Animals and Landscapes of Florida

AMERICAN BITTERN

2011-04-09T11:40:00.005-04:00

PICTURE OF THE AMERICAN BITTERN CAPTURED AT THE GEMINI SPRINGS PARK IN DEBARY FLORIDA

Butterfly Dream

2010-10-09T10:56:00.009-04:00

Wilson's Plover

2010-06-09T20:28:00.015-04:00

Wilson's plover at Ponce Inlet beach in Florida

The Wilson's Plover eats worms,shrimps, insects, small crabs. The Wilson's Plover builds their nest on the beach just out of reach of high tide. They can be seen along the Florida peninsula.

Roseate Spoonbill

2010-04-06T21:26:00.004-04:00

Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Large finch, black head, back, bright red breast, and white rump, sides, belly. The wings are black with white patches above and red, white, black below. Long, slightly notched black tail with white patches. Eats seeds, caterpillars, insects, tree flowers, fruits and berries.

Blue Winged Teal

2010-04-06T21:04:00.003-04:00

Blue-winged Teal: Small dabbling duck, purple-gray head, distinct white crescent on face. Upperparts are scaled buff, dark brown; underparts are pale brown with numerous dark spots. Wings have green speculum, pale blue shoulder patch visible in flight. Fast direct flight with steady wing beats.

Black-necked stilt

2010-04-06T21:03:00.002-04:00

Black-necked Stilt: Large shorebird with sharply contrasting black upperparts and white underparts. Long, thin, upcurved bill. Red eyes with white eye-rings, and white patch above. Legs are extremely long and red-pink. Feeds on insects, fish, worms, small crustaceans and seeds. Swift direct flight.

Cattle Egret

2010-03-24T23:20:00.003-04:00

The Cattle Egret did not exist outside of Africa until the late 19th century. They likely flew from Africa to South America and since have extended their range through Florida and then further north and west.

They have been observed along side the runways of airports waiting for airplanes to pass and blow insects out of the grass. They also follow farm equipment to catch insects that are disturbed.
It has been estimated that Cattle Egrets are able to gather 50% more food and use only two-thirds as much energy when they feed in association with livestock as opposed to feeding alone.
A group of cattle egrets are collectively known as a "stampede" of egrets.

American Robin

2010-03-23T03:04:00.003-04:00

During breeding season, male American Robins grow black feathers on their heads to attract females. Once the mating season is over, these feathers are lost.

These birds have been observed wading belly deep in water to catch small fish.
There is a Crayola crayon named Robin’s Egg Blue.
A group of robins are collectively known as a "worm" of robins.

Yellow Rumped Warbler

2010-03-18T03:25:00.004-04:00

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of the most common warblers in North America.
The eastern Myrtle and western Audubon forms were once considered separate species. Easily identified from one another, the Myrtle has a white throat, while the Audubon’s is yellow.
Able to digest 80% of wax-coated berries such as bayberries, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is capable of wintering farther north than any other warbler.
A group of warblers has many collective nouns, including a "bouquet", "confusion", "fall", and "wrench" of warblers.

Least Flycatcher

2010-03-17T21:04:00.005-04:00

* The Least Flycatcher was first described in 1843 by Spencer Fullerton Baird, an American ornithologist and ichthyologist. It is also called Chebec, after the sound it makes.
* Unlike most species of songbird, adults migrate to their wintering grounds before molting, while young birds molt before and during autumn migration.
* An incubating bird is surprisingly tame and will often allow itself to be touched or even lifted off the nest, however with other birds it is aggressive and has been known to attack Brown-headed Cowbirds.
* A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an "outfield", "swatting", "zapper", and "zipper" of flycatchers.

A nice day..

2009-12-10T18:05:00.009-05:00

There is nothing like passing the day at the beach...

A little birding in motion

2009-09-30T21:35:00.003-04:00

Here is a little sample of the life of Red Shouldered Hawks at Gemini Springs Park, Debary,Florida

Swallow Tailed Kite

2009-08-18T22:38:00.009-04:00

what an incredibly beautiful bird!!

This picture was taken at the Audubon bird of prey center. This place takes care of wounded birds, some of them will never be able to go back in the wild.

Northern Mockingbird

2009-07-13T21:22:00.007-04:00

The Northern Mockingbird is Florida,Arkansas,misissippi,tennessee and Texas state bird. When I hear this bird sing all these differents melodies I am always in awe. You will see him flying in pursuit of other birds entering his territory.Speaking of territory the Norther Mockingbird covers 10,000,000 square kilometers of land, from the east coast to west coast, from Canada to down south Florida.

