A blurry new duck on a yucky day

On February 18, 2015February 9, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

My first common goldeneye from very far away. I had to stand on a picnic table to catch him when he swam away from the tall reeds in front of the lake. This was taken with my 300mm lens and extremely cropped up. Bad shot but at least I can add him to my list. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of one being in the area.

These little grebes were looking at me like I was crazy. Standing in the drizzle looking for a duck.

After a while, the clouds started to disappear. This kingfisher was watching me watching him.

Now watching me on a pole in the lake.

This spoonbill agreed with the grebes. I think he was laughing at me.

Moorhen with the big yellow feet.

The goldeneye had been reported for a few weeks at the lake that Boyd Hill Nature Preserve sits on. It was across the lake from the park at a boat ramp. I finally made it over there in late January. It had been raining and I almost didn’t go. Luckily it stopped raining and the sun came out. I’m glad I braved the weather since now I have a new duck for my list!

A duck with a peacock head

On December 29, 2014December 30, 2014 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography11 Comments

My first male bufflehead, swimming with a moorhen.

There was no mate to be seen.

Feeding in the reeds.

He is a beautiful duck with that white body and blue, green and purple face. He looks like he has peacock colors.

As I’m sitting in the grass taking pictures of the bufflehead, I look up and this mallard is looking at me like “What’s all the fuss about? I’m a good-looking dude too.”

I have seen a female bufflehead which looks nothing like the male. All drab colors. You can see my post on her from last winter here. When I heard there was a male near my house, I had to get out and at least try to find him. He was in a small pond in between some office buildings and a hospital. I parked in an empty lot right next to the lake and walked over to the grass and there he was. I sat down, snapped a few pictures and then left. I didn’t want to freak him out. Maybe a lady will show up soon and they can hang out together all winter.

Also, check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for

No mall shopping for me this month.

On December 22, 2014December 23, 2014 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography12 Comments

A glossy ibis glowing in the sun.

Another cute gnatcatcher.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Moorhen in the swamp.

Candy corn beak.

A tiny gator snoozing in the sun.

Soon the trail will be full of these bushes blowing in the wind. The ends sprout and blow off and it almost looks like it snowing when they are blowing around.

Christmas is coming fast. I did all of my shopping on-line so I could spend what little free time I have right now out at the parks. The weather is perfect in December. High of 65 and sunny. Why would I want to be at a mall when I could see all of the above? My sister is coming to Tampa this week and we’ll be out playing tourist all week.

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