Tag: sandhill crane

The moon was still up

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography5 Comments

It was a beautiful morning in late January. The sun hadn’t come up over the trees yet and you could still see the moon across the marsh. It was so quiet and only a few other people farther up on the trail. The black bellied whistling ducks were flying back and forth across the trail, heading far off down the marsh. I took a few deep breaths and was so glad I had set my alarm to get here earlier than I usually do.

As I walked down the trail, birds and ducks were constantly flying overhead.

You could still see the cobwebs along the edge of the trail.

Heading down Marsh Rabbit Run, I heard them calling as they started flying towards me and was able to catch the sandhill cranes flying by.

The marsh was all brown from the cold but the sky was bright blue.

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Roadside attraction or something more?

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, Tampa bay sights1 Comment

Old historic markers along the lake in front of the St. Anne’s shrine near Lake Wales.

Back in the 1920’s a group of French Catholics from Canada came down to Florida to escape the winters (sound familiar?). They spent some time on a small lake just outside of Lake Wales. One of the men had a son who was terminally ill and ended up getting better while they were at the lake so they built a church and grotto after St. Anne. After World War 2 the Canadians eventually stopped coming and the church was eventually torn down. The original grotto and some of the statues are still there. I had heard about this little spot and stopped by on a recent trip to Bok Tower Gardens. It’s only 10 minutes from the gardens. The shrine sits back in some woods right off the lake and is surrounded by houses now. Growing up Catholic, we use to go visit the Ave Maria Grotto in north Alabama so I was curious about it.

This grave sits near the alter.

I’ve heard that people still hold unofficial services here. It was very quiet while I was there during the week. There might be more people on the weekends or near Easter.

Some of the old original walls of the church.

I noticed this pop of color growing deep in the woods around the grotto. Assuming someone planted them there years ago.

Of course, there was a sandhill crane couple sitting in the tall grass along the lake right in front of my car. I changed out my short lens for a longer one and snapped a few pictures.

It would be interesting to know what the neighbors along the small lake think about the people who stop by to see the shrine. I would hope people visiting would be quiet and respectful of the area. Did the people who moved to the houses next to the shrine do so because of the shrine or did the area just happen to be close to work or maybe they liked the lake?

My Corner of the World

Little Fraiser crane

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography2 Comments

There was only one. I don’t know if there were more than that but at this point the couple only had one baby. He was getting big and was almost as big as his parents. I found the family at the far end of Heron Hideaway Trail near Eagle’s Roost Trail. They were just hanging out and the baby was taking a break. The reserve had just recently opened back up so this guy probably spent his earliest time without anyone around. Now there was a constant parade of people down the trail but “Fraiser” didn’t seem fazed.

After a few minutes on the side of the trail, the family started heading out.

I started walking down the trail ahead of them and they were following me. They were walking fast so I kept turning around and snapping. I had to move pretty quickly to keep them all in the picture. It was funny to watch them so casually cruising down the trail.

Later I saw another couple across the marsh but I didn’t see any babies with them.

Everyone was eating except me.

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography4 Comments

Typical awkward teenager, this several month old sandhill crane was so funny to watch. He was trying to be brave and walk off on his own and then go running back to mom.

It looks like this great blue heron bit off more than he could chew but he got it all down. His neck was bulging for a while.

A grackle with a snack.

This night heron was trying to hide in the reeds along the pond but it was hard not to miss those bright red eyes.

It was weird seeing this purple gallinule hanging over the trail. He was eating something on this plant.

These hawks were across the marsh. Looks like they were fighting over a snail.

Breakfast was going on during my walk at Circle B Bar Reserve in mid May.

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Rainbow of birds

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography8 Comments

I finally got some shots of the painted buntings that have hanging around the nature center at Circle B Bar Reserve.

A lady painted bunting was also present.

A juvenile indigo bunting was eating on the ground.

Other usual birds were the gnatcatcher and the yellow rumped warbler.

Sandhill cranes were around, digging in the dirt for bugs.

Lots of birds flying around.

Across the lake, an eagle sits in a bald cypress tree.

Just a few pretty things at Circle B Bar Reserve in mid-March.

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Pink cotton candy and marshmellow fluff in the marsh.

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography7 Comments

Lots of spoonbills in the marsh mixed in with the ibis.

Must have been some good snacks in the marsh this morning I was at Circle B Bar Reserve in late January.

Lots of white pelicans flying overhead but none were landing.

A great blue heron taking off.

I’ve only seen 2 blue wing teals this winter.

This sandhill crane was standing on a nest out in the marsh. I have since heard that this nest did not work but there are other crane couples out there nesting. It would be fun to have crane babies this spring.

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The sandhill crane family

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography6 Comments

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I headed out to Circle B Bar Reserve in mid-May not expecting much. I thought it would be fun to see some baby moorhens. I was lucky enough to see the sandhill crane family walking down one of the trails. I sat down on the grass and watched them go about their daily lives. The babies were very curious checking everything out. They kept flapping their wings getting ready to take off one day in the future. They eventually continued on down the trail. I have seen pictures of the family recently from other photographers out at the park and the family is doing well. Both babies are almost as tall as their parents. All of the above are extremely cropped.

The Land of Oz (only with marigolds instead of poppies)

On By dinajohnstonIn bird photography, flowers and plants16 Comments


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The preserve was in full yellow bloom. The burr marigolds were all over the place. It looked like the land of Oz on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

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Sandhill crane way out in the marsh.

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Anhinga showing off in the marigolds.

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Tricolored heron on the marigold border.

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A wind-blown great blue heron watching me.

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Carpets of marigolds.

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My pictures do not do the colors justice. Taken with my phone. You can see all of the trees in the back have lost their leaves for the winter but the marsh is full of flowers. November is the best time at the preserve. I realized I didn’t take any pictures of the bald cypress trees. Those are all bright orange right now. They will be losing their leaves in the next few weeks. See, we do have a fall here. It just comes much later than up north.

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