How to take pictures of Birds in Flight

2009-07-10T13:57:00.002-04:00

As some may know, i am using a digital super zoom nikon coolpix p80 that my wife gave to me for Christmas. I used to really be into photography and moving pictures a long time ago.

For our health benefit mostly we started to walk at the park and one day i decided to bring my digital camera to see if i could capture some wildlife and landscapes.
it did not take long until i got hooked and wanted to be out there trying to catch some exotic birds at every possible moment.

I have learned the limits of my coolpix p80 pretty quick. The slow focus and processing made me cringe many times and lose many precious memories...

if there is a few tips i could give to new wildlife photographer they would be :

1. get yourself a DSLR and a good lens(if possible 200mm or more)
2. Learn to play with the aperture so you can get the bird your are aiming at in the most natural and crisp way.
3. Use your shutter priority mode to create a 3 dimensional effect without blur effect.
4. Learn to have a good eye for type of flights that the birds have and calculate distance as precisely as possible.
5. Focus on one bird at a time : )

Common Moorhen

2009-07-05T22:39:00.011-04:00

The common moorhen,also called florida gallinule or swamp chicken, lives mostly in freshwater marshes and large ponds. They are good swimmers and the live in Florida all year-round. The common moorhen breeds in Central Florida, especially near the east coast. It is recognizable by it's red shield plate above it's bill.

A group of these birds is called a "plump".

Red Winged Black Bird

2009-06-27T20:37:00.008-04:00

The Red Winged Black Bird breeds from Alaska to Guatemala. Like many other species of bird it is sexually dimorphic : the male as a red and a yellow bar on its wings and is all back while the female is of a dark brown colour with white discontinuous stripes

It is in the wide variety of the passerines more precisely in the ecteridae family. This Black bird broods 2-3 eggs per season and build a nes nesting area each time.

They can fly 30 mph. a group of red winged black bird can be called a "cloud"

Tufted Titmouse

2009-06-24T21:28:00.005-04:00

The Tufted Titmouse is considered a messenger for the Cherokees. They live all their life around the same habitat. They are seen in rainy areas like Central Florida.

A group of titmice is called a "banditry" or a "dissimulation".

Muscovy Duck

2009-06-19T23:54:00.006-04:00

The Muscovy Duck goes through many metamorphosis and as excentric looks. I hope i will catch it doing through in a few phases . They live in suburbs in little ponds they find. They used to be traded to Europe In the 1500's by the muscovy company, hence their name.

Laughing Gull

2009-06-15T21:55:00.006-04:00

The Laughing Gull hangs on the eastern coast and on the gulf coast. It is found often in beach lot searching for it's next meal. Don't get me wrong i do find them...cute.

Herring Gull

2009-06-15T21:11:00.006-04:00

The Herring Gull or Larus Argentatus is widespread and is your alternative to garbage disposal. This gull is big and unmistakable.

I caught him in his winter wear at Daytona Beach,Florida

Mourning Dove

2009-06-11T22:34:00.006-04:00

The mourning doves can live up to 19 yrs, while most birds live 1.5 yrs. Their chant is one of the most recognizable of all birds. They produce what is called pigeon milk from their crop and feed it to their babies.

They are definately love birds

Red Bellied Woodpecker

2009-06-08T00:24:00.007-04:00

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Snowy Egret

2009-06-08T00:02:00.003-04:00

This very beautiful shallow water bird can stand still for a long time until an unlucky fish passes too close.

This Snowy egret was captured at Gemini Springs Park,Debary,Florida.

Limpkin

2009-06-07T23:40:00.002-04:00

This unusual but fascinating bird was with his little one on that day . They feed mostly on apple snails(hmmm hmm...)By looking at the Limpkin's bill it is no wonder they can search deep in the ground for this delicacy.

American Coot

2009-06-07T20:43:00.005-04:00

This is an hen family, duck look a like, bird which has a noisy call. They live in multitudes in swamps of Central Florida. You should see how fast they go hide when they see a bald eagle coming for lunch.

Great Crested Flycatcher

2009-06-04T13:38:00.002-04:00

The great crested flycatcher is one of more than 400 species of it's family found in the new world.

Very beautiful bird, that is not often seen, it got my heart to do a few extra booms, i was just lucky to get a picture of him in my backyard in Orange City,Florida. The specimen in my picture is large for it's kind and like a Blue Jay and other birds he has a crest, hence his name, that is down at the moment of the picture. Sorry for the quality of the picture.

