Lakeland, FL - 10-13 Jan 2008
Robin and I headed down to Lakeland, FL today to get her Mom set up for the spring. Its been dull, drab and gray in Michigan so far this year, so the sunshine and 70's were welcome.
Arriving at Orlando International Airport the first birds seen were Cattle Egrets, Anhinga, Pied-billed Grebes and a Wood Stork.
Orlando International Airport , Orange, Florida, US
Jan 10, 2008 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Sunny, 70F
4 species
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) 1
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) 1
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 10, 2008 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Sunny, 70F
4 species
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) 2
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) 1
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) 1
Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
A horrible 70-vehicle wreck on I-4 between Orlando and Lakeland occurred yesterday due to fog and wildfires, so we had to detour around the mess. Along the way I spotted a Plegadis ibis and a fly-over immature Bald Eagle. Turkey and Black Vultures could be seen soaring in large kettles above the lakes and pasturelands we passed. We also saw the occasional Great Egret and Great Blue Heron along the many ponds and ditches.
Hilochee WMA--Osprey Unit, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 10, 2008 11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
6 species
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 6
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 12
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 10, 2008 11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 mile(s)
6 species
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 1
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) 1
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) 6
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 12
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We arrived in Lakeland just after noon, so after unpacking and getting the house cleaned, I grabbed the scope, binoculars, and cameras and headed across the street to the park lagoon.
A Little Blue Heron was working the shoreline nearby and I managed to get some nice pics w/ the Nikon D300.
Common Moorhens were swimming in the pond and I watched in fascination as the males flared their white tail feathers and broadsided each other in order to establish dominance. On the far side of the pond I spotted a Snowy Egret roosting on a log alongside three White Ibis.
An Anhinga was drying its wings along the far bank just a few feet away from a screaming Red-shouldered Hawk. The first of several Brown Pelicans flew overhead from the large lake just on the other side of the fence. A Tri-colored Heron was in the corner to my right, but too far away to digiscope. As I watched it a pair of Palm Warblers chased each other from the trees above me. Not having anymore time to spend here, I returned to the house, but not before taking some photographs of an Anole from the deck below me.
Lakeland RV Park, FL, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 10, 2008 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
9 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 4
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) 1
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) 3
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 1
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 10, 2008 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.2 mile(s)
9 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 4
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) 1
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) 3
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 1
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
11 Jan 2008
This morning I headed back down to the pond to see what I could find. As the sun began rise a pair of Boat-tailed Grackles landed on the clubhouse antenna. I digiscoped a nice male from about 50 feet, and a female that appeared a few minutes later.
They were soon joined by a Northern Mockingbird,
an Eurasian Collared Dove,
and a White-winged Dove.
As I snapped away at it a Forster's Tern flew overhead, followed shortly by a Caspian Tern. A pair of Sandhill Cranes could be heard bugling off in the distance, but I couldn't stay to see if they would come this way. Robin and I were to drive down to Sarasota to meet her cousin for lunch, so off I went.
Lakeland RV Park, FL, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 11, 2008 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
8 species
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 1
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 1
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) 1
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
12 Jan 2008
A short while later (3) Sandhill Cranes flew in and landed on the shore nearby.
Leaving the birds to their adventures Robin and I then headed to the Lakeland Cancer Center a few miles away. The center has several large ponds with alligators and is adjacent to some pastureland and a nice variety of birds. As we pulled into the parking lot we were greeted by a Loggerhead Shrike reminding us of the privacy laws in the city. It flew off a short distance and landed in a short tree, where it posed nicely for us (2). I got a couple of pics of it from the safety of the car before it flew off.
Returning after service I found a lovely Little Blue Heron feeding just a few feet away. I got a couple of nice digiscoped images before it flew off.
Hearing the bugling of Sandhill Cranes nearby I saw (3) birds sailing in for a landing!
