Making time for birding

Like many birders, I try to make time to see birds at every opportunity when not engaged in higher priority activities. This was the case earlier this week when we received word that Mary Lou's brother Richard was admitted to the hospital and had taken a bad turn. We drove almost 300 miles to Leesburg to visit him, and stayed at a hotel in Lake Mary, a community in The Villages. We spent the better part of two days with him and family members, getting back to our hotel late in the day.

Knowing of our passion, Mary Lou's younger brother Ray had researched the Internet and, early on our first morning, led us to a couple of birding spots. The first was Paradise Park, only about a half mile from the hotel. We had little time to spare but spent an interesting half hour, during which time I logged 12 bird species.

The sun was rising out over the lake, creating very difficult photographic conditions. I rescued a few poorly exposed images, among them...

A flock of five Long-billed Dowitchers with a Lesser Yellowlegs in the foreground:



A poor shot of the dowitchers, which are large sandpipers with substantial straight bills:



Three Lesser Yellowlegs...



...which took flight:



Two small flocks of American White Pelicans soared over the lake and then 14 joined together in the sky. Appearing ungainly on land, they are majestic in flight:





On the way back to the hospital, Ray pointed out Veterans' Memorial Park a small park right next door to our hotel. That evening, just before sunset, we walked out from the parking lot and visited it.

Beautiful old Bald Cypress trees bordered the far side of the small lake:



A Tufted Titmouse was singing vigorously:



It flew down to the ground and poked around in the leaves:







It was getting dark but I was able to get some of my best shots ever of two pairs of Lesser Scaup in the lake. I loved the way the low light played on the ripples. This is one of the males:



Female Lesser Scaup:



We returned the next morning just after sunrise. The old cypress trees cast beautiful reflections:



We were amazed to find two Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks in the small pond, next to a busy highway:



A Hooded Merganser photo-bombed the whistling-ducks:



The merganser paddled over nearer to us...

 

...where it joined another, possibly its mate:



They swam out under a bridge into a larger lake. The effect of early morning sun and the reflection of the hotel created a dazzling effect:



Before we departed, one last scan revealed a Limpkin!




An Anhinga dried its wings in a cypress tree next to the hotel. The wall is my substitute for the fence meme:

 

In the space of only a little more than a half hour, we recorded 24 bird species. See the eBird checklist at this link: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35021519

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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Gosia

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

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