Common and uncommon birds at Chesnut Park

On December 12, 2016December 13, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

Above are some of the common birds you see in the winter here. An Eastern phoebe, a catbird, a black and white warbler and a blue-gray gnatcatcher.

Another common year round bird, the pileated woodpecker. Most of the time I usually hear them screaming from high up in the trees. This one came down a little closer.

A house wren is not that common.

Yellow throated warblers are common in the winter but they tend to hide up in the palm trees and under the palms.

I think these are all pine warblers.

Not a common bird for me to see, a black capped chickadee. There were several high up in the trees near the boardwalk.

A very strange but not uncommon bird flying over the lake.

Lots of little birds flying around Chesnut Park in early November (a few big ones too).

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Assorted critters at the Botanical Gardens

On September 19, 2016September 20, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Florida animals7 Comments

It was very quiet on my walk around the Botanical Gardens in Largo in late August. I did manage to find a few fun critters hanging around in the heat.

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The usual suspects at Circle B Bar Reserve

On January 4, 2016January 5, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

You do not want to have that beak coming at you!

Green herons doing the “stretch”.

Looking for snacks.

The Wilson’s snipe was trying to sleep.

The glossy ibis was glowing in the sun.

Cute little palm warblers showing off.

A pileated woodpecker high up in the tree.

An anhinga drying off in the sun after a swim.

Pretty in yellow.

These were all taken in late November when the yellow flowers were still in bloom at Circle B Bar Reserve.

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The usual suspects.

On July 13, 2015July 14, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography16 Comments

Posing great blue heron.

Reflection of a snowy egret.

A lone black bellied whistling duck.

A green heron hiding in the marsh.

A crow was bothering this pileated woodpecker.

Limpkin family along the trail.

My last trip to Circle B Bar Reserve in early June. At least for the summer. It’s too hot on those trails. One of the main trails is closed until September due to alligators nesting close to the trail. I’ll wait until fall migration begins in late September or early October before heading over there again.

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It’s getting hot out there

On June 1, 2015June 2, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

Beautiful glossy ibis with the sun shining on his breeding feathers.

A grackle staring at something in the water.

Woody in the woods.

A common yellowthroat warbler hiding in the bushes. Most of the warblers are gone now and are up north for the summer.

Moth or butterfly?

Dragonfly on a stick shot.

Cattails were everywhere. My dad loved cattails. I think they look like poop on a stick.

The gators were growling.

“Don’t give me that innocent look.” I said to the gator.

It’s June 1st. It’s going to be a long hot summer. It’s been hot since early April. These were taken in early May and it was stifling hot already at Circle B Bar Reserve. It’s time to hit the coast for the summer breezes and let the gators nap in peace for a few months.

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Hanging upside down

On February 11, 2015January 30, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

I spent a few minutes at Chesnut Park in mid-January watching this crazy pileated woodpecker hanging upside down on the tree. He was banging away and ignoring me. They are so much fun to watch. In the 3rd and last picture you can see his tongue hanging out. Looks like he’s licking the bark. What does bark taste like? I imagine it taste like dirty oatmeal.

Up in the trees at Circle B Bar Reserve

On December 8, 2014December 9, 2014 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography17 Comments

The usual phoebe.

Juvenile bald eagle up in a dead tree.

What a great face!

Pileated woodpecker climbing up.

Trying to get that berry.

He was across the creek and high up in the trees.

A few things in the trees at Circle B Bar Reserve in mid-November.

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Weird mix of birds at the Florida Botanical Gardens

On December 3, 2012October 5, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography16 Comments

Wood stork high up in the tree. He was all alone.

Red bellied woodpecker has a big nut. I think he was hiding it in the hole.

Pileated woodpecker on a utility pole. These birds have done a lot of damage to the poles there. You can see where they try to patch them up but the woodpeckers just move and create new holes.

A lone female wood duck. I found her in a small pond behind the old butterfly garden.

Red bellied woodpecker and easter phoebe were sitting in the same tree. I could hear the phoebe singing from across the lake.

Wild monk parakeet hanging on a pole. There’s a small flock that always seem to be around the gardens.

I finally made it over to the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo after trying the weekend before and getting deterred by a huge crowd coming for an event. This Saturday morning it was quiet. I could even hear that phoebe singing all morning. There wasn’t anything unusual there. But still, it was a nice morning out and I got a good 2 hour walk in.

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