Category Archives: Birds

Heron in cypress in pond 2026-04-26

Happened to see a heron land in a cypress tree.

[Movie: Heron landing (52M)]
Movie: Heron landing (52M)

Not the usual heron tree; one to the east.

I’m pretty sure it’s a Great Blue Heron. Those and anhingas are all that usually nest in the middle of the pond.

I was assisted by Blondie (mysteriously not filthy) and Honeybun (not visible).

Here is some video:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1965142474124988/

https://youtu.be/TLRKt6If5Qs Continue reading →

Blueberry Scacrecrow 2024-05-24

This scarecrow in the blueberries seems to be working. We’re actually getting some blueberries before the birds do.

[Scarecrow and scaresnake in the blueberries]
Scarecrow and scaresnake in the blueberries

And here’s a better view of the scaresnake. It has since disappeared. Didn’t seem to blow off, since it would be nearby, and it isn’t. We guess a buzzard thought it would be a treat. Continue reading →

Cattle egrets 2023-06-04

These cattle egrets showed up as soon as I started mowing with the tractor.

[Walking, flying, group, cattle egrets, OPF 2023-06-04]
Walking, flying, group, cattle egrets, OPF 2023-06-04

They followed me around, eventually getting within two feet of the tractor, jockeying to snatch up bugs.

This is the best writeup I’ve found on the origin of Bubulcus ibis, which it now lives on six continents and is sometimes found in Antarctica.

Judy Lehmberg, CBS News, June 15, 2017, Nature up close: Cattle egrets, masters of emigration, Continue reading →

Wild Azalea and Wood Storks 2023-01-31

An early spring sight, and something more unusual.

[Wood Storks and Wild Azalea, OPF 2023-01-31]
Wood Storks and Wild Azalea, OPF 2023-01-31

We’re used to wild azaleas, Rhododendron canescens, blooming around now. Plenty of buds promise more flowers after this first one.

But the other sight was more unusual. Continue reading →

Split-tailed kites 2022-05-15

A flock of split-tailed kites wheeling above where I just cultivated the okra.

[Split-tailed kites]
Split-tailed kites

Here’s a movie of these Elanoides forficatus, also known as swallow-tail kites: Continue reading →