Lori and I made a trip to the Florida Keys this week to catch some new birds and migrants. We were mainly successful with great weather and great birds. One of my favorite birds is the Magnificent Frigatebird. You can't miss the ID on this bird. It is the only bird that looks like this in the sky:
Magnificent Frigatebird
They are masters at flight and soaring. They use their long, pointed wings to catch the wind and effortlessly cover alot of area at sea and along the coastline. This immature bird barely moved his wings while preening. Check out the series of photos that I took as he hung on the wind above our heads in Key West.
Magnificent Frigatebird
Magnificent Frigatebird - preening
Magnificent Frigatebird - preening
Back to flying
I'm in Florida for 10 days which gives me time to really enjoy the birds and the weather rather than just run from place to place trying to fit everything in. That extra time gave me the opportunity to watch another favorite bird in action - Reddish Egret. Just seeing one is terrific, but this guy put on a show. They are really pretty and have long reddish feathers on their head and neck.
Reddish Egret
Reddish Egret
But if they see a fish that they want, they start flapping and running around in the water.
Reddish Egret - fishing
Reddish Egret - fishing
Here is a video showing the chase. He didn't catch a fish this time but was successful on other attempts.
The interesting thing is that this egret was hanging out with 3 Red-breasted Mergansers. Wherever they went, the egret went. They worked cooperatively. The Mergansers would scare up fish for the egret and vice-versa. This Merganser put on a show preening just a few feet in front of me.
Red-breasted Merganser - scratching
Red-breasted Merganser - preening
Back to business
So much more to post from this trip. Keep an eye out for more including Dry Tortugas, Life Birds, Owls, and Shorebirds.
After being tied to the Delaware Valley for the Contest, suffering winter temperatures in the single digits and shoveling snow once a week, it feels great to be in Florida with the Nerds. We were on the boat for most of the day and got to see some cool birds. Here are American White Pelicans. I've seen a few here and there - even had one in Delaware for the Contest last year but I have never seen this many together. This little spit of sand was literally covered with them.
American White Pelicans
This is a menacing sight to any bird out on the open ocean. It is a Magnificent Frigatebird. These birds do not hunt for their own food. Instead, they soar high in the air and wait for a gull or tern to catch a fish and then swoop in to steal the meal.
Magnificent Frigatebird
On our way back to the house, we saw this Osprey bringing a stick back to the nest. I snapped this just as the Osprey was landing. It looks like he is balancing on the stick.
Osprey
We have alot of birds right at the house due to the fact that the neighbors feed them. They come running, flying and swimming in every time they see a person near the dock hoping for a free meal. Here is one of the immature Brown Pelicans coming in for a landing.
Brown Pelican
And here he is staring me down demanding some food. He didn't get any - yet.
Brown Pelican
We bought some bait fish and will be feeding the beggars tomorrow. I hope to get some good shots.
