Birds of a Feather in February?

 What do Sandhill Cranes, Tree Swallows, American Robins and Cedar Waxwings all have in common?

I see ALL of these birds just about every day right now. 

We start seeing Robins around Christmas. 

They usually show up on the golf course behind our house on Christmas day.

And this month, they are everywhere! In the trees, on the ground and using the bird bath in our courtyard! According to the info I found, they come for the abundance of food here in Florida.

Is there room for one more?  

The Cedar Waxwings usually show up for my birthday in January. They are 'hanging out' with the Robins!

Don't LAUGH! This one is enjoying the wind in his feathers! 

Tree Swallows spend the winter months here in North Central Florida. 

We talked with some bird watchers from the Audubon Society in January and they said they had counted over 500 birds at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve that day. We saw the big flocks too but couldn't determine the number. We were surprised and happy to know there were so many.

And we always see families of Sandhill Cranes at HTP.

They are such beautiful birds!

Now we are hearing the large flocks of the migratory Sandhill Cranes flying over when we hike. 

There are hundreds of them!

You can hear them squawking overhead and then the challenge is to find them in the bright blue sky!

I learned a lot by doing an online search.

Bring your camera when you visit Florida in February!

And take some pics where you live too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

Playful River Otters and friends!

 

We always hope for a special sighting when we go to Blue Run Park in Dunnellon.

There's a good chance we'll see lots of neat birds but it's fun to see something out of the ordinary.

Lately, it's been River Otters.

They are a challenge to photograph because the swim under water for a long distance and you never know where they'll 'pop up'!

But they are so cute and fun to see!

A few years ago we watched some Red-shouldered Hawks in a nest. The baby photos were some of my favorites. Old photos in the post HERE.

And we still see the pair near the nest.

We love seeing them all grown up and beautiful.

So perfectly groomed....not a 'hair' out of place.

Oh but this one is having a wild feather day! heehee!

We saw one medium sized Alligator swimming along.

And at the very end of the hike a special bird.

Cedar Waxwing

A beautiful day at the Park! When visitors come, we always take them to Blue Run Park. It's the perfect place to see wildlife and birds. 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.   

Winter Flocks

Winter in Florida is a bird watchers paradise. There are so many different birds that migrate through the central part of the state. And many stick around long enough to be photographed. We've hiked 15 times in the month of January so that's given us a chance to see quite a lot.

White Ibis and Little Blue Heron

Although we have some neat sightings right here at home too. The Cedar Waxwings come by the hundreds to the trees in front of our house ON my birthday! One day only!

Cedar Waxwings

And one afternoon this small flock of juvenile Ibis were in our backyard!

Hiking Halpata Tastanaki Preserve at the Pruitt trailhead we scared a flock of Eastern Meadowlarks out of the tall grass!

They flew straight up, out of harms way!

About 12 to 15, right into the top of these tall bare trees.

We didn't get great photos but we've seen 2 Meadowlarks in that same area several times and got a good enough look to know that's what they were. 

The best pic I got was this one fluffing her feathers! lol

One day at Blue Run Park we saw this 'odd flock'. 

In one area we could see an Anhinga, White Ibis, Little Blue Heron and a Limpkin.

Maybe not always getting along well with others though! lol

Lots of small birds now too...warblers, finches and sparrows.

Have you looked up in the sky and seen any flocks this week?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

The Common Ground-Dove

Well, it was new to us! We looked out into our courtyard and saw a little dove. 

At first we thought is was a baby dove...an orphan!

We have Mourning Doves come into our courtyard and usually eat under the feeders.

 (Mourning Dove seen on a hike for comparison)

But this dove didn't eat in OR under the feeders. He just 'hung' out for awhile.

Later we saw 3 of these doves under the Camellia bush. Time to get the ID book out!

They are Common Ground-Doves. According to All about Birds HERE, it is a tiny dove with a small head and short tail, often with a pink or red color at the base of the bill. YAY! Something new for us!

April has brought so many birds into our area. Florida is a birders paradise. I drove over to the big store that starts with a W yesterday and saw a sea gull, boat tailed grackle, 2 little blue herons, an ibis, 3 crows chasing a hawk...along with all the usual birds. No pics of these. I was on a mission to SHOP! lol

But here are some of the photos of a large flock of Cedar Waxwings that flew into the tree next door this month!

Anything unusual at your bird feeders this week?

Hey wait! At least let me comb my hair before you put me on the internet!!!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.