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Ducks and Ducklings

Posted Tuesday, April 25, 2023Sunday, April 16, 2023 Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Lake Morton

Cygnet Watch continues, and I return to Lake Morton in mid-April to check on the swan nests. It’s my favorite time of year to visit the lake. I’ll show you why…

All around the shores of the lake, Mute Swans are tending their nests. I check carefully, watching Mom’s feathers as she re-arranges on the nests, but don’t see any cygnets yet. It’s been a few years since I have photographed baby swans and I would love to see Mama Swan taking the cygnets for a swim on the lake!

Almost all the winter ducks and pelicans have gone. A few American Coots still gather on the lake shore, and a lone American White Pelican sits on the wall whether his flock gathered a few weeks ago. So I am surprised to see this Lesser Scaup among the Wood Ducks. I guess he hasn’t gotten the migration memo yet!

Speaking of Wood Ducks, they are everywhere! I hear their sweet whistling calls as they swim in the lake, walk the shore, beg joggers for food, and bathe in the lake water. Early morning is apparently a very good time for a bath, and I get lots of good wing flaps.

Then I look across the lake and see Mama Wood Duck escorting her family for a swim. She leads them fearlessly across the entire width of the lake. Dad joins her once she’s almost at her destination. Either he doesn’t like baby-sitting, or he trusts that Mom has all her ducks in a row!

I see three families of Wood Duck babies as I walk around the lake. They like to hang out in the lily pads. The babies climb up on the lily pads to bite at flies. They are such cute little babies.

Nearby is another duckling, this one a Mallard chick. He swims around calling peep! peep! peep! as he looks for his mom. The lake gets a lot quieter when she finds him and feeds him.

I find a Common Gallinule making his nest at the base of a cypress tree. It reminds me of another nest I photographed in an adjacent tree a few years back. The nest is constructed of branches, reeds, and swan feathers. It’s as eclectic as the population around the lake! I can’t wait to photograph the chicks.

Common Gallinule chicks are popping up everywhere. Look under the lily pads for the nests. Or listen for little wheezing noises. Once you find the babies, don’t be alarmed if they look like aliens. Mom loves them and takes care of them anyway.

A Green Heron flies past and lands on a wire hanging out into the lake. He sits quite still while eyeing the water underneath him. As soon as the fish moves below, he strikes.

I walk around the lake, then walk around most of it a second time, enjoying the warm sun that finally emerges from behind the clouds. Wood Ducks are much prettier when photographed in the sunlight. My favorite shots are the last ones of the day. I will leave you guessing until the next post!

Baby Birds Coming To Lake Morton

Posted Sunday, April 23, 2023Sunday, April 2, 2023 Jess YarnellPosted in Lake Morton

I can’t help it. I am addicted to great light, cute birds, and fun photography opportunities. Luckily for me, I can find them all at Lake Morton! I had another fun visit on April Fool’s Day. I was on Cygnet Watch, and I didn’t see any, but I had plenty of other birds to keep me busy.

This Tricolored Heron was fishing along the lake’s edge. He would dart erratically, scoop a bug from the water, and then toss his head back to eat it. Here I caught the toss moment where the bug is about to enter the bird’s beak.

Nesting is on everybirdy’s mind. These ducks are dreaming of adding to the menagerie of mixed feathers that live at the lake.

After they finished, the male swam off and the female gave a good long wing-flap!

I found a couple of Common Gallinule nests buried in the lily pads, and a few small client babies have hatched already. Will I ever get tired of photographing one of Central Florida’s most common birds? Probably not. :)

The Wood Ducks were active on the lake again. The last few visits, the males and females have definitely been paired up. On this visit, I saw very few females, so I’m guessing they are busy on their nests. The males were cavorting in the water.

More fun reflections in the water…this duck chose a picturesque spot to call to his friends! Or maybe he’s calling to his wife? “Sorry you’re stuck incubating the eggs, honey. The water is really nice and cool out here, and there’s a great breeze. Such a nice morning when you’re not stuck in a nest hole!”

I found a couple of turtles for Rich. They stuck their heads up briefly and said hello. Rich says he wants me to come home with nothing but turtle pictures! :)

A mallard duck was out for a walk with her small duckling. He posed very cutely in the grass. Another photographer was feeding him bread, which was cute but very bad for him. After watching him almost choke on a large piece, I had to move on.

I loved the colors on this White Ibis, and how his white feathers contrasted with the dark green reflections in the lake behind him.

By 10am the light was very harsh, and I headed home. Cygnet Watch continues, and Wood Duckling Watch will start soon, so you’ll definitely hear more from Lake Morton!

Silly Birds in my Backyard

Posted Friday, April 21, 2023Sunday, April 2, 2023 Jess YarnellPosted in Birds

As you may have guessed, I spent a lot of time in my backyard bird blind this spring while visiting with Zippy. I stopped posting about every session because they got very repetitive. But now I want to share some of the best shots from the silly birds in my backyard!

This Fish Crow likes to sit in the treetops and yell. On this particular morning, he landed on my neighbor’s roof with a stolen bit of fruit. At least, I think that’s what it is! His mouth was full and he had trouble holding onto it. Little piggy!

Mr. Catbird has bene the backyard bully this winter. He chases off the cardinals and thrashers when they get too close to “his” feeder. Rude!

202303111_copyrightJessYarnell — Brown Thrasher

Speaking of the thrashers, they built a nest in the backyard, but then nobody occupied it! I think they have a second nest in the hedge. I still see them periodically. I’m hoping to see blue-eyed babies soon!

I think the cardinals are nesting next door. Pretty soon we’ll hear the nagging calls of their first clutch of babies. In the meantime, Mrs. C sometimes takes a break to sit in the treetops.

Papa C likes to fly straight at the camera!

My Painted Buntings are leaving right now, and I already miss them! They will head up north to nest, then come back around the beginning of October. Is it October yet?

This Red-shouldered Hawk likes to hang around and scare the little birds. This was a take-off shot after he posed watchfully on my neighbor’s roof.

Look carefully – this isn’t Zippy! This is a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. She shared the yard with Zippy, even though he tried to chase her off every time he saw her. (Not a good way to get a mate, Zip!) Then after he left, she took over the hummingbird feeder. I hope she sticks around and makes a nest nearby.