December Birds

We finally saw several white pelicans at Ding, along with a few other birds.

I love when the light is right and a beautiful Little Blue Heron poses perfectly for me!

We watched a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron have a standoff with a gator at the Bailey Tract. The gator made a couple of advances, but then gave up and went on to search for an easier meal. The birds landed just a few feet from the gator and watched him closely until he left.

Notice the gator at the bottom of the photo.

I had a chance to get a few pics around our home over the last couple of days. There was a pretty little American Kestrel in a tree behind our house. I just found out that the American Kestrel is actually a small falcon. I love the colors and patterns.

On the opposite side of the lake, this Osprey was watching while I took photos of the Kestrel.

At mid-day on a very bright day last week, I saw an eagle in a tree. These photos aren’t great due to the extreme glare, but it was fun to watch. He sat for a minute, then took off and flew around overhead chasing away a buzzard that was too close to their nest.

At the end of my walk one morning this week, this large flock of white pelicans flew by overhead. I only had a minute to run into the house, grab my camera, and get a quick pic.