I spent Wednesday morning cruising around a couple of the hotspots in the Kissimmee area. This area is a combination of rural and agricultural but is quickly being encroached on by development mostly from the North (Kissimmee/Orlando). This area is very important as it is considered the headwaters for the Everglades. The headwaters of the Everglades National Park are in the Lake Okeechobee watershed, which is located in the Northern Everglades. The headwaters are made up of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. This area is a great place to see Bald Eagles, Eastern Meadowlarks, and one of my favorite birds, the Crested Caracara.
Young White-tailed Deer Male with small antlers.
Eastern Meadowlark singing to his lady friend who was sitting on the fence a little ways away.
Turkey Vulture
A younger looking Barred Owl hiding in the brush. I couldn’t get any clearer of a shot.
Bald Eagle on telephone pole.
My new favorite Bald Eagle photo that I have taken. Caught just as he took off from telephone pole.
I have to share another flight shot or two because I really like these.
I have to share another flight shot or two because I really like these.
A Sandhill Crane in flight
A Sandhill Crane in flight
“Tweedledee and Tweedledum” – A pair of Crested Caracara on a telephone pole. Not sure why they were hanging out together is such a small perch. I did use Photoshops new remove wire feature to take out distracting telephone lines. Caracara are really interesting birds. The Crested Caracara looks like a hawk with its sharp beak and talons, behaves like a vulture, and is technically a large tropical black-and-white falcon.
Caracara Pair
I caught a pretty good Caracara takeoff shot too!
Caracara rubbing beak on post. Not sure of purpose of this action.
Caracara Staredown
Caracara head turn – The orange bulge in the upper chest is the crop. The crop serves the function to store food and separate substances such as bones, feathers etc. from digestible meat. They will at a later time regurgitate it as a pellet.
The Florida state bird, the Northern Mockingbird. Not my choice.
Every posting by Matt Paulson I say, “these are my favorite nature shots.” This time I will say something different: “These photos are clearly my favorite nature shots.” I love your bird photos. Such a great variety of birds and your notes are wonderful. I would disagree when you note you could not get a “more clear shot” of the barred owl.” The fact that it is entangled in the limbs and bushes is what demonstrates what a flight engineer the owl is in order to land in this thicket. The eagle, crane and caracara shots ate amazing.
You outdid yourself again, Matt. Each time you send photos, they seem to be better than previous ones, if that’s possible.
Once, again, I’m sharing with a few friends.
Your favorite Big Granny
JP