxed and started to preen and take baths.

This baby looked so elegant as she started to preen and fluff her feathers.

The darker gray baby family headed out across the pond. It was fun to sit back on the grass and watch all of the swans going about their day. I’m sure it’s a tough job raising kids on this lake much less three at a time.

A wood duck convention

Posted on July 16, 2020 by dinajohnston

I stopped by Lake Morton in Lakeland on the way home from Circle B Bar Reserve in mid-May. I usually see one or two wood duck couples there but on this trip they were all around the lake. Sleeping in the grass, hanging out on the swan fences, chasing each other. They must have been gathering for a baby making convention. I have not made it back over to the lake since then so I’m not sure it there were a lot of babies but I would hope so..

All of the usual suspects were there.

Feeding the fowl is encouraged at the lake although bread is extremely discouraged. They have feeders that are filled with pellets that you can buy a handful for a quarter. This lady was feeding them cracked corn.

Clouds were rolling in and it was time to go home for lunch.

“Fowl” things at Lake Morton

Posted on March 30, 2020 by dinajohnston

Beautiful wood ducks hiding under the cypress trees.

Baby black swans staying close to their parents.

White pelicans were preening and stretching.

A lone goose with a striking face and beak. There use to be a lot of geese around this lake but I only found 2 on a trip in late February.

Lots of babies

Posted on June 3, 2019 by dinajohnston

It’s always fun to see baby swans. Both mute swans and black swans had babies at Lake Morton in early May.

A tiny limpkin baby hiding in the reeds while mom looks for food.

Baby mallards looking for bugs.

An older baby mallard.

Pretty ducks and swans.

White pelicans were still hanging around the lake.

Pretty weeds growing along the bank of the lake.

Two lakes in downtown.

Posted on February 10, 2018 by dinajohnston

One of the black necked swans.

A black swan working on a nest.

A young mute swan.

A young and an old wood stork.

One of the shelducks at Lake Mirror.

A pied grebe hiding in the reeds,

Cormorants and anhingas drying off in the sun. The first bird in the top picture is an anhinga. The rest are cormorants. Anhingas have a straight beak and spear their fish. Cormorants have a curved beak and hook their fish.

Threes a crowd.

All taken at Lake Morton and Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland. The small lakes are just a few minutes apart so it’s easy to do quick walks around both before heading home.

Chillin with the farm animals

Posted on April 22, 2017 by dinajohnston

Watching the big horses grazing in the pasture.

This one was taking a dirt bath.

A few of the fowl I snapped while watching the horses.

I spent another morning relaxing at HorsePower for Kids animal sanctuary. There’s something about watching the ducks swim around the pond and the horses grazing that takes the stress away. I guess because I don’t have to feed them or clean up after them. I can just stop by and chill with the farm animals.

Hanging out with some fowl.

Posted on March 29, 2017 by dinajohnston

Lots of pretty colors at the pond at Horsepower For Kids.

Fighting over the ladies. It’s a good thing they can swim or else they would drown.

Duck, Duck, Swan?

Posted on February 15, 2017 by dinajohnston

So many different ducks at the petting zoo near my house, Horsepower for Kids.

Swan soup with a hint of goose on top

Posted on February 29, 2016 by dinajohnston

It’s show off time at Lake Morton. The swans are flirting and just starting to nest. The geese were being their usual honking selves. I’m going to try and get over to the lake often this spring to see if I can get some shots of babies.

Pelicans and swans at the local downtown pond

Posted on April 8, 2015 by dinajohnston

The pretty white pelicans will be gone soon. They will be heading north for the summer. I’ve only seen one at this lake all winter until recently. They must be stopping over for a rest before their long flight home.