Thursday, April 24, 2025

2025 Birding Highlights - Part 1

I've done a lot of birding so far this year, and have a gazillion photos as a result, so I plan to post more non-hawk bird content as well as the usual Tompkins Square hawk updates.

This is a photo of one of my favorite birding spots in Florida. It's a wetland surrounded by residential and semi-industrial developments, and it draws a fantastic variety of birds.

A swampy wetland at sunset.

Limpkins can be found here.

Limpkin.

They feed on apple snails, which can be seen in the photo below.

Limpkin with a snail.

Limpkin with a snail.

This is a lovely Sandhill Crane late in the evening.

Sandhill Crane.


Little Blue Heron.

This Gray-Headed Swamphen flies across another wetland area.

Gray-Headed Swamphen.


Tricolored Heron.

This is the only time I've seen a Crested Caracara close up. On my last birding trip, I only saw them flying in the distance.

Crested Caracara perched on a fence.

Crested Caracara perched on a fence.

Crested Caracara flying away.

Roseate Spoonbill sightings never get old. They really are a candy pink.

Roseate Spoonbill.

I usually see Spoobills as being gentle birds, but these two got into some sort of disagreement while flying. The one in front had had enough.

Two spoonbills tussling in the air.

The faces of White Ibises turn deep red during breeding season.

White Ibis in breeding colors.

These were the last White Pelicans I saw before they took off for spring migration.

Three American White Pelicans on a beach.

A Yellow-Crowned Night Heron in its breeding plumage:

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron in breeding plumage.

Ospreys will nest on almost any available platform.

Osprey on its nest atop a channel marker sign.

I just love Anhingas. The snakey moves they make, their mechanical-sounding chatter, and the way they "fly" underwater to catch prey is really amazing. When they dry out after a swim, they resemble a fuzzy bagpipe that I'd really like to squeeze.

Anhinga in a tree.

Anhinga drying off in a tree.

Their long necks and tails makes Anhingas easily recognizable as they fly overhead. In my opinion, they're some of the coolest birds out there.

Anhinga flying against a dark gray sky.

No comments:

Post a Comment