I’m not great with juveniles but I think this is a green heron. Judging from the facial features.
Hiding
Category: birds
Twisty
“I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the “lower animals” (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me.” – Mark Twain
Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Drive is an 11 mile drive through a rich wetlands and upland habitat. Very lovely and lots of places to stop for walking or pictures.
Young Gallinule
Young Common Gallinule. I dislike the term common and prefer to call them moorhens as there is nothing common about these birds although they are abundant. This guy will grow up to have black feathers and an orange bill/shield.
Lake Apopka North Shore Wildlife Drive
“It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.” – Ansel Adams
Lake Apopka is the 4th largest lake in Florida and a recovery miracle. It was virtually dead in the 1980’s when it was declared an environmental super fund site after a massive pesticide spill. This was just the final nail after years of draining wetlands and farming. Now a lot of the former farmland has become the North Shore Management area that is now a functioning wetlands used to filter lake water and return it to the lake. More about the newly opened wildlife drive tomorrow.
Anhinga Breakfast Part 2 (3 pics)
Finish Breakfast and a little sun bathing.
Anhinga Breakfast Part 1 (3 pics)
“Only when the last tree is cut, only when the last river is polluted, only when the last fish is caught, will Men realize that they can’t eat money.” – Native America Proverb
I captured this picture series on Saturday – I saw her swimming with this large fish and wondered how it would get eaten. Stay tuned.
Quote found at – http://www.wildhelpers.com/wildlife-quotes.html#sthash.Xz2xv7xH.dpuf
Pair O Glossies
The much easier life of the glossy ibis. In the 19th century they were viewed as “water turkeys” and purported to be good eating.
Quiet Time
The wetlands have quieted down – most migrants are gone. However, I told folks on one of the tours Saturday how quiet things were and their response was “This is quiet?” They reminded me how important “fresh” eyes are. Thanks!
Bird Monday
“Rest if you must, but never quit.” – John Greenleaf Whittier
Continuing with the Great Blue Heron, here is a younger sibling. They start life completely white, slowly changes colors over their first year. Often confused (by me) with egrets.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/267703.John_Greenleaf_Whittier
King of the Wetlands
Being one of the largest birds in the wetlands they make great subjects. They have mastered the art of being still. plus they are big enough that you don’t need to be too close for nice pics.
Picture This by Frank 