Winter ducks and a new bird

On March 22, 2025April 10, 2025 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography1 Comment

It was the week of Christmas and I was out for a walk at Roosevelt Wetlands. I wasn’t expecting to see too much. Fall migration was mostly over and the winter ducks may not have arrived yet but you never know. I first saw a coot. They look like common moorhens but they have a white beak instead of a red one. They are only visiting for the winter.

I found a lone female northern shoveler hanging out with some blue-winged teals.

The ring-neck ducks are common here in the winter and are a tight group.

Monarchs can be found here all year round.

A surprise painted bunting was hanging out by the back fence. This was the first time I have seen one at this park. He was shy and stayed hidden in the bushes most of the time I was there.

A yellow-rumped warbler was getting a snack.

Walking to the other end of the wetlands, just me and my shadow.

As I walked back towards my car the infamous male northern harrier flies right over me head. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t see him on this visit.

All of a sudden another bird flies toward him. At first I thought it was a kestrel that had been flying by earlier.

When they passed each other I realized the other bird was a sharp-shinned hawk. They are not very common here and this was my first time seeing one. I wished I had paid more attention and gotten some better shots of him.

It was beautiful morning out.

The rainbow bird and a new one

On February 29, 2024February 17, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights3 Comments

There were reports of a new bird in town. He had been there for several days so I headed over to Sand Key Park to take a look. The above looks like the new bird but it’s just a plain ole eastern phoebe. He was sitting out in the open when I got to the park.

I walked around the area and ran into another couple also looking for the new bird. They had just found it and it popped out for a few seconds. I managed the above quick shot before he went back in the bushes. The western flycatcher (formally know as the pacific slope flycatcher) should not be on this side of the country. He shouldn’t be on this side of Texas. Somehow he must have gone to far to the left when he was migrating south for the winter. He’s still there but it will be interesting to see if he leaves during spring migration. I spent another hour looking for him again but he stayed hidden in the bushes.

While I was waiting for the flycatcher to make another appearance this painted bunting flew right in front of me. What??? He sat there out in the open for a while. I didn’t see any females around or any other males.

He hopped around feeding in the seed for a while and was not shy at all.

There was also a ton of blue gray gnatcatchers.

I walked over to the end of the beach area and noticed it was starting to get cloudy. I could see the tourist pirate ship heading back towards the marina just past the bridge.

A quick snap of the view of Clearwater beach south end. It was cold and there wasn’t too many people out.

Soon there won’t be an inch of space left on Clearwater beach to build on. They keep tearing down the few remaining old 2 story Mom & Pop motels who don’t stand a chance anymore and are building high rises. Sleepy Clearwater beach now looks like Ft Lauderdale beach (and cost almost as much to park here).

Things blooming in early April

On May 11, 2021April 27, 2021 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography1 Comment

The winter months are my favorite time of the year since the weather is so mild here in central Florida. But, when April rolls around I always think it’s my favorite month. It’s still cool in the mornings and everything is blooming everywhere. The flowers look fresh and haven’t been fried by the summer sun yet.

Even the pitcher plants were blooming.

The little critters were buzzing around.

Painted buntings were everywhere this year. This couple only stopped at the feeder for a few minutes.

Of course cardinals are always around.

A bunny on the trail at Bok Tower Gardens in early April.

All the usual wildlife at Chesnut Park

On January 5, 2019December 20, 2018 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography1 Comment

I saw a hawk sitting on the pole holding up the volleyball net. A few minutes later it started to rain. I ducked under cover but he just sat there through the quick shower.

All of the usual birds were at Chesnut Park in early November, including the female common yellowthroat warbler.

Two different female American redstarts came out of hiding for a few seconds.

I think this is a female painted bunting, which is fairly rare to see at this park.

Other critters at the park including that alligator in the top picture with a huge fish hanging out of his mouth.

Which blue bird is it?

On June 2, 2014June 3, 2014 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography16 Comments

Indigo bunting in the flowers.

A female something. I was told this is a female blue grosbeak. It looks like it but it also looks a little like a female indigo bunting.

People were saying this was a blue grosbeak. It looks just like an indigo bunting to me. In my Stokes Birding Guide, the blue grosbeak has brown in his feathers.

Another blue bird. Grosbeak or bunting?

Female blue grosbeak?

This one is easy. A male painted bunting on a rusted fence.

I’m going with indigo bunting on both above and below.

More pictures from spring migration at Fort Desoto. These little blue birds are throwing me off. There was flashes of blue everywhere. Both indigo buntings and blue grosbeak with a few painted buntings thrown in. People were saying this and that was a blue “something”. They all look like indigo buntings now that I have gone back and looked them up. The female indigo doesn’t have the darker brown feathers that the female blue grosbeak has so I’m pretty sure the females are grosbeaks. Way too much work for a hobby. Anyway, most of the migrating birds are gone. Now all we are left with are the usual summer birds.

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