life in the hood

I just realized that I have posted about birds this entire month. If you don't love birds this might be getting a bit boring. But there is only 2 days left in February so why stop now. I have so many beautiful bird images that I want to share with you. 

These two photographs were taken at Wakodahatchee. They tell a universal story about parenting, good neighbors and tolerance.

killy killy killy

This American Kestrel flew onto this high branch during my golf round, yes you heard me right, I played golf! Thank heavens that all my gear was in the cart. Then he flew off and returned with an unsuspecting salamander for dinner. This is my lucky bird week for sure....

in memory only

You need to be sitting down for this.

 When I first spotted the owls last night the light was waning. I went to get my camera but discovered my memory card was left at home. Beautiful night, beautiful owls and no useable camera. I let it go, breathed deep, light wasn't good anyway, and viewed them through my binoculars instead. They were together, than one would soar through the air to a far away limb. We would follow and find them only to have them soar again. It doesn't get any better really, to be out on a moonlit evening with friends, owls and human.

Are you still sitting down? 

The female landed on the tippy top of the tree, a beautiful silhouette against the sky. The male owl swooped down out of some mysterious place and landed on top of her, she dropped her head and he mounted her and spread his enormous wings over her. For the third time this week I was witnessing the mating of two birds. Later he flew below her and tucked himself along the bark of the tree trunk, disappearing once again.

There will be no image today, just shut your eyes and imagine...

I told you to sit down.

winged propagation

Wakodahatchee Wetlands is a place of miracles and tragedies. We saw 35 species of birds in just a few early morning hours. I saw two different pairs of Wood Storks mate on a limb before me. Great flapping of wings and intimate beak to beak speak.

peek a boo

It is really hard to find them.  I spotted the two of them on the same branch, way up at the top of the tree, one looking out and the other looking in. But of course they were near the trunk of the tree in the very highest section and hidden in the dark. I couldn't possibly capture that shot. So I just moved slowly around till I managed this peek a boo shot. Then he flew and landed on the open branch.

How beautiful he is with his ears all standing tall. They seem to have more time for each other now that the owlets are gone from the nest. A bittersweet event.

hoot hoot

It was really cold on Sunday and we bundled up to go searching for the owls. They just weren't there. We tried many different locations but found no owls. Getting really cold and very disappointed we almost gave up. But suddenly we heard the sweetest hoot hoot hoot. And then another answering soft hoot hoot hoot. 

And there in the thick of the trees were the owls hooting and loving each other. I believe they are our resident couple who have given us so much joy sharing their owlets with all of us last year. But I do wonder about it. Notice the beautiful white chest feathers? This was not noticeable on last years owls, are these different ones? 

A berry good day.

I woke up in a wind tunnel, whosh, whosh. I ran to the window to see what was the matter, OK so it's sounding like a xmas eve story, but it was a gift none the less. About one hundred migrating and extremely hungry robins were swooping in from the woods to land in our Dahoon holly trees. They love the red berries. It's cold and very windy here in Florida so they just flew in with the wind and spent most of the day with us. We are now berryless.

Hope

Look who I found. I believe this is the dad, I think he remembers me as he gave me the evil eye that he often did last year. That look that says, not you again with your three legged contraption, oh no its you again.... I grinned from ear to ear.

 He is an old friend who I respect and have learned to love. I did see mom way up high in a nearby tree, she sat tall and still, too far for me to capture with my camera. I still mourn her owlet loss last year. I imagine she is doing better about that than I am! 

It turns out that that these two parents had another owlet this year. He was discovered on the ground and eventually brought to Busch Wildlife where they learned that he was a he and he was 5 weeks old. He was not injured and will be released into the wild when he is older and ready. I am so glad he is being protected and taken care of. 

In the mean time I continue to search with my binoculars, looking for the owls. Everyday brings hope that I will find them again.

Happy Valentines Day

Friends are good. They are near by in case you need them. They are willing to nit pick, if you know what I mean, and they just like to hang out. These love birds have found their valentine. I hope you find yours today.

demanding

This juvenile royal tern is relentless. He has chirped and chirped and chirped in every conceivable position to get noticed by his mother who seems not to notice. Mom patiently ignores his every demand, which are many. I was worn out just witnessing this exchange. I left before it was resolved..

out on a limb

An osprey is eating a fish while a dove is pruning her feathers.

Life is busy back in Florida.

Which do you prefer, the black and white or the color?

I think I prefer the starkness of the black and white.

snowy days

 It's so cold and snowy here in Long Island. When we arrived there must have been 50 birds on the feeders. They are devouring the black sunflower seeds. We have so many varieties of songbirds and it makes me so happy to see all of them. I can't imagine how they stay warm in this weather. It's freezing out there and it's snowing. They all seem to be in a large group that fly in and out of the low bushes in the garden. They also love the limbs in the huge rhododendrons that border the garden. 

They add such a beautiful dimension to my life.