Crops & Clips: Parting shots

It is that in-between season in south Florida, after many winter visitors have departed and the mass arrival of northbound migrants is just starting. The weather has been that way as well, with summer-like days interrupted by chilly cold fronts. Warm lake water and cool morning air produce fog which softens the horizon and challenges my limited photography skills.

Looking west over the lake in the Wounded Wetlands, the morning sun tries to pierce the fog:



In the dark rookery, a female Yellow-crowned Night-Heron incubates her clutch in a flimsy nest...



...while her mate stands guard nearby:



A second pair is still constructing their nest:



Unexpectedly, a crow-sized male Pileated Woodpecker flies in to forage on the ground beneath a Live Oak tree next to the rookery:







Back at the lake, the fog has not yet dissipated, so my photo of a Common Gallinule (which I hope will soon revert to its more appropriate name of Moorhen) is soft but pleasing:



The limited sunshine only provides a hint of the rich iridescence of the plumage of this male Boat-tailed Grackle:



The fog burns away and the air remains still. A Double-crested Cormorant, capturing the warm rays, reflects nicely on the smooth surface:

 

A flock of migrating Blue-winged Teal circles overhead:





They settle briefly on the lake:



A single Least Sandpiper, distinguished by its warm brown back and yellow legs, prefers to forage along the margins of the lake:



I catch a close shot of a male Black-and-White Warbler, a species which winters here but whose numbers swell as migrants arrive:



Typically, it probes the bark of the trunk and larger branches:



Prairie Warblers are permanent residents, but they are migratory and it is likely that our winter birds hail from further north. One briefly perches out in the open:





Least terns have arrived on schedule, a sure sign that spring is here:



We do not see a flush of wildflowers in the spring. One subtle sign is the flower of the Pondapple:



This flower is tiny but quite beautiful. I am not sure of its identity, but it probably is that of a Common Myrtle:



A bee-like Hoverfly species photobombs my session with the flower:



These are truly "parting shots," as we are migrating to our second home in NE Illinois for a short spell. The upper Midwest has suffered over two weeks of cold and snowy weather but we do expect a more pleasant break after we arrive.



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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi

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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