swans at peace

To my surprise no humans were mauled in the making of this film. I waited all day to record a swanny smackdown but it never came. The lakes of downtown Lakeland, FL are loaded with swans and I saw them put up with unruly children, friendly ducks, clumsy Ibis, joggers and curious naturalists, even while sitting on their nests. BTW it has been English law for five centuries that all Mute swans, wherever in the world they dwell, belong to the Regent.

Coots, Moorhens and Purple Gallinules

This film highlights these three Rails. You can see them together when you visit downtown Lakeland, FL which our local Audubon did yesterday. Here’s their website: http://www.westpascoaudubon.com/
The stars in order of appearance:
Ringneck duck
Am. Coot
Mute Swan
Moorhen
Purple Gallinule
Am. Alligator
White Ibis
The lakes visited were Wire, Mirror and Parker.

Palm Warbler at the plant table

Video proof! I first photographed the Palm Warbler who fed at my table in late 2007. This is unusual because, of course, the bird is an insectivore and not a visitor to any feeder. But among the seeds I put out are a kind of engineered nutrition pellet for domestic birds and this warbler has learned to eat those. I believe this is the same individual that learned to eat the pellets and who has wintered with me since at least 2006. He returned about a week ago and will be with me until mid-March of 2010. I am happy to contribute to the life of this formidable bird for as long as we cross paths. Here’s what I wrote about him in 2/08.

And, yes those are flower spikes on the Black Aloe in the picture. I am aware this is often referred to as a nonblooming kind of Aloe. Mine blooms regularly with long rests. The flowers are large and coral – orange.

hundreds of Herons

Dawn at Safety Harbor municipal pier with hundreds of Tricolor Herons, Little Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets leaving their night roost. Local people thought the roost would be at a place called Alligator Lake. Also two Spotted Sandpipers and a Yellow Crowned Night Heron were found at Philippe Park. Thanks to Clearwater Audubon. Here’s their site: http://www.clearwateraudubon.org/

Additional: here’s the trip’s bird list, thanks Jo:
Clearwater Audubon Phillipe Park, Safety Harbor, Fl, Nov 21,2009 Merle Hubbard, leader.
Belted Kingfisher
White Ibis
Spotted Sandpiper Lesser Scaup
Willett
Brown Pelican
Bald Eagle
Forster’s Tern
Laughing Gull
Common Loon
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Blue Heron
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Black and White Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
House Wren
Hermit Thrush
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbird
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue Jay
N Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
Cardinal
Fish Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
American Goldfinch

Red-Shouldered in this yard

I scrambled to get a camera on him but he stayed for several minutes and the encounter became one I’ll never forget.

Glossy Ibis at Holiday recreation complex

Glossy Ibis can be seen seasonally at the Pasco County Holiday recreation complex.  A pair has been present for the last few days and I shot some video.  The Ibis’ presence upset a juvenile Moorhen whose parents got involved.  The Moorhen family bothered the Ibis until they left.  I was very amused by the Glossy’s brief attempt to threaten a Moorhen.

The Glossys flew toward the TV towers where there must be a substantial roost.  I have not figured out how to get to it but in the evening you can see hundreds of birds heading in.

Long-Billed Curlew

Clearwater Audubon visited Ft. De Soto, 10/31/09, halloween. I read there was a Long–Billed Curlew hanging around and by watching some birdwatchers we found it! What an elegant bird. I could not see what it was getting 10 or 12 inckes under the sand.

View the video:  http://bit.ly/3kiCHW
Video window basics:  http://bit.ly/1Ke2Y1

I also saw my first-of-season Coots, Redhead Ducks, Ruddy Ducks and Scaup and a flock of around 20 Magnificent Frigatebirds. Also in the video are Oystercatchers, Terns, Plovers, Marbled Godwits and a mysterious and beautilful feathery-flowered plant that enchanted me. Please tell me if you have a clue what it might be. The stick insects were mating despite the papparazzi. One shorebird remained unidentified, might be a Short-Billed Dowitcher.

wildlife around here: video

Clearing the memory cards, I made a late summer wildlife video compilation: http://bit.ly/1nzD4y

Only a youtube member can write a comment on that site. Anyone can post one here. yt is fighting to put music ads on my videos and they have muted my soundtrack.

On the local radio they have been saying time change is tonight. That is wrong, of course. The time always changes on a Sunday at 2am. Tomorrow is Saturday. Halloween. So tonight is Gate Night. Beware.