shelshots' photostream  

This male grackle has got to be about the loudest, noisiest bird you will ever see. He and another male have been out back screaming and yelling at others to keep away and at their mates to get busy and take care of the nests which are hidden deep within the pond bushes. An interesting fact is that these birds have bright yellow eyes north of Gainesville,FL, but in the rest of the state they have dark eyes.

Well, bird lovers, here's a shot that just blows me away. While taking a few shots of the Snowy feeding along the pond's edge, I sensed that he was about to take off, which he did, passing about 20 feet in front of me. Fortunately, I was locked on at the crucial moment.

Pleas view on in lightbox, press "L"

Among the many shorebirds I saw the other morning on my walk along Tigertail Beach, were a large quantity of these Short-billed Dowitchers. At least I'm pretty sure of the ID after checking carefully in several guides. I'm never quite certain when it comes to identifying the small shorebirds as there are so many similarities. They use a rapid probing action with their long straight bills to probe deep into sand and mud for insects.
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Among the many shorebirds I saw the other morning on my walk along Tigertail Beach, were a large quantity of these Short-billed Dowitchers. At least I'm pretty sure of the ID after checking carefully in several guides. I'm never quite certain when it comes to identifying the small shorebirds as there are so many similarities. They use a rapid probing action with their long straight bills to probe deep into sand and mud for insects.

I saw this and many other Western Sandpipers on my early morning walk on Tigertail Beach on Marco Island,FL. They are a winter resident of Florida from the tundra of northern coastal Alaska. Pretty amazing little migrators, wouldn't you agree? They feed on insects at the waters edge, sometimes immersing their head. This is their winter plumage, but during breeding season they have a bright rust brown crown, ear patch and black and white chin and chest.