Fun morning at the farm.

On February 26, 2022February 17, 2022 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals4 Comments

I hadn’t been to Horsepower For Kids (sanctuary/farm) in a long time so I stopped by for a visit at the end of December. All of the baby geese that had grown up in early 2020 were still there making the duck pond a busy place.

They had 2 new canadian geese at the pond. They swam close to the dock and I noticed they both had angel wings. Angel wings is a nutritional deficiency caused by improper diet. It means someone was feeding these geese too much bread when they were young and their wings didn’t grow properly. It can keep them from flying well and that’s probably why they are living here now. At least they have a great home to live in now. That’s why it’s so important not to feed the wildlife bread.

It’s fun seeing all of the different crazy “fowl” running around here.

Some of the other residents.

I was admiring this salad. These guys eat better than I do.

Butterflies are seen all year long here.

Hot morning at Horsepower for Kids.

On September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn zoo animals4 Comments

The ducks were cooling off with a bath at Horsepower for Kids Animal Sanctuary in late June. It made me want to jump in with them and go for a swim.

I decided not to jump in the pond since the geese own the pond and they are aggressive.

Even the tricolored heron was cooling off in the water.

I’m not sure if this white pigeon was a resident or just a visitor. He wasn’t in a cage.

Some of the chickens hanging around.

Jealous of this guy sleeping (maybe not in the dirt though).

Close ups of the faces at the petting zoo.

A Saturday morning walk around the petting zoo.

A wood duck convention

On July 16, 2020July 6, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

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.

SkyWatch Friday

Mama goose

On May 9, 2020April 27, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

Some of the water birds at Horsepower for Kids during my visit in mid-March.

One of these doesn’t belong. An ibis hanging out with the geese on the edge of the pond.

It’s always fun to see the peacocks showing off.

I saw this goose sleeping on the grass in the shade. I was wondering why she wasn’t sitting on her egg, hoping she realized it was there and wasn’t going to reject it.

Later I saw why. She was sitting on a lot of eggs and they all didn’t fit. She did move the one egg closer to her after she got up and stretched. She’s going to be a busy mom.

Getting frisky

On April 30, 2019April 30, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

The swans at Lake Morton were showing off in early April. It was mating season for all of the critters at the lake.

Lots of couples floating around together.

No “rooms” for these couples. They were getting frisky right there at the lake.

Even the geese were getting frisky. Although, not sure what was going on with this threesome. They are always together.

Later, they were strutting around looking very proud of themselves.

Lots of action at Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland. It felt like a warm spring day and all of the ducks, geese and swans were feeling it.

Photographing New Zealand

Hanging with my farm friends

On January 21, 2019January 22, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

I spent a recent Saturday morning hanging around Horsepower for Kids non-profit farm. All of the animals are very friendly and curious.

They also have horses that you can pet and ride. The girls in the last picture were heading out for a fun ride.

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

Noccalula Falls

On May 17, 2018May 1, 2018 By dinajohnstonIn Vacation8 Comments

I left Brett back in Tampa and headed up to Birmingham to visit my sister over Easter weekend. Even though Friday was going to be a cloudy rainy day, we risked it and headed up about an hour north of Birmingham to visit the past. Noccalula Falls was our destination. I hadn’t been since the early 70’s and was wondering if it looked the same. I’m sure a lot has changed but I remembered the park looking bigger. The story is that an Indian princess was already in love with someone else but her father told her she had to marry a neighboring chief instead so she fell to her death. Full story here. We were there after a big storm so the water was heavy coming over the falls.

Looking through the trees and down the Black Creek Gorge.

Some of the old buildings on display throughout the park.

Canadian geese at the top of the falls.

I found some old pictures that my dad had taken of the falls back in 1973. My sister and were posing on an old wagon (I’m on the left). We looked for the wagon when we were there but couldn’t find it. I think we were pretending to hold on to the reins. My dad always liked actions shots

SkyWatch Friday

5 days into winter and it’s still hot down here.

On December 26, 2016December 27, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

A lone pelican floating in the lake.

Pretty pigeons.

The obnoxious geese gang.

A limpkin getting a snack.

I’m thinking this is a palm warbler but not sure.

A couple of coots.

Sexy squirrel.

Ibis at the lake.

Random things on my recent walk around the downtown St. Pete neighborhood lake, Crescent Lake Park.

Swan soup with a hint of goose on top

On February 29, 2016March 1, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

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.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

Duck, Duck, Goose……

On January 9, 2016January 9, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

Grumpy ole muscovy duck.

Different pretty ducks at the lake.

The lesser scaup stayed in the middle of the lake.

Friends hanging out together.

The geese stick together.

Interesting pigeon.

There’s always a green heron at one end of the lake.

I hadn’t been to Crescent Lake Park in downtown St. Pete in a long time. I had to run some errands near there right before Christmas so I brought my camera along and walked around the lake early that morning before my errands. Nothing new there but it was a nice morning out.

Saturday's Critters