Canada Goose

2009-06-04T12:48:00.003-04:00

This migrating bird is the cause of many bird strikes. They are monogamous and are herbivores.

Palm Warbler

2009-06-03T00:48:00.006-04:00

I have found this pretty bird hiding under the low little branches of a tree by the water at Gemini Springs Park in Debary,Florida. The palm warbler is really one of the most beautiful exotic bird i took a picture of.

House Sparrow

2009-06-02T02:30:00.000-04:00

They live everywhere except in Antartica. In Japan they are a symbol of loyalty.

They are philopatric wich means they go back to their birth place at the end of every migration.

Their groups are called : humiliation,blight or subdivision

Pileated Woodpecker

2009-06-02T02:14:00.011-04:00

You can hear the Pileated Woodpecker drumming on a tree from far away. They often fly in pair from tree to tree.

I took a few pictures of them at the Gemini Springs Park in Debary, Florida.

Mallard

2009-05-29T22:33:00.001-04:00

The duck of all ducks, known to everyone. The Mallards only stay together unly the eggs are laid, and then the promiscuous male goes his way.

I actually took a picture of them at the marina in Sanford, Florida.

Savannah Sparrow

2009-05-28T04:20:00.003-04:00

Do not get fooled by his name,this bird lives everywhere : from north to south, from mountains to wetlands. It was probably first seen in Savannah,Georgia, hence the name.

It is a beautiful creature and i hope to get more picture of him in the future.

Glossy Ibis

2009-05-26T23:13:00.001-04:00

This bird probably immigrated fom Africa in the 1800's. You can see them often by their cousins the white ibis.

I got a chance to take a few pictures of them at Lake Woodruff natural preserve in Deleon Springs, Florida.

Wood Stork

2009-05-25T02:16:00.003-04:00

This bird used to be called Wood Ibis while it is in fact a large American wading bird in the stork family.

The Wood Stork it is the only of it's kind that breeds in North America.

I captured a few souvenirs pictures of this intriguing bird which supposedly carried us all at the door of our family to be, as per the legend, at the Gemini Springs park in Debary, Florida

Sandhill Crane

2009-05-24T01:30:00.001-04:00

This beautiful animal, wich has a soaring effortless flight with his 6 to 8 feet wingspan, is a frequent sight alongside the edge of Central Florida's abondant number of ponds.

It is a strikingly big bird and you can really get close to them if you go step by step.

These sandhill cranes wee outside the AAA building in Heathrow,Florida

White Ibis

2009-05-22T22:32:00.002-04:00

With his persuasive: " Hunk hunk Hunk Hunk " he attracts his female.
The White Ibis is very calm an can be approached easily like the Great Blue Heron and the Red Shouldered Hawk. It is often seen with the Glossy Ibis.

Cormorant

2009-05-22T22:26:00.000-04:00

Very common in the marshes of central florida where it finds plenty of fish to catch.

Well, that doesn't mean sometime they don't get into a fight for a fish(like in this picture i took at Gemini Spring park in Debary,Florida)

Anhinga

2009-05-22T21:11:00.002-04:00

Also called snake bird,darter,american darter,water turkey this bird lives in warm Florida. The name Anhinga comes from the brazilian tupi language and can be translated to devil bird or snake bird.

Tricolored Heron

2009-05-21T20:53:00.004-04:00

Formerly called the Louisiana Heron. This bird lives through out all south USA,central and south America

You can recognize them from the little blue heron by the white line going down their neck as well as their white belly.

Mottled Duck

2009-05-21T15:30:00.001-04:00

The mottled duck is the only duck that breeds in southern marshes. It is very beautiful to watch. They are also called Florida Duck or Florida Mallard.

Black Bellied Whistling Duck

2009-05-21T06:47:00.000-04:00

This awesome bird is not often seen in Florida and i was lucky to capture a few pictures at Gemini Springs park in debary.

It is an unusual duck in appearance and habits.

Great Egret

2009-05-20T01:37:00.002-04:00

This beautiful bird that can reach one meter in height and mostly lives in marshes and shallow water areas.. It has a slow gracious flight and keeps his neck retracted which differenciates him from heron,storks,ibis,etc.

Little blue Heron

2009-05-20T01:10:00.003-04:00

The Little Blue Heron breeds in sub-tropical swamps. They form a colony and build their nests on stick platforms. They lay from 3-7 lightblue eggs.

