A new bird at Largo Nature Preserve

On May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Mucsovy ducks are having babies at all of the local ponds including Largo Nature Preserve.

This blue winged teal couple was still floating around in late March.

The monk parakeets were flying back and forth getting sticks for their nests. Here they nest in a big utilty complex.

The dead trees near the parking lot were full of residents. The first one had a flicker nesting in it. Every once in a while she would poke her head out. The next tree had a hole that was full of bees. The next tree had several red bellied woodpeckers checking out the holes. They may nest later.

After several stops at this park looking for this ash throated flycatcher that had been seen by other birders for the last few weeks, I finally found it on the 3rd try. Luckily this was a “third time’s a charm” instead of “three strikes and you’re out.” It was hopping around in the trees right in the parking lot catching dragonflies. This was a new bird for me and while it’s not quite as pretty as the great crested flycatcher that we get pretty often around here, it was still a great find.

Walking on the boardwalk around the small lake, I found this nest. I’m thinking it’s a moorhen nest since there are a lot of them on this lake but I didn’t see any near this nest. Assuming it’s abandoned but hoping the parent just left for a quick bite.

A two park morning

On April 12, 2021March 6, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

The Florida Botanical Gardens was very quiet in late January (as it should be). It was cool out and was really looking like winter. Only a blue jay and brown thrasher made an appearance.

Heading over to nearby Largo Nature Preserve, I happen to see some drama going on with the muscovy ducks. A male intruder was trying to mate with a female who had a mate right beside her. The boyfriend tried unsuccessfully to run off the intruder. After the intruder mated and left, the female’s mate mated her as well. She was having a rough morning.

A pileated woodpecker pair were doing some damage to this utlity pole. Maybe working on a new nest? You can see the male has a red stripe on his cheek.

Lots of plants blooming at both parks.

A two park morning

On December 5, 2020November 16, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

I found these leaves at McGough Nature Park in Largo back in October. They look like lacy leaves. They were spread out all along the trail. I would normally think bugs did this but it almost looks natural and I’ve seen it at several other parks. Does anyone know if this is natural?

I stopped by the turtle pond to say hi to all of the turtles swimming around.

A bunny was sitting right on the trail.

Some of the resident tortoises at the nature center.

It’s not often you get to see a Mississippi kite up close. They are pretty rare to see in the Tampa bay area and this one was rehabbing here at the center.

After leaving McGough Park, I stopped by the Largo Nature Preserve for a quick walk before heading home for lunch. It was a quiet morning so I didn’t stay long.

Snail for lunch

On September 8, 2020March 2, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

I pulled into the parking lot at Largo Nature Preserve and these guys were hanging out in the tree right over my car. If your choice in Florida is parking in the shade and risking bird poop on your car or parking in the sun, you park in the shade.

The tricolored heron was flitting around the boardwalk. I think he was trying to catch dragonflies.

I don’t see red ones often.

This guy was sleeping in the tree but woke up to scratch an itch.

I was excited to see the fuzzy baby limpkin.

Mom was feeding him apple snails. Mom would pull the meat out of the snail with the end of her beak and give to the baby. By the time I found them it was almost noon and the sun was harsh. I didn’t stay long. It was time for me to head home for lunch as well.

Too hot for the birds

On August 19, 2019August 19, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Little critters at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.

Not many birds in early July. A cardinal with a snack and a Loggerhead Shrike

As I was leaving the gardens, I saw this hawk up on a light post. I think this is juvenile Cooper’s Hawk.

I stopped for a quick walk around the boardwalk at Largo Nature Preserve but there wasn’t much there either. I think the smart birds went north for the summer. I found this green heron creeping around the boardwalk.

Our World Tuesday Graphic

A walk at Largo Nature Park

On March 19, 2019March 19, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

Northern shovelers aren’t extremely rare in the Tampa bay area but I haven’t seen any in a long time. There were 2 couples close the edge of the water at Largo Nature Preserve in late January and they didn’t seem to mind me watching them. They look a lot like mallards but have that goofy big square bill.

A snowy egret was looking for food.

A wood stork was taking a break.

A cattle egret with a bright orange bill.

Two ring billed ducks.

Linking to My Corner of the World.

Babies and an eagle

On August 3, 2017August 3, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

Wood duck babies are so cute. I found this little family at a hidden pond at the Largo Botanical Gardens in May.

After walking around the gardens, I headed over to Largo Nature Preserve and found this baby limpkin following Mom under the boardwalk.

I was staring at this turtle that was sitting just underneath the below.

A bald eagle was sitting on a utility tower in the park. I don’t think anyone else walking by noticed the eagle just sitting up there.

I was taking pictures of the colors of the high plants across the creek and looked down and saw these guys staring up at me like “Feed us.”

All taken back in late April.

SkyWatch Friday

Up close and personal

On November 23, 2015November 24, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography8 Comments

A white eyed vireo.

A juvenile night heron, born in early spring. He looks grumpy.

Probably cause he’s trying to sleep and it’s sunny outside and the parrots are noisy.

His parent looks even grumpier.

A female anhinga looking over her shoulder.

A juvenile little blue heron. He’ll be all blue after his first year.

An osprey in a tree right on the trail.

A great egret giving me a typical Florida pose.

I found another juvenile night heron along the river bank. This one looks a little bit older than the one picture above. His feathers are starting to turn gray.

Largo Nature Preserve is a small park. It’s square-shaped park. One side has a golf course, one side has a neighborhood, one has a model airplane field and the other is the parking lot coming off a busy road. It’s rare to see something unusual there but the bigger birds that hang out there let you get pretty close. Especially along the boardwalk. Most of them won’t move if you walk by them while they are standing on the railing. Night herons nest here so the babies grow up sleeping in the trees that are only a few feet away from the boardwalk.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

Largo Nature Preserve

On February 19, 2015February 10, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography10 Comments

Nesting is in full swing for the osprey in the area. I don’t think they have eggs yet since they both left the nest at the same time for a while.

It looks like they were working on getting it comfy.

One of them kept bringing in more insulation.

Night herons always sleep along the boardwalk at this park.

Funny face. An anhinga staring at me.

Northern shovelers were close to the bank.

Flapping.

Another funny face.

The usual palm warbler. The trail was full of them.

A few robins were hanging around.

Is that parrot waving at me?

A Saturday morning walk at Largo Nature Preserve.

Skywatch Friday

Hanging out with a grebe

On February 9, 2015February 10, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography9 Comments

Pied grebes are usually skittish. They swim away fast or duck under water (hence the name duck?). This one was close to the boardwalk and didn’t take off when I walked by. I stopped and stood for a few minutes watching him and he just kept feeding in front of me. Although, he turned his head when he swallowed the fish. He’s such a cute little duck.