More About Me

Allow me to introduce myself. Most of my spare time is dedicated to natural history and environmental knowledge development and communication. I hold an executive position with the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust, Carleton, Place, Ontario, Canada. I live in Arnprior, the location of the official tallest tree in Ontario at Gillies Grove. It is a White Pine (Pinus Strobus) with a height of about 47 metres. The National Research Council of Canada has placed me on their Animal Care Committee, which oversees the treatment and care of laboratory animals in human health research. I have my own blog, which captures natural history knowledge and more as I make my way through various eco-districts.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A Taste of Birds

Merritt Island NWR  February 2-6  Very warm week, mid 80's, humid, passing showers, the kind where the sun keeps shining through the pouring rain:

Some scenes from the Biolob, BlackPoint and Peacock drives.  I will be trekking through the hammocks today (February 6) as it is cooler, predicted high of 70.  I will be on the lookout for some Florida songbirds today.  Theresa's rooster (Coronet Motel)  started this morning before sunrise! Do roosters count for a "list"?

Four turtles and 3 species.  Peninsula and Red-Bellied Cooters and a Florida Soft-shelled enjoying some basking.

A Bluegill.  Gar are also common in the fresh water pools, as are Large-mouthed bass.  Ok, the title is birds, so expect the unexpected.  It keeps readers slightly off-balance.

Cuban Anoles are by far the most common lizard in Florida.  They are exotic and quite invasive.  This one believes he is a Tyrannosaur.

Whaaaaa...? Who DID that?

Clarisse.....I tell you, it can work....ok, so we have different feathers....all right you are an Egret, I am this weird looking Spoonbill...but , come ON Clarisse, give me a break.

Sigh....WOMEN

What? Who called us SILLY?

Belly Study with Synchronized Dabbling

Cutest Little Gull....there are about 50 of them in the Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore right now: Bonaparte's Gull.

Reflections of the local Bridge foursome-Northern Pintails

Synchronized Preening.  Synchronicity appears to be a wading and waterfowl trait.  Northern Shovelers.
This Snowy Egret stood on a water control culvert each day.  He had figured out this is where all the food has to come to swim to the next pool!
A Florida Scrub Jay stares into the setting sun

Even Killdeer appear, acting more like the plovers they are rather than an upland baseball field nesting bird.



This Reddish Egret's colours are enhanced by the setting sun.

1 comment:

  1. Beautiful images, Art. Bet you don't miss all the snow we are getting.

    ReplyDelete

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