A great morning for beautiful birds

On October 18, 2021March 13, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

I headed down to Fort Desoto at the end of August not expecting much. As I headed out to the north beach I was greeted by a few spoonbills. I rarely see them here and in fact it was probably last fall when they were in the same spot. I wonder if these are the same ones that have stopped by for a rest.

I found a few red knots hanging out with one of the resident reddish egrets.

A red knot still in breeding feathers.

The best part of the morning was seeing an uncommon avocet. It wasn’t really a surprise though. I had heard 2 were here but wasn’t counting on actually finding it so it was a bonus to walk up on it. I didn’t see the other one although it may have been hiding in the sanctuary close by. There were 3 that hung out here last fall and I was able to catch those on 2 visits.

A young skimmer fluffing up his feathers.

A dunk and a catch.

Looking over through the sea oats over to Egmont Key in the distance. If you look close in the right hand side, you can see an osprey sitting on a branch on the beach.

Usual things at Fort Desoto

On November 16, 2020March 2, 2024 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

Lots of little birds on Outback Key at Fort Desoto. After a morning of looking through all of these little birds for anything unusual with no luck, I headed over the fishing pier to see what was going on there.

My friend TOTO was hanging out near the fishing pier (he is tagged with a band that has TOTO on it). He’s been around for years.

A snowy plover was skipping around in low tide.

Sushi for breakfast.

Pelicans were also diving for their sushi breakfast.

“Whatta you want lady?”

I think that’s a piece of apple in this crow’s beak. At least it’s not a chip.

What is he doing up here? I have never seen a reddish egret hanging around the fishing pier. They are usually feeding along the shoreline.

A beautiful bird

On August 8, 2020August 8, 2020 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

It was a quiet morning at Fort Desoto in late June. I was there very early so there wasn’t many people on the beach. I found one of the local reddish egrets dancing around hunting for fish and couldn’t help but take a ton of pictures of him. He uses his wings to shade the water so he can see the fish better so it appears as if he’s dancing. He puts on quite a show.

All of a sudden he realizes that two snowy egrets have moved in on his spot.

He tried to chase them away but then ended up flying far down the beach.

On the beach near downtown St. Pete.

On August 8, 2019July 5, 2019 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

I usually only see reddish egrets on the gulf beaches but I found this one at a park on the bay near downtown St. Pete. I was bummed that the sun wasn’t out to show off his pretty colors but he’s still an amazing bird.

An osprey flew right over my head.

Usual things on the beach. Coconuts (although they look like tree boobs to me) and mangrove crabs.

The view from North Shore Park just north of downtown St. Pete on the bay.

I stopped by the Safety Harbor fishing pier on the way home and just missed the greyhound meet up. I would have liked to have gotten pictures of them all together but they were just leaving to go on a walk around Safety Harbor. The dog in the first picture was wondering why he couldn’t go although he looked pretty happy just chilling by the water.

SkyWatch Friday

Visiting my favorite pier groupies.

On October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

A few of the regulars at the pier; the famous great blue heron/great egret hybrid, a ruddy turnstone, a reddish egret, lots of snowy egrets always looking for a handout and great blue heron and reddish egret fighting over space on the railing.

Skimmers were skimming the bait fish.

This reddish egret was bored with me.

Shots of a beautiful morning at the pier. These were taken in early September, before Irma.

SkyWatch Friday

Birds at Lighthouse Beach

On October 29, 2016October 29, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

Close up of a juvenile reddish egret. He was hanging around the fisherman on the beach.

Laughing gulls on the beach. One screaming and one hopping around on one foot.

Snowy egrets around the pier.

There’s always an osprey nest near the water. It’s a little early for mating so she must have been just hanging around.

A few of the birds at the Lighthouse beach on Sanibel Island.

Linking to Saturday’s Critters

A rare hybrid and the usual birds at Fort Desoto.

On October 3, 2016October 4, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

A reddish egret hanging around the fishing pier.

This is the rare hybrid that was seen recently hanging around the fishing pier. Local experts say it’s a cross between a great blue heron and a great egret. He’s got a great blue heron beak and body but legs of a great egret. I found him pretty easily right on the pier, looking for a handout like the other birds.

Great blue heron portrait.

An osprey flying by.

This snowy egret has found a good perch.

Someone caught a big one.

It’s always fun to guess where these big ships are going.

Usual and unusual at the fishing pier.

On July 7, 2016July 7, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

Two baby osprey were peaking out over the nest in the parking lot and the nest on top of the smoke stack next to the bait store.

Dad was close by with lunch. I think he was going to eat some first before he took it over to the nest.

You can almost always find a reddish egret fishing somewhere on the beach.

It rare to see a common loon here in the spring. Especially in his summer breeding colors. When they hang out here during the winter, they are a drab gray color. This one stayed pretty far away from the fishing pier.

Big gulp. There are signs at the fish cleaning station to “Not feed or throw fish parts to the birds” They all do it anyway. In theory it seems okay but the cormorants hang around the pier and get too close and end up getting caught with fishing hooks.

The dolphins playing around the pier.

My Saturday morning walk at Fort Desoto in late May.

SkyWatch Friday

At the fishing pier

On June 20, 2016June 21, 2016 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography14 Comments

These two female red breasted mergansers are still hanging around the fishing pier. They should be north for the summer by now.

A ruddy turnstone on the rocks.

A royal tern brings her a fish. Since she’s eating it, I guess they are an official couple.

The laughing gulls are pretty this time of year.

Having a conversation about something. All of the gulls are pairing up.

The juvenile reddish egret is still hanging around the pier.

Two baby osprey on the smokestack tower nest.

Someone got their snack stolen. Or maybe, the bird is being paid to advertise.

Saturday morning at Fort Desoto.

Our World Tuesday Graphic image-in-ing

A Big Red addiction

On September 30, 2015September 23, 2015 By dinajohnstonIn bird photography3 Comments

I had not been to Fort Desoto in a couple of weeks so I headed to the park on a recent Saturday morning not expecting to find much. It was right before the bulk of the fall migrating birds had come through. I just wanted to get out on the beach and stretch my legs. It’s pretty usual to find a reddish egret fishing for food somewhere around the north beach area. There are several that hang out there all year. I stopped and watched him standing still and thought to myself “Move on, I’ve got a million pictures of him” but when he stepped off the spot and started to dance around looking for food, I couldn’t stop myself. I finally realized I am addicted to reddish egrets. After a while a juvenile reddish egret came flying in (flight shots in the middle). He doesn’t have his deep colors yet. The adult did not want him fishing in his spot and chased him away. They both flew across the beach and I thought they were gone but the adult came right back and kept on feeding. After close to a hundred pictures, I finally moved on.