Jan 11, 2008 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
8 species
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) 1
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 2
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) 1
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) 1
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) 1
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Sarasota turned out to be a very nice place to visit. Lots of money in this town, and people here to spend it. We had lunch, then a short tour of St. Armand Circle, where we were to have dinner w/ my baby sister this evening. A few Laughing Gulls were the only birds I saw as we drove through the heavy afternoon traffic.
12 Jan 2008
Back at Lakeland RV Park I headed down to the pond for some early morning birding. As I crossed the street I began to hear the familiar bugling of Sandhill Cranes. As I approached the pond a pair of cranes took off across the pond to the far shore. I quickly snapped a couple of images before they disappeared out of sight.
A low-flying Brown Pelican allowed me another set of images as it passed overhead.
The Tri-colored Heron reappeared nearby and stayed long enough this time for photos from both the D300 and my digiscoping setup. As it flew off I noticed that it was missing a foot! I'm guessing one of the neighborhood gators.
A short while later (3) Sandhill Cranes flew in and landed on the shore nearby.
As they made their way along the shoreline a kitty came out from a nearby trailor and challenged the birds. As bird and cat squared off I couldn't help but smile at the contrasts. The two seemed to be having fun chasing each other up and down the shoreline. As the group passed some nearby feeders I managed to digiscope one bird picking seed out of the feeder.
Lakeland RV Park, FL, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 12, 2008 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
3 species
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 5
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) 2
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 12, 2008 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
3 species
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 5
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) 2
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Leaving the birds to their adventures Robin and I then headed to the Lakeland Cancer Center a few miles away. The center has several large ponds with alligators and is adjacent to some pastureland and a nice variety of birds. As we pulled into the parking lot we were greeted by a Loggerhead Shrike reminding us of the privacy laws in the city. It flew off a short distance and landed in a short tree, where it posed nicely for us (2). I got a couple of pics of it from the safety of the car before it flew off.
Walking down to the large pond next to the parking lot I spotted a half-dozen Killdeer and (4) Least Sandpipers feeding along the near shore. Across the pond a very large 12 ft. gator sunned itself on the shore just below an Anhinga that was drying its wings. As the shorebirds flushed from the shore, they made several passes before landing in the adjacent pond.
Approaching the pond I noticed that they had landed next to a hunkered-down Wilson's Snipe. I took several digiscoped images from about 30 feet away and tried several at full magnification (3X on the camera and 60X on the eyepiece).
Along the edge of the property I scoped an Eastern Phoebe, an American Coot, an Osprey, and a Palm Warbler.
Lakeland Cancer Center, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 12, 2008 10:30 AM - 11:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
8 species
American Coot (Fulica americana) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 6
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We returned to the RV park and I headed back to the pond. One of the Moorhens swam near the dock and produced some great photo ops for me.
Jan 12, 2008 10:30 AM - 11:16 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
8 species
American Coot (Fulica americana) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 6
Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
We returned to the RV park and I headed back to the pond. One of the Moorhens swam near the dock and produced some great photo ops for me.
Out in the middle of the pond a Double-crested Cormorant dried itself in the afternoon sun.
Lakeland RV Park, FL, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 12, 2008 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
2 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 12, 2008 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
2 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
13 Jan 2008
The cranes have returned! Three birds were feeding along the shoreline and allowed for some nice photos from the D300 . Resting the 400mm Sigma on the deck railing I was able to get full-frame images from 20-30 ft away.
Nearby a Moorhen was sunning itself on the shore and gave a nice digiscoped portrait. Needing to run off to Church, I left the birds for a short time.
Returning after service I found a lovely Little Blue Heron feeding just a few feet away. I got a couple of nice digiscoped images before it flew off.
I digiscoped them along the far side of the pond for a half-hour as they slowly worked their way toward me. As they approached closer I had to switch to the D300 in order keep them at a distance. Gorgeous birds!
I waited patiently for them to finally fly off, but they seemed content to feed just a few feet away from me and several campers in their screened porches. Time to pack and head for home!
Lakeland RV Park, FL, Polk, Florida, US
Jan 13, 2008 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
3 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 3
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Jan 13, 2008 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.1 mile(s)
3 species
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) 1
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) 3
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S1
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
