Central Ohio NatureBirds of Florida on Foot and by Canoe
Our recent six weeks of hiking and paddling in Florida resulted in a lot of photographs.
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The pictures below provide a record of some of the birds seen. While lovely in their right, we are left with the feeling that they don’t come close to conveying the overall sense of wonder experienced as we explored the trails and waterways of Florida. Equipped with the knowledge that places visited were home to many fascinating living things, the wonder was with us even when we didn’t see a plant, bird or other animal that begged to be photographed. We returned home with the feeling that just being in such places had been more than enough.
(click on images for a better view)
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron, from the canoe, Estero River, (Donna)
Palm Warbler, Ochlockonee River State Park
Ruddy Turnstones, Bald Point State Park
Sanderlings, Bald Point State Park
Royal Tern, near Ochlockonee State Park
Bald Eagle, St Marks NWR.
Brown-headed Nuthatch, Ochlockonee River State Park
White-eyed Vireo, Manatee Springs State Park
Red-shouldered Hawk, Manatee Springs State Park
Blue-headed Vireo, Manatee Springs State Park
Carolina Wren, Manatee Springs State Park
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Manatee Springs State Park
Northern Parula Warbler, Manatee Springs State Park
Cat Bird, Shady Acres RV Park.
Black and White Warbler, Manatee Springs State Park
Black Vultures, Manatee Springs State Park
Swallow-tailed Kite, Shady Acres RV Park
Little Blue Heron, Ding Darling NWR.
White Pelicans, Ding Darling NWR.
Immature Yellow-crowned Nigh Heron, Ding Darling NWR.
Little Blue Heron, Six Mile Cypress Slough
Blue-headed Vireo, Manatee Springs State Park
Black and Turkey Vultures over the Suwanee River and Manatee Springs State Park. Moments before these birds were all perched in trees around the spring, Then, as if on queue, they all took flight.
Mockingbird, St Marks NWR.
White Pelicans, St Marks NWR.
Pied Billed Grebes, St Marks NWR.
American Wigeons, St Marks NWR.
Brown Pelican with Kingfisher, St Marks NWR.
Red-cockaded woodpecker , Ochlockonee River State Park., These birds are threatened in much of their range due to loss of habitat.
Palm Warbler, Ochlockonee State Park.
Brown Pelican, St Marks NWR.
Horned Grebe, St Marks NWR.
Eastern Phoebe, St Marks NWR.
Palm Warbler, Ochlockonee River NWR.
Tri-color Heron, from the canoe, Wakulla River
Hermit Thrush, Ochlockonee River State River.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ochlockonee River State Park
Eastern Towhee, Ochlockonee River State Park
Pine Warbler, Ochlockonee River State Park,
Black-bellied Plover and Dunlins, Bald Point State Park
Great Egret, (Donna). We spotted this bird as we were making our way down the Wakulla River with the current, an outgoing tide, and a fairly strong wind at our back. Managed to get the canoe swung around and slowly headed back upstream while my wife started to shoot. While never our intention the bird soon tired of our interest and flew away. In my opinion it was the best bird pic of the trip.
Piping Plover, Bald Point State Park. A rare and endangered bird.
Bald Eagle, Bald Point State Park.
Laughing Gull, Bald Point State Park
Cardinal, Manatee Springs State Park
Black Vulture, Manatee Springs State Park.
Yellow-throated Warbler, Manatee Springs State Park
Red-headed Woodpecker, Manatee Springs State Park
Black Vultures, Manatee Springs State Park
Tri-color Heron and Brown Pelican, from the canoe, island off Cedar Key.
Great Egret, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Take 2.
Juvenile Ibis, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Green Heron, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Roseate Spoonbill, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Peleated Woodpeckers, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park.
Osprey, from the canoe, Ichetucknee Springs State Park
American Oystercatcher, from the canoe, Cedar Key
American Avocets, from the canoe, Cedar Key
Black Skimmer, from the canoe, Cedar Key
Least Terns, Cedar Key
Wood Stork, Six Mile Cyprus Slough, Ft Meyers
Sandpiper, from the canoe, Lovers Key State Park
Snowy Egret, from the canoe, Lovers Key State Park.
Great Crested Flycatcher, Shady Acres RV Park.
Brown Pelican, from the canoe, Estero River
Ibis, Six Mile Cypress Slough, (Donna).
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Now back in Ohio, we visited one of our favorite spots earlier today. While nuthatches, creepers, and various woodpeckers were present, no Bald Eagles were seen nor did any Scarlet Tanagers show themselves. But we have seen them there before and you never know about tomorrow.
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Thanks for stopping by.
What a cornucopia of birds. I would never have thought the Mocking bird would be white; and the vultures….so ugly…and the Egret so extraordinary with the light coming through its feathers. It always makes me happy to get your post.
Sandy
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks, Sandy.
What a marvelous series of photos!
Thanks!
That’s an incredible collection of birds, and all well photographed!
Thanks Jerry!
Wow! What a sight!
Wonderful collection! I’ve always wanted to see a swallow-tailed kite – which is what you photographed above. The similarly named scissor-tailed kite is an African bird, a bit too far even for vagrancy. Just a tiny correction…
Thanks, for some reason all during our visit we were getting “scissor” and “swallow” confused.
Great post, great pics. Nice to see you guys photographing wading birds… love them.
Thanks Lori!
Florida is obviously the place to go in winter.
You got some fantastic shots of birds I’ve never even heard of. I love the shot of the egret in the sun, Beautiful feathers!
We spotted that bird as we were making our way down the Wakulla River with the current, an outgoing tide, and wind at our back. Managed to get the canoe swung around and headed back upstream while my wife started to shoot. I also tried a few shots but that meant losing control of the canoe so her shots were better. In my opinion it was the best bird pic of the trip.
Absolutely fabulous photos – I forwarded your post to my friend fr, charles brandt. Looks like your Florida canoeing was enchanting
Thanks Bruce, we feel very blessed to be able to visit such places and enjoy the living things that call them home..