Rare birds and common ones

On July 23, 2018July 24, 2018 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

I hadn’t seen cedar waxwings in years. They are somewhat rare here and only a few come through during spring migration. I saw one hiding deep in the bushes and was a little bummed he was not visible. Later in my walk a flock of them quickly flew by and one stopped for a few second right in front of me. They are beautiful birds.

A rare western kingbird. I’ve only seen these once before in the area in the last 9 years. At first I thought it was a great crested flycatcher which are more common but realized later it was a kingbird.

All of the usual birds that are at Possum Branch Preserve.

Not sure what this little yellow bird it. I’m thinking it’s an immature palm warbler.

Other little critters along the lake (besides alligators).

These were all taken at Possum Branch Preserve, a small watershed, near my home in mid-April.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Bunny and the beasts.

On May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals6 Comments

Saw the little piggies again on another trip to Circle B Bar Reserve in early March. They had gotten just a little bit bigger. They were venturing out farther away from Mom but she kept her eye on them.

Cute little bunny on the trail.

Tiny snake and big alligators.

This is a shot of the big gator above taken with my phone. He wasn’t too close and I was also up on a raised boardwalk.

Non-flying critters at Circle B Bar Reserve, although one day, pigs may fly.

Linking to Wednesday Around the World.

Critters at Bok Tower Gardens

On October 16, 2017October 17, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Florida animals8 Comments

A quiet day for birds in early September. A woodpecker, a great horned owl and a quick peek at a hummingbird.

Lots of squirrels around. The one in the bottom shot had a big bot fly bite on his side.

I found the real “Peter Cottontail” on the trail.

Creepy spiders just in time for Halloween.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Random things at Chesnut Park

On November 7, 2015November 7, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn Florida animals6 Comments

A leftover Easter bunny eating his breakfast.

Getting frisky.

The eagle has landed. After being absent all summer, the eagle is back in his usual winter Saturday morning spot across the lake.

I saw this weird stuff growing out of the tree. It looked like it could be merengue but I’m guessing some kind of lichen.

I was excited to see another baby deer at the park. Mom and baby stayed pretty far back in the woods. These were taken from the parking lot and heavily cropped so they are a little blurry.

The teenage buck is still hanging around the family.

The older baby was feeding close by the family. Her spots are getting a little fainter.

These were all taken in late September.

Saturday's Critters

On the boardwalk at Lettuce Lake Park.

On June 16, 2014June 17, 2014 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography11 Comments

The first thing I saw when I got to the boardwalk was a swallow-tail kite flying by. I heard they were nesting across the lake. I would need a canoe to even get remotely close.

A great blue heron flyby.

Juvenile night heron along the boardwalk.

A white eyed vireo.

I thought this was a brown thrasher but the grey eyes are throwing me off. Brown thrashers have orange eyes. Any ideas?

The swamp was full of these flowers. They were growing in the shade.

Built in Christmas ornaments on this fir tree.

Is that a yawn?

Another bunny.

He was on the side of the road. I pulled over and took these pictures before leaving.

I hadn’t been to Lettuce Lake Park in months. The lake was full and the swamp under the boardwalk was full of water. I saw very few wading birds. I heard a lot of northern parulas all over the park but they were all high up in the trees. No sign of the barred owls this trip. I’ll keep looking.

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