Bust Up At The Feeder

Bust up at the feeder. Our local birds are very fond of our feeder tray, especially as we feed them from a raised deck 20 feet above any possible ground predators. But their enthusiasm sometimes gets the better of them. On this occasion a Cardinal and Nuthatch failed to notice each other's flight paths until it was almost to late!

White Breasted Nuthatch.

This Nuthatch is just about to land on one of our bird feeders. The species gets its name from its habit of taking nuts and fat seeds and jamming them into the crevices of tree bark. Once held firmly by the bark the little bird hammers at the seed with its beak to break open and feast on the seed. Some of our trees are festooned with the remains of seeds from these little birds. It drives the local squirrels nuts (sorry about the pun...). Nuthatches are very fast fliers and it’s a fun challenge to catch them in flight, especially when they are flying directly towards you at high speed.

White Breasted Nuthatch.

This Nuthatch is just about to land on one of our bird feeders. The species gets its name from its habit of taking nuts and fat seeds and jamming them into the crevices of tree bark. Once held firmly by the bark the little bird hammers at the seed with its beak to break open and feast on the seed. Some of our trees are festooned with the remains of seeds from these little birds. It drives the local squirrels nuts (sorry about the pun...). Nuthatches are very fast fliers and it’s a fun challenge to catch them in flight, especially when they are flying directly towards you at high speed.

White Breasted Nuthatch.

This Nuthatch is just about to land on one of our bird feeders. The species gets its name from its habit of taking nuts and fat seeds and jamming them into the crevices of tree bark. Once held firmly by the bark the little bird hammers at the seed with its beak to break open and feast on the seed. Some of our trees are festooned with the remains of seeds from these little birds. It drives the local squirrels nuts (sorry about the pun...). Nuthatches are very fast fliers and it’s a fun challenge to catch them in flight, especially when they are flying directly towards you at high speed.

Royal Tern

Royal Tern. This is especially for Lori Hair. The Royal Tern is a familiar coastal bird in many parts of the world. This one was photographed on Sanibel Island in Florida. They feed by plunging at high speed into the sea from heights of up to 30 feet, grabbing small fish or crustaceans. Although famed for their airborne acrobatics, I couldn't resist this extra cute pose on the beach. Incidentally, the collective noun for the Royal Tern is apparently a "highness"! 😂

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse. This pretty little bird is a familiar sight in my home state of Ohio. Its main habitat is deciduous woodlands but it is also a common sight at garden feeders. Like many of the smaller species the Tufted Titmouse has a mixed diet, feeding on insects and seeds. At my home they are especially frequent visitors in the winter, queuing up in the trees for their turn at the feeder. The bird in this photograph has the traces of ice on its beak after taking a drink from a heated water bowl. The temperature was only 10 F, so keeping a water supply free of ice for the birds is an important resource for their well being.

American Goldfinch

Taken on a cold, cold day, this little fellow was waiting for his turn at the bird feeder. You can see how cold it was by the beautifully patterned snow flake sitting on his left shoulder. Despite the cold, the light was beautiful that day, with reflected light from the deep snow on the ground under the branch

Anhinga Drying Out

Anhinga drying out. Sanibel Island, Florida. Anhingas are often confused with cormorants, but anhingas have razor sharp straight beaks. It's always a treat to watch them hunt for fish; they stealthily submerge and hunt around rocks and crevices, seeking small fish. Anything that comes within striking range is speared on their rapier-like beaks. Once a catch is caught, the bird rises to the surface and tosses the fish into the air before swallowing it whole. This hunting methods requires the birds to have no water proofing on their feathers and they need to dry out in the sun after each hunt, spreading their wings like this.

Anhinga Drying Out #2

Anhinga drying out. Sanibel Island, Florida. Anhingas are often confused with cormorants, but anhingas have razor sharp straight beaks. It's always a treat to watch them hunt for fish; they stealthily submerge and hunt around rocks and crevices, seeking small fish. Anything that comes within striking range is speared on their rapier-like beaks. Once a catch is caught, the bird rises to the surface and tosses the fish into the air before swallowing it whole. This hunting methods requires the birds to have no water proofing on their feathers and they need to dry out in the sun after each hunt, spreading their wings like this.

Anhinga Drying Out #3

Anhinga drying out. Sanibel Island, Florida. Anhingas are often confused with cormorants, but anhingas have razor sharp straight beaks. It's always a treat to watch them hunt for fish; they stealthily submerge and hunt around rocks and crevices, seeking small fish. Anything that comes within striking range is speared on their rapier-like beaks. Once a catch is caught, the bird rises to the surface and tosses the fish into the air before swallowing it whole. This hunting methods requires the birds to have no water proofing on their feathers and they need to dry out in the sun after each hunt, spreading their wings like this.