Mature herons of this specie have a purplish neck. They hang with snowy egrets for protection and fish catching.

Brown Pelican

2009-05-18T01:06:00.000-04:00

The Brown Pelican is a staple of floridian beaches. It is the smallest of 8 species of pelicans. They can be seen traveling in a single file along the beach.

Not unlike the bald eagle,DDT and other pesticides threatened their survival. They dive right into the water to get their next lunch. They can live up to 30 yrs.

Osprey

2009-05-13T22:35:00.003-04:00

The Osprey aka Sea Hawk is a fish eating bird of prey that is fascinating to watch.I have seen them can stand still 50 to 100 feet in the air over the water for a long time looking for a fish and then dive into the water to grab a small fish.

They breeds along the freshwater and they mate for life.

I had the chance to see them fly over me at the Gemini Springs park in Debary,Florida. Lucky shots on my Nikon coolpix p80

Blue Jay

2009-05-12T21:37:00.002-04:00

When feeling oppressed this bird's crest raises up. It is a very adaptative bird wich is found from Northern to Southern parts of America. They are omnivorous and lay 4-5 eggs at a time.

They are very active and hard to take a good picture of. do you know that their color does not come from pigmentation but from light refraction?

Barred Owl

2009-05-12T01:33:00.005-04:00

One of the bird species that grows in number in every type of environment is the barred owl. This bird adapts and win over other species of owls(among them northern spotted owls) for territory.They like to nest in tree cavities and their diet is composed of mices, rabbits,opposums and sometime the neighbors cat.

They make a noisy call that can be sounding off like : "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all.

Northern Cardinal

2009-05-09T08:54:00.009-04:00

The cardinal(cardinalidae)was named after the catholic's cardinal red robe.They belong to the passerine bird family.

This bird red plumage makes it difficult for many photographer to get a crisp picture of because of the saturation effect. It is always a treat to see this rare capture hop from branch to branch.

Bald Eagle

2009-05-07T13:23:00.010-04:00

As you see this majestuous bird fly over the land you understand why it is the USA's national emblem. Proud, beautiful, soaring high in the sky over its kingdom, the Bald Eagle is quite a feast for the eye.

This bird attracts attention. You just have to look online(http://www.myfwc.com/eagle/eaglenests/nestlocator.aspx) and see how people are tracking their nest location. They do build the largest nest of any north american birds.

The Bald Eagles live mostly is Usa and Canada, their largest population is in Alaska. It is a protected and revered specie which has been the victim of the DDT pesticide(a substance now banned).

I had the privilege of taking a few pictures of this magnificient creature at the Gemini Springs park in debary,fl

Red Shouldered Hawk

2009-05-07T11:40:00.008-04:00

The Red Shouldered Hawk is a beautiful bird of prey that you can see just about everywhere in the USA. This bird's diet consists of turtles,snakes,large insects,mice and other small mammals.They build their nests at a major fork of a tree and they have hatch 3 to 4 eggs which have an incubation period of about a month. The new borns are usually out of the nest within 6 weeks.

On a personal note this is a great bird to take in picture, you can sense a bit of a majesty in them. These photos above are all of young red shouldered hawks. I used a Nikon Coolpix p80 to capture them at the Gemini Springs Park, Debary, Florida

Central Florida Birds - The great blue Heron

2009-04-09T09:45:00.019-04:00

As most ornithology amateurs know : Florida is a major migration point for birds of many species. I would like to share with you some photos i had the chance to take of some of the many birds that migrate through Central Florida. I grew a passion for photography and wilderness recently, and i hope you will enjoy these pictures. You may just want to view them to learn more about the subject or just to escape from the city noises and its gray concrete walls. Above is a picture of a Great Blue Heron, one of most present birds in Central Florida. This is a specie that lives by lakes and wetlands and whose breeding habits are, unfortunately, too often disturbed by human presence. They live in Central Florida all year long and these particular pictures were taken at the Gemini Springs Park ,Debary,florida. On a personnal notes, the Great Blue Heron is the nicest bird to take in pictures. They can pose a long time and they do not mind close ups. I am experimenting a digital photography so please bear with me. I have a nikon coolpix p80. The pictures on my Blog were mostly taken either at Gemini Springs park, Debary, Florida; Lake Woodruff national wildlife refuge in Deleon Springs,Florida; Clearwater beach, Florida at Pier 60 and Daytona Beach, Florida