Blog - Page 20 of 756 - catandturtle

Breeding Birds at Lake Apopka

Posted Saturday, March 25, 2023Saturday, March 18, 2023 Jess Yarnell1 CommentPosted in Lake Apopka

On my last visit to Lake Apopka, I noticed a Great Blue Heron nest. It didn’t have chicks yet. So of course I had to go back the next week to see if there were babies. It’s an afternoon shoot so I took my bike. I got a few strange looks with my camera bag and tripod strapped to my back – but I zipped down to the lake in very little time. :)

On my way down to the lake, I found some cool birds.

I’ve never seen a Great Blue Heron wading like this. He was down in the water up to his stomach. Nearby an alligator floated by. Eventually the bird stood up and walked further down the canal. I guess he was trying to cool off.

This Great Egret was foraging for his supper in the canal. His beak still has a tint of the bright green breeding color. I waited for a few minutes, but he refused to give me a better head angle.

This Green Heron surprised me. I saw him land on this branch, and I got a few quick snaps before he flew off. What I didn’t see until I got the image on the computer was the dragonfly in his mouth. He grabbed it in mid-air and swallowed it before moving on to find more dinner morsels.

When I got down to the lake, the Great Blue Heron nest was quiet. Mom was sleeping on the nest. I watched it for a while, hoping for the nagging sounds of babies or a small head to stick up beside Mom. But Dad eventually flew in, and Mom stood up, and no babies showed themselves. So I’ll have to come back again!

Near the herons, an Anhinga couple was starting a nest. Dad flew in with a stick. Mom grabbed at it with her beak as if to say “Give it to me! You know nothing about building a nest.”

But Dad wouldn’t let go. They seemed to fight with it for a few minutes before eventually placing it together. It seemed to be the first stick of the nest. I love their faces together with those bright blue eyes as they work together to construct their nursery.

I watched these guys for a while. They repeated their little fight about each stick that came into the nest! Still they were quite gentle as they worked together. I hope they are equally patient when their nest is full of nagging hungry youngsters!

The appearance of rain on the horizon accelerated my ride back to the car. A wind came up, blowing against me as I rode. So I got some good exercise along with good photography! I already can’t wait to go back.

Painted Buntings Spring 2023

Posted Thursday, March 23, 2023Saturday, March 18, 2023 Jess YarnellPosted in Birds

Normally my backyard Painted Buntings are the stars of this blog at this time of year. But this year, with Zippy the Ruby-throated Hummingbird growing up right in front of my camera lens, the Painted Buntings have gotten less attention. So they told me I had to write a post just about them.

This first photo was taken on the day after I trimmed my crape myrtle bush. The next morning, the birds flew in to find their favorite perches gone. So what did they do? Sat on the ugly clipped branches instead! Note to self: position a prettier perch in this location on the next cloudy morning when I can shoot in this direction.

This year we’ve had an unusually high number of male buntings. At one point I counted 6 males on/around the feeder at the same time. I wish I’d had my camera handy that day! As much as I love the bright-colored males, I find myself drawn to photographing the female/juvie “greenies” too. They are quite pretty in their own right.

People often ask me how to attract Painted Buntings to their backyards. I’m no expert, but I do know my backyard offers them several attractive options:

Millet seed at a caged feeder where they are protected from predators
A birdbath with fresh water, cleaned regularly, and with a dripper because birds love the sound of dripping water
A viburnum hedge “fence” to give them shelter
Native plants and seeds. They love the red salvia plants pictured above and below. Note the seed in the greenie’s mouth.

Typically my Painted Buntings arrive in early October. Males start to leave around the first week of April. The females stay a few weeks longer, usually until Earth Day. The yard feels so empty once they go. I still have a few good weeks with them, as they tend to be the most active when they eat up to prepare for migration. So maybe you’ll see more of these beautiful birds this spring! :)

Brown Thrasher Nest-Building (Goldilocks Style)

Posted Wednesday, March 22, 2023Saturday, March 18, 2023 Jess Yarnell2 CommentsPosted in Birds

The Brown Thrashers are building a nest in my backyard. It’s in the viburnum hedge right behind my bird blind. I actually spotted the nest while doing yardwork, then on my next backyard photography expedition, I started to notice the sticks being taken into the hedge.

To give the birds some space, I stopped using the blind and set up my camera in other spots in the backyard. Still the birds seem quite trusting of the crazy camera lady. They come within a few feet of me in search of the perfect branch. In fact, they have a bit of a Goldilocks complex when it comes to selecting the perfect stick.

This leaf is too small.

This clump of leaves is too big.

This one is too scratchy.

This stick is just right!

When I trimmed my crape myrtle trees, I broke off some branches and left them out in the vicinity of the nest. The next morning I saw the twigs being transported into the hedge. It’s nice when my offerings are appreciated! I will look forward to watching this family grow. :)