Juvenile Night Heron with Crab

This is a juvenile Night Heron with a small crab for breakfast. The birds stalk the margins of mangrove swamps looking for crabs, insects, small snakes, and unsuspecting fish. This little fellow was feasting in the shallows of the Ding Darling nature reserve on Sanibel Island

Juvenile Night Heron with Crab #2

This is a juvenile Night Heron with a small crab for breakfast. The birds stalk the margins of mangrove swamps looking for crabs, insects, small snakes, and unsuspecting fish. This little fellow was feasting in the shallows of the Ding Darling nature reserve on Sanibel Island

The Circle of Life

This is a Yellow Crowned Night Heron struggling with its crab dinner. The crab put up a valiant fight, but lost in the end. Yellow Crowned Night Herons are resident all year round in southern Florida and this one was photographed in the world famous Ding Darling Nature Reserve on Sanibel Island, just off the coast from Fort Myers.

Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer. This extraordinary bird is named from the way it feeds, literally skimming the ocean surface to scoop up small fish, invertebrates and crustaceans from just below the surface of the sea. Evolution has equipped this creature with the perfect tools for its trade; the lower beak is much larger and longer than the upper beak. This allows the Black Skimmer to reach into the waves without its wings hitting the ocean surface. They are found throughout the tropical and sub tropical oceans of North and South America. The bird in this image was captured at Siesta Key in Florida, flying just inches from shoreline.

Black Skimmer #2

Black Skimmer. This extraordinary bird is named from the way it feeds, literally skimming the ocean surface to scoop up small fish, invertebrates and crustaceans from just below the surface of the sea. Evolution has equipped this creature with the perfect tools for its trade; the lower beak is much larger and longer than the upper beak. This allows the Black Skimmer to reach into the waves without its wings hitting the ocean surface. They are found throughout the tropical and sub tropical oceans of North and South America. The bird in this image was captured at Siesta Key in Florida, flying just inches from shoreline.

Black Skimmer #3

Black Skimmer. This extraordinary bird is named from the way it feeds, literally skimming the ocean surface to scoop up small fish, invertebrates and crustaceans from just below the surface of the sea. Evolution has equipped this creature with the perfect tools for its trade; the lower beak is much larger and longer than the upper beak. This allows the Black Skimmer to reach into the waves without its wings hitting the ocean surface. They are found throughout the tropical and sub tropical oceans of North and South America. The bird in this image was captured at Siesta Key in Florida, flying just inches from shoreline.

Black Skimmer #4

Black Skimmer. This extraordinary bird is named from the way it feeds, literally skimming the ocean surface to scoop up small fish, invertebrates and crustaceans from just below the surface of the sea. Evolution has equipped this creature with the perfect tools for its trade; the lower beak is much larger and longer than the upper beak. This allows the Black Skimmer to reach into the waves without its wings hitting the ocean surface. They are found throughout the tropical and sub tropical oceans of North and South America. The bird in this image was captured at Siesta Key in Florida, flying just inches from shoreline.

Little Blue Bird

Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their insect prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Racket Tailed Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" looking stance.

Racket Tailed Roller

Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their insect prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Racket Tailed Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" looking stance.

Racket Tailed Roller with Grub

Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their insect prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Racket Tailed Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" looking stance.

Racket Tailed Roller with Grub 2

Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their insect prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Racket Tailed Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" looking stance.

Blue Bellied Roller

Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their insect prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Blue Bellied Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" looking stance.

Two Rollers, One Grub

Two Rollers, one grub. Rollers are crow-sized birds that are widespread throughout the old world, many coming from India, Africa, and parts of Europe. Rollers get their name from the rolling action of their flight when they are chasing their prey and when displaying to each other during the mating season. Pictured here is the Racket Tailed Roller (with the grub in its beak) and a Blue Bellied Roller. They are such cute birds with sharp intelligences. Their legs, however, are unusually small and weak compared with most birds. This tends to make them appear to be settled very low on branches, adding to their "comfortable" stance, a bit like us when we settle back into a nice reclining chair.

Pelican Missile.

I love photographing diving pelicans. Sometimes there are just a few diving for fish; other times the air is *filled* with pelicans crashing into the sea. They are always a challenge; their sudden change in speed and direction as they spot an unsuspecting fish below the waves makes for some exciting photography. Keeping the birds in frame and in focus is quite a challenge! This image is of a brown pelican in his (or her) summer plumage about to hit the water at a ridiculous speed. Taken from the shore at Sanibel Island, Florida.